Boxing Fanatico

A True Boxing Expert At Last!

2009-11-27T18:32:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in this blog before about the self-proclaimed boxing expert who does nothing but predicted Manny Pacquiao will either get beaten to pulp, knocked out early, or be totally dominated by his opponents like Dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and the latest Miguel Cotto. If you actually have read his previous articles, it would seem that Pacquiao would not even have the slightest chance of winning. And all he rants is the greatness of Juan Manuel Marquez (althought I consider him one of the greatest Mexican fighters) and the fight that he feels won by the latter in their last two fights. I resigned to the fact that the boxing site boxingnews24.com is just harboring clowns like Manuel Perez aka Liam Santiago who doesn't even deserve a score of F in grade school English class. Actually I still visit the site and read the clown's articles just for laughs. A guilty pleasure I admit and have been a part of my daily read. What can I say? My strange source of humor article. I don't discourage boxing fans from visiting their site and in fact I encourage you to read the articles there for there are still true boxing experts who can churn out an articles and analysis worthy of HBO or CNN news. I posted the article of Steve Lewis a contributor of boxingnews24.com and I can say that this is one of the most well researched and unbiased article relating to Manny Pacquiao. Read below and see what I mean.

-----

By Steve Lewis: Previously, I had written about the common post-Pacquiao fight phenomenon called “Monday Morning Quarterbacking.” There is also another sister effect to Monday Morning Quarterbacking. It has been part of our landscape since time immemorial. It is what is referred to by the newer generation as “player hating,” which is often defined as the disliking, resenting, or disapproving of a person due to his/her success or coveted assets. The term “player hater” is often associated with those who are jealous or envious of someone else’s achievements. Whether it is a frivolous and unsubstantiated claim of steroid use, or claims that Manny Pacquiao drains out opponents, or that he avoids fighters of a particular nationality, or that he plain lacks the skills of a true pugilist, people who make such criticisms often have an agenda. And one will be hard-pressed to be objective and unbiased when there is an agenda dictating how they view and perceive things.

It is often baffling why such a nice, humble, yet exciting fighter like Manny Pacquiao would be a target of player haters. He does not have the same self-aggrandizing pomp and brash personality of a Floyd Mayweather, nor the verbal antics of a Ricardo Mayorga, but for some reason, Pacquiao is an easy target. For the fan base of other fighters out there, it is perhaps the product of their disdain for Pacquiao’s rabid fan base and fanatical following, rather than due to Pacquiao himself. Now every major fighter has their legion of followers, but be that as it may, that is no reason to hate on the man himself. One needs to separate the “idol” from the “idolaters.” Those are two separate entities. But for other fighters, trainers, or promoters who player hate, theirs is due to something much more concrete: the pursuit of the almighty buck! Now money is not the only thing. Reputations and one’s place in the sports landscape and hierarchy factor in.

Nate Campbell: It has already been well documented that Nate Campbell had always desired a match against Pacquiao. Join the long list of those wanting to strike it rich in the Pacquiao sweepstakes. What differentiates Campbell as a Pacquiao player hater from all other would-be challengers is that Campbell does not primarily focus on his own attributes as a challenger, but rather downplays and belittles Pacquiao’s attributes as an opponent instead. It’s a classic “I-don’t-want-you-to-focus-on-my-shortcomings-so-let-me-deflect-the-attention-elsewhere” routine.

Others like Edwin Valero will not say, “Pacquiao sucks.” But rather Valero makes a case for himself by citing his punching power as a possible factor in defeating Pacquiao. The same with Shane Mosley. He does not demean Pacquiao in trying to land a match against him, but rather cites to his size, speed and championship experience to prove his worth.

So Nate Campbell’s grandstanding does not get taken seriously, particularly with the irresponsible use of the race card and claims that Pacquiao does not fight people at their own weight. Well, guess what? Pacquiao does not fight at his own weight either! Who knows what weight class he really belongs in? Is he a junior welter or a welterweight? Or is he just a bulked up lightweight? We’re not sure! So these justifications by Campbell is without much merit. Ivan Calderon can balloon all the way up to cruiserweight and challenge Vitali Klitschko at a catch-weight at the cruiserweight limit, and if Calderon pummels Klitschko to a bloody pulp, Campbell would probably say that Calderon did not beat Klitschko at his natural weight (heavyweight), rather than marvel at the fact that a way smaller guy went up in weight and beat a bigger man. That is what is referred to as a “lack of perspective.” And as a side note, as I see this constantly out there, 147 pounds is the welterweight MAXIMUM LIMIT. It does not mean that you have to weigh in at 147 to be a welterweight! All that is required for one to be a welterweight is to weight above 140 pounds, and no more than 147. So many people cannot grasp this concept of a weight ceiling. 147 is max, not a minimum. If the argument was “Allow a welterweight to max out at the limit if he wants to,” then fine. But get the concepts straight. And arguments about weight drain are overly exaggerated anyway. If Miguel Cotto were asked to fight at lightweight or even at jr. welter, then yes. There may be some merit there. But remember, Pacquiao did not have to do anything for Cotto. Pacquiao could have easily said, “Hey, Miguel. Want in on the Pacquiao sweepstakes? You come down to my division at 140.” But he didn’t. Instead, Pacquiao decided that he would be the one to climb up to welterweight, with the concession that Cotto come in one pound under what he previously came in at (which was 146 for the Joshua Clottey fight). Was that an unreasonable request? It was probably unnecessary, but was it unreasonable? If that extra one pound was make-or-break for Cotto, then that’s an indication of bigger problems. As I have said in football, if you can’t get a 1st down on 4th and inches, you probably don’t deserve to win anyway. Paulie Malignaggi: Another example of a fighter who is proven wrong one too many times, and has to find a reason as to why he gets debunked constantly. Malignaggi predicted a Pacquiao loss in both the Oscar De La Hoya and Miguel Cotto fight. Both predictions missed their mark. But to rationalize and justify his gross miscalculation, he implicitly attributes it to something sinister instead: steroids (and then cowers behind a disclaimer that he’ll “leave it at that”). And you can lump in the Mayweathers among this group. How could they be so wrong in their assessment of Pacquiao? “Well, it must be something like steroids because I can’t possibly be that off, can I?”

