The sporting world will be all eyes on a history-making event tomorrow night at MGM Grand-Las Vegas. The event is historic not because Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao could win another world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class when he takes on Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, whose WBO welterweight belt is at stake, but for the very prospect that the fight could be celebrated in many generations to come as having produced “boxing’s greatest of all time.”
What are the chances the Puerto Rican superstar will spoil what appears to be inevitable? Slim.
Here’s why. It would be an accolade for Cotto to be considered as good a fighter as Oscar “The Golden Boy” De La Hoya or the erstwhile 140-pound king Ricky Hatton, Manny’s victims in his last two famous encounters. Without more but his size, Cotto is similarly bound for destruction by the most talented student of boxing today.
One critical key to easy victory for Pacquiao is his punching accuracy honed of late to near perfection by the “master” himself, Freddie Roach, something that was not consistent or absent from Zab Judah, Ricardo Torres and Shane Mosely, elite world champions whose boxing styles are being compared to Manny Pacquiao’s but who all succumbed to Cotto’s vaunted true grit. The comparison is farfetched.
Cotto is obviously the bigger guy but he is not necessarily the stronger fighter and so if he plans to slug it out early with Manny, he will go down as loudly and early as Hatton.
While many expect the hand and foot speed of the Filipino boxer to neutralize Cotto’s (planned) strategic attack to the rib cage (or perhaps the groin), it is Manny’s precise delivery of his punches and counterpunches and superb ring intelligence which will earn him a secure place in sports history in just another memorably stunning fashion.
My prediction: the Pacman will heartily consume Miguel Cotto within four to five rounds to take home not only Cotto’s WBO welterweight title but Mohammad Ali’s, “The Greatest.”
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ewan ko lang Abe pero kinakabahan pa rin ako,
Was talking to a costa rican buddy this morning, and he was asking me if im sure that many will win tom. I just said I dont know because I dont know Cotto that much. He was telling that he feels that manny will win but he also feels that anything can happen
puwera usog
GO MANNY PACQUIAO!
Hhhmmm, we’ve all seen that Pacquaio could take the punches the other guy could give.
The only question really is: is this guy Cotto strong enough to receive what Manny will give.
I say the Kamao ng Bayan in two rounds.
ows? if you were born in puerto rico you could be writing another view.
Z Gorres is fighting for his life in the hospital.
Lets’ hope/wish/pray for Z Gorres and Manny Pacquiao.
occupational risk.
pray for Manny? haha, right now someone else is praying for Cotto, too.
Congratulations Manny!
Let’s continue praying/hoping/wishing for Z Gorres.
And I don’t begrudge those “someone else” praying for Cotto.
You don’t have to pray for either if you don’t want.
of course, millions in Puerto Rico prayed for Cotto, not one was heard.
Depends on what they were praying for.
Do you know for a fact what they were praying for?
They could have simply prayed that Cotto doesn’t die in the ring. At which their prayer was granted!
Correct. Prayer only work halftime, not all the time.
I’ve heard kids pray that there be a storm that comes “tomorrow” so they don’t have to go to school. Lo and behold the Sun is shining the next day.
So I won’t argue with you there.
lots of prayers, not answered.
more prayers are not answered than answered.
But “GMA-talsik diyan!!” answer is answered.
Term-limits to the rescue.
Well then good.
Which obviously doesn’t prevent you from praying so do pray for Z Gorres if you feel like it.
A curiosity:
This happened twice or thrice before in Pacquiao fights. I was in a coffee shop reading a book an hour ago. I overheard the guards talking to another guard about the fight. I asked them who won. One of the guard said Pacquiao won by TKO in the 3rd round. Cotto was too bloodied to go on. It turns out Pacquiao won by decision. Strange that this always happens to me. Has this happened to you before? The last time I remember asking someone who said he knew Haddon won by decision.
An uncle even told me thru text that de la Hoya won by KO.
BryanaB,
Let’s get serious here.
