Miguel Cotto to provide classic challenge

IT’S NOT purely out of childish curiosity that the meat market crowd now wonders why Manny Pacquiao’s opponents get bigger and bigger by the day.

Why a beefier Miguel Cotto after the meatier but hollow Ricky Hatton?

“No, Hatton was not exactly hollow, hindi ampaw,” cried Tom Diaz (no relation to 60’s local ring sensation Al Diaz) from his makeshift news-stand at the Manila edge of the Mandaluyong City wet market.

***

OK, Hatton may not be flat and tasteless as stale steak.

But the overrated British slugger, Pacquiao’s latest big victim, was both loose and defenseless.

Hatton was, in ring war lingo, an “easy, willing target.”

Amused, the tallish boxing fan at the news-stand nodded in agreement.

He also confirmed that, yes, he has been enjoying brisk business since Pacquiao’s ascent as world pound-for-pound boxing king.

***

But, again, why bigger and heavier foes for the Pacman?

Simple: Quality is the name of the game, explains a prizefight sage.

“It just so happens that Pacquiao has become too strong and too good in his regular division,” says lawyer-sportsman Rudy Salud, founding sec-gen of the World Boxing Council.

But, sir, was there ever quality in Pacquiao’s last three fights?

Those were legit, thrilling bouts, Salud counters.

They were nothing more than half-bouts. David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya and Hatton were all one-sided punching picnics.

***

It could not be helped, the Pacman is just too good to be true, Salud counters.

But can you vouch for Cotto to provide a quality challenge?

“A lot better than Shane Mosley, for sure” Salud says.

How’s that again?

“Mosley may indeed look sharp and difficult, but he has one great fault.”

What’s this, sir?

“Mosley is a punch-and-grab fighter, he hits you with the right and clips you with the left, he hits you with the left and readily ...”

***

Salud, of course, knows whereof he speaks.

He had been intently watching new and old videos of Mosley.

Mosley’s dull, clinching style would surely result into a colorless, boring bout, Salud swears.

But won’t that difficult Mosley style be able to bring out the best in Pacquiao?

“Hardly, it would be a forgettable dance number, no flare, no fireworks.”

But how sure are you about Cotto?

“He could get knocked out, OK, but Cotto could also put Pacquiao into trouble with his big body shots.”

***

But there’s one big problem.

Cotto would be both hollow and slow if Freddie Roach succeeds in pushing him down to 143 lb.

“Well, I think Pacquiao would be wise enough to agree to 144 or 145.”

What made you say so, sir?

“That’s the only way to ensure a quality encounter.”

Mr. Salud is right. There’s no sense pitting a drained, sapped Cotto against the world pound-for-pound king.

You wanna know why?

As one keen-eyed fight critic with the Indianapolis Fight Examiner puts it, Cotto at 143 will surely demote the Pacman into the world’s Drain-Your-Pounds King.

Source: inquirer.net