It should be noted that Malignaggi lost to both Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton. And for him to witness the spectacular dismantling of those two by Pacquiao leaves Malignaggi in quandary, because where does that put him in relation to Pacquiao? Afraid perhaps to realize that Pacquiao is light years ahead of him, it is easier to dismiss it by alleging steroid use as a way to explain the unpalatable (which the Nevada State Athletic Commission has already confirmed that Pacquiao is clean). Malignaggi goes the extra mile in belittling the NSAC’s testing procedures, stating how it’s easy to beat the tests. Now that’s really grasping for straws. If it were that easy, everyone would be doing it. All other boxers who still think that Pacquiao’s achievements are not all that special: let us see you do better. One would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the current top-10 super featherweight or lightweight division who can legitimately beat Miguel Cotto, even at a 145 lb catch-weight. Find me a flyweight champion or contender who you think has a legitimate shot at a world welterweight title a decade down the line. Just last calendar year, 2008, Pacquiao was fighting in the super featherweight division before his ascent up the ranks. So it’s not like Pacquiao has had much time to settle above 130. In 2009, he captures the WBO welterweight title. Can Humberto Soto or Robert Guerrero take out Cotto at 145 lbs? How about Juan Manuel Marquez? We saw how ineffective he was above 140. Or how about Nate Campbell himself? The same guy who has twice lost to Robbie Peden, fell short against Isaac Hlatswayo, lost to Francisco Lorenzo, and battled Edelmiro Martinez to a draw in 2003 (so he can’t say he was a skinny teenager back then). In other words, only a rare specimen like Pacquiao can do what he achieved. The guy debuted as a straw-weight and is now a welterweight champion, for goodness sake. And he didn’t squeak points-wins against De La Hoya, Hatton, and Cotto either. He knocked those guys around and scored TKO wins against all three! And it’s too bad that a good number of people lack the perspective to appreciate such a feat. Of course, some have to in order to protect their claim as the better fighter (Mayweather), or for strictly financial reasons (Campbell), or simply because they can’t explain and accept that someone could be that good (Malignaggi). Then there are those, who, in today’s age of pseudo journalists/internet bloggers, just like to stir up the pot and see people become hot and bothered (S & P?). But such is the business. As they often retort, “Don’t hate the player. Hate the game.”

Several major American cities want Pacquiao-Mayweather

2009-11-25T17:00:00.000-08:00

James Carville is attempting to make a play that would bring Pacquiao-Mayweather to New Orleans. Several American cities want the fight.

The fight has barely started any negotiation at all and is mostly still in the press, but Bob Arum of Top Rank is fielding offer upon offer from major American cities that want to host a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Las Vegas

Go back a few days and read Brick's breakdown of why this fight needs to be in Las Vegas. Also recognize that the reasons listed point to this fight almost sure landing in Vegas. I'd say it's 95% that Sin City hosts Pacquiao-Mayweather. It's the most likely, most logical, and most profitable. Arum is also said to be working with a group willing to build a 30,000-seat outdoor stadium on the Vegas Strip:

Perhaps it's fitting that Las Vegas officials and casino magnate Steve Wynn have already contacted Arum about staging Pacquiao-Mayweather on the Strip. One possibility would be to build a temporary, 30,000-seat outdoor arena on a vacant lot at the old Frontier, where there would be room for corporate hospitality tents and a Super Bowl-like atmosphere.

New York or New Jersey

Yankee Stadium, Citi Field (home of the Mets) and Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (home of the NFL's Giants and Jets), have all been in contact. None are happening, and Arum explains why to FOX Sports:

"There's no conceivable way the fight can take place in New York City because of the tax structure."

In short, 15% of the purses would go to municipal, state and other taxes if the fight were in New York, and the Jersey taxes aren't much lighter. There is absolutely no way you convince Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao that this makes sense for them, because it doesn't make sense.

Los Angeles

The Staples Center has been in touch, reportedly. Pacquiao-Mayweather would surely obliterate the arena records set by Margarito-Mosley this past January, but they simply may not be able to afford it. In fact, it's beyond unlikely that they could outbid the casino folks in Vegas.