You were at a coffee shop, reading a book.
While Manny was fighting Cotto. Huh!
You Should of at least got a Twitter account.
You were totally lost.
You go finish your Novel.
Not a decision win at all but TKO. Hm.
Mario, I was trying to enjoy the empty Sunday, as someone had convinced me years ago it would be better to stay away from the Pacquiao fight. Manila would change into a bourgeois paradise (no harm trying it out, right?). Nevertheless I couldn’t keep away from betting. I bet Pacquiao win in under 6 rounds and for a moment I thought I had won myself a nice Hong Kong vacation.
Twitter? You sure you want to recommend twitter?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdbrain
BryanB,
Yeah, Sunday is a good day for relaxing.
Don’t get me wrong, I love reading a good Novel now and then.
I was even surprise that Cotto lasted.
Wait for Manny to come home. Philippines will be a nutcase for Pacquiao.
“Works great on any Android phones. [Twitter] Works, even better on iPhones. That’s what i have.”
I’d say, Twitter is a good app’s
Stupid me and click on the hyperlink you’ve attached. LOL!
Anyway,
Here’s the Blow by Blow, or should I say, Toe-To-Toe with Manny’s and Cotto’s replay. Either way his the PACMAN!
[Manny Pacquiao's Blow-By-Blow with Cotto]
I made a couple of hundred betting against a loudmouth in-law who kept bragging that Pacqiao will take Cotto in 6 rounds.
Yes, Manny is surely the greatest. And he is more esteemed because he humbles himself.
Thank you very much, Manny, for the great fight. Mabuhay ka, Manny!
Betting on Pacquiao is not a good way to raise money because he’s always the favourite.
On the first bell, the odds resulted in:
A $10 bet getting $14 for Manny to win.
A $10 bet for draw netting $600
Thus:
1. If you are a small time bettor, chances are you are more likely to be risk averse or poor. The only winner with such odds are the big game players like Chavit Singson and Nograles.
2. Much as you would want to bet on the draw proposition with the high pay-off, (and given it’s a better result than your countryman losing) your Filipino genes and ‘konsiyensiya’ demand your execution for treason.
Of course, there’s also spread betting but that’s best left to the boxing experts.
Chiz “Boy Laway” Escudero? Well, he doesn’t care about probability (he only knows geometry and only uses it for bilyar). Only time will tell if his gamble to launch a narcissistic personality-based campaign will work.
thenashman,
Hella good punchline. LMAO!
Joe’s Synthesis of Boxing and Life:
Before Roach, Manny had the passion and the will, but not the strategy and the tactics. With Roach, his undeniable will was focused on technical improvement and specific fight plans.
If the Philippines would embrace American talents instead of fight over trivial people (Nicole and Smith), think of the achievements that could be at hand by applying that unique Filipino strong-minded determination to American-style goal-setting, plans and operational know-how.
Let go of history. Stop fighting the US and imagine a partnership for achievement.
Beyond that, Muhammad Ali will always be the greatest, but there is room on the podium for Manny to stand at his side. I somehow think both have the goodness of heart to respect the other as the greatest. So it is all well . . .
Joe
dollar joe,
Bingo!
Let’s go play ball now…
Mario,
Basketball, I presume. I’m 6’4″ with a deadly jumper from 18 feet and in. Of course the jump in the jumper these days is about one inch. But I can still drill it.
Joe
joe,
Though, you have the height advantage.
I am 5’9″ Filipino stature, with finess and agility.
One cannot compromise, the prowess mobility in the court.
This was at young tender age, Joe. LOL!
It’s your Out!
ahh, Another post guy. It would be good one-on-one for sure.
Joe
A few nights ago, I saw Washington Wizards vs Detroit Pistons. Wizards top-scorer (22 points, I think) was Earl Boykins. Five-foot five guard, and he can dunk just as he can shoot behind the 3-point line.
Villanueva (6′ 11″) was Pistons top scorer. [Tayshaun Prince was injury-reserve.]