Dallas

Pacquiao hadn't even fought Miguel Cotto before this rumor started. The extravagant Cowboys Stadium could hold about 100,000 for boxing, and Texans have turned out in recent times, at least for Juan Diaz fights in Houston. Given that Pacquiao-Mayweather blurs most all fan lines, the fight could do very, very well, and would easily break Texas' record for live gate (which is Marquez-Diaz, by the way). But in the end, would they really make enough money? It'd be tough. But I still say you cannot count out Jerry Jones' desire for attention for himself, the Cowboys, Dallas and that damned mall stadium of his. Jerry might get reckless with the money just to have a trophy case sort of setup out in one of the halls of the stadium with lots of photos of himself standing too close to Mayweather and/or Pacquiao.

Texas also doesn't have those fight taxes.

New Orleans

James Carville -- yes, that James Carville -- is talking with Arum about bringing Pacquiao-Mayweather to The Big Easy, and sees it as a chance for poetry in violence:

"There is an incredible narrative here," Carville said. "This fight could signal a rebirth for boxing and the city of New Orleans. We could have one together."

The Superdome (home of the Saints) hosted the Leon Spinks-Muhammad Ali rematch in 1978, and capacity for that fight was 65,000. Officials say it would be about 70,000 now. Carville is speaking with the Louisiana Governor's office about getting the tax waived to try and help New Orleans' case. The Superdome was also the host for the "No Mas" Leonard-Duran fight. There's plenty of boxing history in New Orleans, but I don't think the juice is there to beat Vegas.

By the way, I went ahead and set up a coverage page to keep all of the Pacquiao-Mayweather talk together while we await what appears to be the inevitable, which is a fight made for May 1, 2010. If the date changes, I'll change the date. If it winds up not happening, the page goes away. But it's there for those interested.

-----

This is how big this fight is and the repercussion to the boxing industry if this boxing fight does not materialize. After the manhandling Miguel Cotto in 12 rounds, the crowds chanted "We want Floyd" [Mayweather]. And I am sure promoters will move both heaven and earth to make this boxing fight a reality. This is the fight all boxing fans are waiting for. But it's hard to imagine at first that Manny Pacquiao who started fighting professionally at 106 lbs. will now be defending his Welterweight Championship belt at 147 lbs. It does defies the laws of Physics, I may seconded other boxing writer's thoughts. Now that Pacquiao mentioned in an interview that he will fight Mayweather, let us hear the other camp and I hope he [Mayweather] will make the purse split an excuse to duck or avoid Manny Pacquiao. The boxing fans are waiting. Manny Pacquiao always guarantees that he will make the boxing fan's money worth it by letting them watch a fight like no other.

Raul B. Romilla

Boxing Fanatico

Pacquiao tested clean following Nov. 14 TKO win over Cotto

2009-11-24T21:59:00.001-08:00

NEW YORK (SI.COM) -- Seven time world champion Manny Pacquiao tested clean following his Nov. 14 TKO win over Miguel Cotto, SI.com has learned.

Pacquiao, who became the first boxer to win seven championships in as many weight classes, underwent urine tests twice -- before and after the fight -- and both came back negative, said Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. It's the the 10th time the Filipino has turned in clean tests in Nevada.

Immediately following his win over Cotto, fans inside the MGM Grand Arena pleaded for a megafight with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who many have regarded as the top pound-for-pound fighter since his return in September. In response to the expected fanfare, Floyd Mayweather Sr. publicly accused Pacquiao of taking steroids.

Mayweather Sr., Floyd's father and trainer, told SI's Chris Mannix that he believed Pacquiao's ability to take Cotto's powerful shots and keep coming proved the champion was taking performance-enhancing substances. "I know Floyd is the best," said Mayweather Sr. "But when [your opponent] uses something illegal, even the best can get hurt."

Floyd Sr. offered no evidence to support his claim.

Since 2002, Nevada has required fighters to submit urine samples before every fight. Those samples test for 40 types of steroids, diuretics and masking agents. In his 10 Las Vegas fights, Pacquiao has never tested positive, and his conditioning coach, Alex Ariza, said the only substances his fighter took leading up to the fight with Cotto were whey protein and liver-support supplements, in addition to his 6,500-calorie diet.

Pacquiao has been bombarded with accusations of doping, having conquered seven weight divisions since entering the sport at 106 pounds when he was 16. And after Mayweather Sr.'s comments following the Nov. 14 bout, there has been speculation that if a megafight between Floyd Jr. and Pacquiao is agreed upon, Mayweather's camp may place stipulations in the fight contract that would require both fighters to take separate, mandatory drug tests in addition to the required tests by state athletic commissions.

But at 10-0 with his Nevada drug tests, Pacquiao has provided plenty of proof he cleanly fought his way to seven world titles.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/mma/boxing/11/24/pacquiao-clean/index.html#ixzz0Xqe30DF7

------

Take that Floyd Mayweather Sr. Take that Paulie Malinaggi and especially to you self-proclaimed "boxing expert" Liam Santiago aka Manuel Perez aka Saddam's Information Minister.

Is Manny Pacquiao too good to tell the world that Pacquiao is on steroids? Or that these poor excuse for a boxing expert is running out of excuses. Be original guys and I have several that you can use. Overdose of gamma radiation is one. What about checking Pacquiao's physiology, he might be of extra terrestrial origins. Well there is the super soldier serum that the Nevada State Athletic Commission is not yet aware of.

Really, these guys make me laugh. I can use a laugh or two and reading these guys articles has become my daily guilty pleasure I admit.

Manny Pacquiao TKOD Miguel Cotto in 12th Round

2009-11-15T00:25:00.001-08:00

Manny Pacquiao makes boxing history for winning his 7th division title courtesy of the tough and strong Miguel Cotto.

1st round showed Cotto's effective jabs but on the 3nd round Pacquiao dropped him for the first time and another in the 4th round. Cotto is a bloody mess through out the fight and resorted to backpedaling in the last few rounds.

On the 12th round referee Kenny Bayless decided that enough is enough for Cotto and stepped in stopping the punishment the Puerto Rican fighter is receiving from Pacquiao.

I watched the fight live live courtesy of Caloocan City Mayor Recom Echiverri in the aptly named Victory Central Mall and Manny Pacquiao is indeed victorious in his quest for his never been achieved 7th title.

Miguel Cotto always a gentleman inside and outside the ring congratulated Manny Pacquiao for his well deserved victory.

I posted earlier US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's prediction on the Pacquiao Cotto fight and the prediction of Manuel Perez of boxing24.com. Guess who predicted in correctly?

Also Manny Pacquiao promoted his just finished movie Wapakman and invited us all to see the film. Being a Pacquiao fan, I'll watch it. I even bought 10 copies of Asian edition of Time magazine wherein Manny Pacquiao is in the cover.

Raul Romilla
Boxing Fanatico

Watch Manny Pacquiao Miguel Cotto Fight Free Online

2009-11-14T06:32:00.000-08:00

Hello to all boxing fanatico or fanatics!

Do you want to watch Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto fight free online? Check out the sites below.

http://www.justin .tv/

http://www.unlitv.net/

You can also download here Sopcast client and you can create your account before you log in or just log in as anonymous. Then find the channel that features Pacquiao Cotto bout.

Download Sopcast Client

So those who don't have PPV channels, try the links above. I watched Pacquiao vs Dela Hoya on Justin TV and Mayweather vs. Marquez on Sopcast and its great watching it live.

With Justin TV, you can also join the chat while watching the bout.

Tomorrow, I get to watch the fight live on a big screen in a mall aptly named Victory Central Mall. Hopefully, Manny Pacquiao ends up victorious in that bout. Let us all enjoy this historic and possibly record breaking fight.

Raul B. Romilla
Boxing Fanatico

Weight battle over: Pacquiao, Cotto now brace for war

2009-11-13T22:17:00.000-08:00

Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao had a trouble-free trip at the weighing scales while his Puerto Rican rival Miguel Cotto barely made the limit Friday (Saturday in Manila) on the eve of their battle for Cotto’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto show off their fine forms during the official weigh-in for their ‘Firepower’ title fight Friday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. AP

Before a raucous crowd of 7,000 fans, the 30-year-old Pacquiao easily checked in at 144 lbs. while natural 147-pounder Cotto, who reportedly had trouble sliding in weight, tipped the scales at exactly the stipulated catch weight of 145 lbs.

The Pacman’s 144 lb was his heaviest ever weight, according to the Associated Press. He fought at welterweight only once before, last year against the legendary Oscar de la Hoya, but he weighed in at only 142 lbs for that “Dream Match" that ended with “Golden Boy" quitting on his stool at the start of the ninth. The last time Pacquiao climbed the ring against erstwhile light-welterweight supreme Ricky Hatton, he was 138 lbs.

With no worries whatsoever about cutting down on food before the weigh-in, Pacquiao came to the well-attended activity relaxed and in good mood, even engaging in a colorful banter with the event’s host, actor Jeremy Piven.

Piven asked Pacquiao if it is his strategy to become abstinent during training for a fight and the Pacman, according to the Las Vegas Sun, replied: “This is like the Jimmy Kimmel show... Once I start my training I have to focus on my fight so there is no more, I mean, there is no more night time."

For the 29-year-old Cotto, the 145 lb mark was his lightest since weighing the same two years ago in his winning bout with Zab Judah.

The Boricuan bomber virtually admitted having exerted extra effort to cut down his weight but maintained that he’s in the best of shape for Saturday’s fight (Sunday in Manila).

“I think everybody is unhappy when they can’t eat," Cotto was quoted as saying by the Las Vegas Sun. “But I’m pretty healthy. I ate well for this fight. My strength will be too much tomorrow night."

As if to demonstrate the electricity generated by the fight, celebrities turned up for the official weigh-in. The Las Vegas Sun reported the likes of New York Giants’ running back Brandon Jacobs; retired boxer Roberto Duran; Puerto Rican champ Juan Manuel Lopez; and Filipino WBA interim super flyweight boss Nonito “The Filipino" Flash" Donaire, Jr.

Roach, Santiago ‘showdown’

While the two protagonists maintained a cordial demeanor towards each other, their respective trainers did add some “tension" to the affair.

We believe we have an advantage in speed and in power, too. My speed is still there and if you have speed you can create power,

– Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao’s guru, Freddie Roach, and Cotto’s trainer Joe Santiago, got into a heated argument, apparently over Cotto’s weight, the Las Vegas Sun reported. But Top Rank boss Bob Arum stood in the way and stopped it cold.

Engaging the opponent’s trainer is nothing new to Roach as the three-time Trainer of the Year awardee exchanged barbs with Floyd Mayweather, Sr., who handled latest Pacquiao KO victim Hatton last May. It is said to be part of Roach’s psy-war strategies.

The two protagonists, though, were leaving it up to their trainers to get into each other’s skin, preferring to settle the issue inside the ring.