UP n,
Earl is a Wizard for sure.
Still, I somehow think the Lakers, with their three 7′ centers and 6′ 10″ forwards and defensive dude Artest, whatever his altitude, and roster of talented guards like Kobe 6’8″ are the team to beat.
Joe
Joe,
Nope. Duncan will win his 5th title this year, with generous help from Parker, Ginobili and RJ. Yes, they have had a relatively slow start but Pops was experimenting with the new lineup and going 10 to 11 players deep in his rotation. No Spur is yet averaging more than 30 minutes per game! Maybe he thinks he still has the luxury as it’s too early in the season. I trust him, he’s one of the top coaches out there.
Go Spurs Go!
apanfilo,
Hey young whippersnapper,
the reason they can’t go more than thirty minutes is because they are so OLD,
especially that Duncan dude, who I have the greatest respect for, as he is a class act. But he needs a cane. I thought you understood better the limits of wheezers and geezers.
Joe
Joe,
Yup, Duncan’s getting on in years as well as Ginobili. But Parker and RJ are just peaking or at the peak of their careers. And they have a wonderful new acquisition in DeJuan Blair.
Anyway, the Big Fundamental is not that all washed up yet. He’s still very much capable of giving 20 and 10 every night. Plus, a menacing defensive presence in the middle. He’d give your Lakers their biggest heartache yet–and a heart attack for that really old geezer Phil Jackson. Hehe.
apanfilo,
Hah, yes Jackson is a geezer for sure, but still practices zen and dates a babe, the owner’s daughter, which keeps his blood pressure balanced and perspectives in check. Will check with you in a few months to see who is gloating and who is groveling.
Joe
The Chinese and Koreans and Japanese are closer. It’s not just USAmerican talents we have to embrace. Empires come and go, the US empire has stagnated.
Besides, USAmerican cars don’t fit well with our roads.
thenashman,
I agree regarding Chinese and Koreans and Japanese, not just American.
The Empire has not exactly stagnated, but gotten wise to the problems of trying to run every one else’s business. It will eventually be surpassed by the Chinese economy in scale because of the size/numbers in China. It will remain a huge economic and technological force. Stagnant is not the correct word to use. I’m not sure what is.
Joe
I shared this sentiment when looking at Manny Pacquiao and Freddie Roach. I thought this would be the ideal relationship of the Philippines and the U.S. Not only that but as the harmony of east and west.
If you could have watched the HBO documentary of this, you would be inspired with their relationship. Their relationship was not only as coach and student but they treat each other more as teamates and equals. In training, Pacquaio unquestionably followed Freddie Roach. He respected Roach’s scientific, methodical, systematic approach. But Freddie Roach did not held himself high over Manny, did not impose his own philosophy outside of training. And in the long run was willing leave to to Manny to make most of the decisions even in training. He acknowledged that Manny had something that his training could not give or even more. He had the heart, humility and piety. They were a team. Not one domineering over the other.
Even though Freddie Roach was haughty and proud (and I thought only fighters trash talked!), this was offset with Manny’s humility. With the western thought of viewing sports as a competition, the eastern thought of self-improvement persisted and flourished.
If only such a relationship is reflected in politics. If only Team Pacquiao would reflect Team PhilAm. Unfortunately this is not the case
Cotto effectively raised the bar of performance of Manny some notches higher than the last time Manny won over another champion.
Cotto both won and lost in a fight intended only for the good fighters.
Congrats Manny for turning boxing into a big-time business venture. Joke.
Its not a joke, boxing is a big-time business; long before pacquiao stepped in.
fighting for the country? thats a big LOL.
para sa bayan ito (pero ang pera sa akin lang)!
Now that the PPV buys are out, it appears Manny will earn a cool P1B pesos making him worth P2B.
And it’s mostly in CASH.
This is why Manny Villar needs him more than ever because Villar’s assets are landlocked.