"We believe we have an advantage in speed and in power, too. My speed is still there and if you have speed you can create power," Pacquiao said in an Associated Press report.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), who reportedly plans to enter the ring on fight night at around 149 lbs., will be gunning for a historic major title in a seventh weight division, after earlier conquests at the flyweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight classes.

Additionally, at stake for the “Firepower" showdown is the first-ever World Boxing Council Diamond Belt, an honorary championship for elite boxers like Pacquiao and Cotto. This belt is handcrafted by an artisan in Mexico City and features 18 carat gold fusion with about 800 diamonds, emeralds and rubies, as well as 150 Swarovsky semiprecious stones.

Underdog Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), who is expected to climb the ring a lot heavier than Pacquiao, is poised to keep his WBO belt and prevent the reigning pound-for-pound king from reaching another career milestone at his expense. Observers, however, noted that the diet regimen that Cotto underwent during training might be a factor come fight night.

“If he (Pacquiao) thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent. If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong," Cotto said.

But the Pacquiao camp will be ready for everything that the 29-year-old from Caguas, Puerto Rico will bring into the ring.

“I truly think Cotto’s going to run around us a little bit because he’s going to try to be more of a counter-puncher in this fight," Roach said.

“I’m not exactly sure if he’s going to try and use his strength early or use his boxing ability early. We’re just prepared for whatever he brings," he added.

And that means even to the point of going toe-to-toe against the bigger and stronger champion.

“One hundred percent. We will trade with him if he wants to, yes," Roach said. - GMANews.TV

-----

Let's get ready to watch the fight of the year or possibly the best fight of the decade. All is set and only a few hours left for fight night WBO Welterweight Championship Firepower: Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto. Both camps have prepared their strategies and their secret weapons will be revealed tomorrow and let us see who will bring the most efficient and powerful artillery. Ricky Hatton's scud missile of a punch although I can say is considered a powerful weapon in his arsenal never really hit Pacquiao and the Filipino fighter's bombs got him first which landed spot on and with the effectiveness of the US military's MOAB "Daisy Cutter" bomb.

Hopefully, Manny Pacquiao kept his arsenal intact, with his blazing hand speed, quickness in lateral movement and the mighty power of his fists. He'll need it when facing the mysterious strong and tough guy Miguel Cotto. We'll never know what is in store for Pacquiao.

So this coming exchange of blows by two gentlemen of this violent sport of boxing, will reveal the real deal between the two. One who will automatically face the former pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Raul B. Romilla
Boxing Fanatico

No doubt, Pacquiao will beat Cotto, says Clinton

2009-11-13T21:41:00.000-08:00

Even the secretary of state of the world’s most influential country has no doubt: Manny Pacquiao, the world’s top pound-for-pound boxer, will again reign in the ring.

“Of course, the Pacman is going to win...Is there any doubt?" said US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton when asked by Kapuso and basketball star Chris Tiu during a forum at the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila on Friday.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gestures during a forum with students at the University of Santo Tomas, the Philippines's oldest, in Manila, Philippines on Friday. Clinton is in the Philippines on a visit to show support for the country's fight against extremists and its efforts to rebuild after three major storms rocked the islands. AP

“Pacman" is Pacquiao’s nickname.

The 67th US Secretary of State’s response drew loud applause in the town hall meeting, attended mostly by students.

Tiu asked Clinton whether she thought Pacquiao would be able to snatch the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown from Miguel Cotto in their highly anticipated Las Vegas match, dubbed “Firepower", on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

The most popular Filipino will be back in the boxing ring in Las Vegas on Saturday to take on Cotto of Puerto Rico in a 145-pound (66-kilogram) fight that will be closely watched back home.

Clinton’s prediction is similar to that of the majority of respondents to a Yahoo! Sports poll, which posted the question, “How will Saturday night’s fight end?"

A big chunk of the 36,338 who had voted so far or about 64 percent believe the Filipino boxing idol is going to win by either knockout or technical knockout.

On the other hand, 17 percent is going for a KO/TKO win for Cotto.

In the event the 12-round title fight goes the distance, Pacquiao still gets a double-digit batting average with 13 percent foreseeing a Pacman-via-decision outcome, and only seven percent favoring a Cotto win by the judges’ cards.

Upon arriving in the so-called “Entertainment Capital of the World", Pacquiao has been established as a 3-1 favorite to win over Cotto in their anticipated “Firepower" showdown on Saturday at the MGM Grand (Sunday in Manila).

Manny Pacquiao, left, and Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto pose for photos during a news conference at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), in Las Vegas. The boxers will face each other in a WBO welterweight championship boxing match on Saturday. AP

The 30-year-old Pacquiao is targeting a historic seventh world title in a seventh weight division, a career milestone that champ Cotto is deadset to foil.

Clinton said she’s aware that boxing and basketball are “pretty big" in the Philippines. Every time Pacquiao steps into the ring, he brings his native Philippines to a virtual standstill.

A Chicago native, Clinton also confessed that the Chicago Bulls were her favorites — until she moved to New York and started backing the Knicks, something she said was “kind of discouraging."

“Now the Knicks are trying maybe to get LeBron James, now that would make it very exciting in New York. So I will watch that. I am not sure exactly what will happen," Clinton said. – With reports from AP

-----

Confidence level is high for the WBO welterweight challenger and P4P King Manny Pacquiao and even the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is confident of a Pacquiao victory on his fight with WBO Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto. So it's up to Pacquiao to confirm his status as the best boxing fighter the Philippines have ever produced and the best in boxing history even besting the record of the now retired Oscar Dela Hoya.

Boxing fans love surprises and Manny Pacquiao never failed to surprise us boxing fanatics and I hope we will be happily surprised again with the result of this boxing fight. I'm sure Miguel Cotto has prepared something under his sleeve but I hope Pacquiao's ammunitions would do more damage to the other. As the saying goes, "It's better to give than to receive." especially in this sport and hopefully Manny Pacquiao's generosity remains with him inside the boxing ring.

Raul B. Romilla
Boxing Fanatico

Pacquiao Cotto Face to Face in Vegas, Pacquiao flashes his trademark grin

2009-11-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

You may notice how focused and serious WBO Welterweight Champ Miguel Cotto is in this face to face pictorial with six time world champion Manny Pacquiao. Unlike the P4P king which flashes his trademark grin on ninety percent of the occasion, which could be a computer geek term of a default setting. We might say the Cotto is dead serious on this fight with the Philippine pride and he doesn't want to show anything which says otherwise. That's right, boxing is a very serious and dangerous profession and staying focused is one vital part of the preparation to make ones campaign successful and keeping ones health in tip top shape before and after the bout. Hats off to Cotto for he intends to keep his title and he wants to prove a point to his detractors that what they believe is wrong, he is the top guy in the welterweight division and the best man to face Floyd Mayweather Jr.

I have read an article once of a boxing writer who even measured Pacquiao's toughness by judging his looks and attitude in front of his opponent. He even thinks that by showing the famous Pac grin to the other boxer especially face to face during photo ops means a show of weakness and fear. And he thinks that Ricky Hatton, the would be opponent that time is so strong that he is hoping that Pacquiao must show some sort of opposition when the fight starts to make the bout interesting. Well we all know what happened when Pacquiao clashed with Hatton inside the ring. And the boxing writer now says that Hatton is not the top dog in that division. The boxing writer's name? Manuel Perez. Mr. Perez says he will quit his writing career if Cotto fails to defeat Manny Pacquiao. Although when Ricky Hatton lost Pacquiao, he argued that Hatton didn't followed his trainer's instructions so he does not consider the best man winning the fight, according to his article. So, expect hallelujahs on top of his lungs if Cotto wins but read next to infinite excuses if otherwise.

You may see Pacman smile a lot, dance on few occasions of his training and keeps that wide grin of his on photo ops even in front of his opponent. Yes, you may add a few guesting on TV shows, making and even promoting his movie, but when it comes to his attitude on training, he really means business and damn dead serious on keeping his winning streak and form. He is competitive in training and during the bouts but unlike other boxers, he enjoys and savors every moment of his successful boxing career. Pacquiao is already living the dream and all he does is thank everyone who have been a party to his success like his boxing fans.

Raul B. Romilla
Boxing Fanatico

Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank

Pacquiao Cotto Preview: Shooting Down the "Cotto Is Shot" Theory

2009-11-10T19:01:00.000-08:00

Published: Nov 08 2009 by: Scott Levinson

Miguel Cotto Should not be Written Off Before the Pacquiao-Cotto fight

The common perception among boxing observers is that Miguel Cotto is past his best. They say he’s an old 28, feeling the affects of a long career before he’d prefer to. Like his countrymen Wilfred Benitez and Felix Trinidad, his chronological age was surpassed by his actual ring age. A tough run at 140 followed by a world-class schedule at 147 have left him worn out. The Margarito beating robbed him of his confidence, chin, and edge. The Clottey fight nudged him a little further down the hill. This is Cotto in decline.

You see a battering like the one he absorbed from Margarito, and you can’t help but think it took a ton out of him. We get caught up in the inertia of the thought until we don’t question it anymore. But has this shot version of Cotto really manifested itself or is all this speculation a misnomer? I don’t see a lot of shot fighters beating top guys like Joshua Clottey, they usually fold under what Clottey brought to the table that night. Shot fighters don’t look as good as Cotto looked during portions of that fight. Sure there’s some evidence suggesting he could be a spent force, but is it possible that he is not? Haven’t the experts been wrong before?

Examples Where the Experts Were Wrong

I think back to Holyfield-Tyson I. Holyfield had lost two of his last four, both losses heavily indicative of a fighter on the slide. The Michael Moorer loss and the rubber-match stoppage to Riddick Bowe saw an almost decrepit-looking Evander struggling to show flashes of his prior form. The perception that he was shopworn was much stronger than whatever we may be thinking about Cotto. Some insiders were fearful about what might happen to Evander against an apparently resurgent Tyson. Were the experts correct? More like: What were they thinking?

Then you think of Shane Mosley, presumably well past his prime, putting on a clinic against Margarito, and it should make us hesitant to give fighters this tag the next time around. Remember what most observers were saying about Mosley before that fight? Does what we saw in the ring have any connection to those opinions?

What were people saying about Bernard Hopkins, age 44, a loser in three of his last five, before he fought Kelly Pavlik? Now take that image and juxtapose it against what we saw in the ring that night. Did Pavlik win any 15-second portion of that fight? Not only were the experts wrong, they were as colossally off-the-mark as one can be.

As a young follower of the sport, I remember watching Roberto Duran, the King of reversing form prove the doubters wrong multiple times. Written off after his early-80’s slump, he came back with another successful title run. Then against Iran Barkley years later, he did the same thing, proving that you can’t handicap human beings like horses. Sure a fighter might have a run of troubling performances, but we often jump the gun in writing a guy off. We don’t account for the human spirit, a force that can lift a man to do things his circumstances shouldn’t allow.

Final Thoughts and Looking to Pacquiao vs. Cotto

So we see it’s not an anomaly when a presumably faded fighter is somehow able to hit the “RESET” button for at least one more night. It’s happened before, and it will happen again. Will it happen with Cotto? This writer tends to think there is some truth to the belief that Cotto is damaged goods. But I urge those who share that thought to consider some of these examples, and realize that if we are wrong, it wouldn’t be that big of a shock.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Ricky Romero / Creative Commons 3.0 License

-----

Indeed Miguel Cotto is a dangerous fighter for Manny Pacquiao and he can't be too complacent come game time. But I'm sure he will follow the fight plan his fighting guru Freddie Roach prepared for this coming fight and being the obedient and diligent student, success is not far from Pacquiao's grasp. Skill is an important factor in every boxing bout but discipline makes one boxer exponentially adept and dangerous inside the ring.

Raul B. Romilla

Boxing Fanatico

Before Pacquiao Cotto: How Many of Manny's Championships are Legitimate

2009-11-10T06:31:00.001-08:00

Published: Nov 09 2009 by: Scott Levinson

Manny Pacquiao has claims to six world championships, but how many are legit?

Manny Pacquiao has won titles in six different weight classes (some incorrectly say five), but which ones are legitimate? Who can really sort through the muddled alphabet-soup mess? Well actually, even in the murky confusion, we can often determine a real championship from a spurious title. We must try to establish the differences in quality among the alphabet straps, or even when a fighter is “World Champion” despite being unrecognized as such by the sanctioning bodies. And we must do this “as we go” since the landscape is always changing.

Now with the influx of interim, regular, and super champions, I defy anyone to keep track of it all. A casual fan feels lost and referring to these organizations for clarity will only make it worse. Boxing insiders must rise above it, and develop a consensus and reality that might sometimes exclude the sanctioning bodies.

We cannot withhold World Championship status to a fighter in lieu of title unification, given the impossible obligations that would now entail, the absurd practice of having multiple divisional titlists even within one organization, the politics, and the unwillingness of these groups to work together. We collectively must find a new way, an essence of clarity and truth, and shun those who try to cloud it while supporting those who champion it.

Let’s look at Pacquiao’s championships and see if we can’t determine which ones were legit and which ones were not.

WBC Flyweight Champion (1998-1999)

In December of ’98, Manny knocked out Thai Chatchai Sasakul in eight rounds to win the WBC Flyweight Title. Sasakul, 33-1, was in his third defense after winning the title from Yuri Arbachakov, a prodigious talent, and perhaps the top flyweight of the 90’s. At the time Sasakul relieved him of his belt, Yuri was the recognized #1 guy, undefeated and in his 11^th defense. By “beating the guy that beat the guy,” Pacquiao became “the guy.” His claim as former Flyweight Champion cannot really be challenged on the grounds of merit.

Verdict: Legitimate

IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (2001-03)

After losing his flyweight title, he immediately leapfrogged the 115 and 118 lb. classes to fight at 122. After a “reign” as WBC International Super Bantamweight Champion, he knocked out Lehlo Ledwaba to become IBF Super Bantamweight Champion. Ledwaba, 33-1-1 and in his sixth defense, was a splendid fighter, a classy and talented practitioner with an almost-irrefutable claim as being the #1 guy at junior featherweight. By the time this fight happened, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales had left the division. Their alphabet soup replacements were simply not on Ledwaba’s level.

Verdict: Legitimate

Ring Magazine/Universally Recognized Featherweight Champion (2003-05)

Here we have a situation where we are forced to virtually ignore the sanctioning bodies. In November of ’03, Pacquiao stopped Barrera in 11 rounds. No official title was at stake, but Barrera was the Ring Magazine Featherweight Champion at the time. He first cemented his status by beating #1 Naseem Hamed. Barrera further locked in his position as World Featherweight Champion by exacting revenge against WBC Champion Erik Morales, but he refused the belt. Good enough? I would say so.

We don’t need nor should we require the sanctioning bodies to cosign on what we already know to be true. If they want to get on board, fine, but if not, we must defer to a higher order of reasoning. There is virtually no way one could coherently debate Barrera’s (and therefore Pacquiao’s) championship legitimacy at this weight.

Verdict: Legitimate

WBC Super Featherweight Champion (2008)

Again, we have an alarming gap in reality as we know it compared to the often times Bizarro World of the sanctioning bodies. Why did it take until 2008 before Manny was crowned at junior lightweight by a major sanctioning body? His run at 130 began with his last loss, to Erik Morales in March of ‘05. By the end of ’06, however, he had stopped Morales twice in rematches and was the clear-cut #1 guy. Who else was there? Barrera? Well, he had already lost to Pacquiao before. Marquez? He was still at 126. Manny went on to beat Barrera again at 130, but still had to beat Marquez before getting a major belt. Whatever. He was the best junior lightweight in the world from ’06-’08, hands down.

Verdict: Legitimate

WBC Lightweight Champion (2008)

Nowadays we often hear the term “strap-holder,” which indicates a fighter who holds a belt from a major sanctioning body, but whose claim as World Champion is shaky at best. David Diaz, outclassed by Manny is nine rounds, was a strap-holder. He won the “interim WBC title” when he beat Jose Armando Santa Cruz, and later was named the organization’s champion when “regular” champion Joel Casamayor was stripped. Not exactly spine-tingling stuff.

Pacquiao needed to beat Casamayor to have become the real lightweight champion .You could almost make a case for unified titlist, Nate Campbell, but nobody thought of Diaz as the real lightweight champion. You can argue Casamayor benefited from a robbery against Santa Cruz, who Diaz stopped or that Casamayor was about to lose to Marquez, who Pacquiao beat, therefore Manny was the legitimate champion. You could argue that. And you would lose that argument.

Verdict: Illegitimate

World Junior Welterweight Champion (2009)

In today’s age, it doesn’t get more clear-cut than this. What the alphabet organizations have to say about it is almost irrelevant. I don’t know, nor do I care. Ricky Hatton was the Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion, a distinction he had enjoyed since deposing Kostya Tszyu. By beating Hatton, Pacquiao became, and is still the recognized champion at 140. If his first bout after Cotto does not get made at 140, however, he would rightfully lose that recognition.

Verdict: Legitimate

Let’s Add It All Up! (The Final Verdict)

As of this writing, Manny has won titles in six different weight classes, five of which are legitimate championships. It’s nothing short of ridiculous to deny him his due at featherweight based on sanctioning body technicalities and maneuverings, a fact overlooked by many in the media when summarizing Pacquiao’s accomplishments.

Nevertheless, what Manny has accomplished is a staggering feat, only achievable by fighting the best, which Manny has done in almost every division he has been in. On Saturday, he goes for an unheard-of title in his seventh weight class. Would it be his sixth legitimate championship if he wins? Well, the catch-weight component, as well as the divisional presence of Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather makes that highly debatable. But it would be a good start.

Be sure to keep checking in with ProBoxing-Fans.com for continued coverage on everything related to Pacquiao vs. Cotto. You can take a look at our Pacquiao vs. Cotto preview and prediction and then on the night of the fight check in for Pacquiao Cotto results.

Photo Credit: Mike Gonzalez / Creative Commons 3.0 License

-----

I posted this article from ProBoxing-fan.com for the benefit of those anti-Pacquiao factions who blindingly question Manny Pacquiao's achievements in boxing. All they can mention is Juan Manuel Marquez won both fights with Pacquiao. I hope this article by Scott Levinson would be an eye opener to those who doubts the P4P king's skills and mastery over his opponents.

Raul B. Romilla

Boxing Fanatico

Sports Writer Thinks Cotto Will Win, Puts His Career On The Line

2009-11-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

For sheer guts in the field of sports writing, this one wins them all. We have our own reasons for believing one boxer would win against another maybe because one sports analyst sees and knows something that others don't. Yes, I believe Miguel Cotto has the boxing skills and strength to give Manny Pacquiao a run for his money. But being so overly confident as to give a fearless statement that says that he would end his career for a wrong boxing prediction would simply be like a career suicide. Even asking other boxing fans to join his bet in favor of Cotto. Win or lose, that's a big mistake. He puts not just his name on the line, but also the name of the organization that he is in.

I'm still for fellow countryman Manny Pacquiao, whom I've been an avid boxing fan even before winning his Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation title for fighting Chokchai Chockvivat for the OPBF flyweight title.

Here's my analysis of Manny Pacquiao's skills. He's really, really quick on using his mitts, that's one. Two, he's also a sharpshooter when it comes to his punches, meaning he's not just throwing punches, Pacquiao or the "Pacman" makes sure he hits the target effectively. That plus the extra power punch of the Filipino boxing pride would mean disaster to the opponent. And last but not the least is the variety of his punches that comes from different crazy locations as if fighting not one, but seems fighting ten boxers simultaneously.

Too bad I don't gamble and I'm not willing to bet anything of monetary value. Just national pride and bragging rights.

Below is the statement of the boxing writer that I am mentioning in this blog.

"I still stand by my statement that if Cotto does not beat Pacquiao, I will quit my writing career. Trust me, put your mortgage on Cotto, he is going to stop the little Filipino. Just trust me." said Liam Santiago. [Full story]

Raul B. Romilla
Boxing Fanatico

COTTO: PACQUIAO WON'T BEAT ME

2009-11-08T23:53:00.000-08:00

BOXING NEWS

Cotto - vowed to halt latest Pacquiao's title bid.

Miguel Cotto is convinced he will beat Manny Pacquiao in Saturday's Las Vegas superfight.

Cotto is rated the underdog by the bookmakers for the pair's showdown at the MGM Grand, where Pacquiao will be seeking a seventh world title - namely Cotto's WBO welterweight crown.

However, the Puerto Rican is adamant that will not happen.

"If he thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent," said Cotto.

"If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong."

Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, has spoken about how his man could end the fight in the very first round but, not surprisingly, Cotto has scoffed at such suggestions.

"Forget about Freddie Roach," he said when asked about the trainer's comments. "The only thing Freddie can do is train Manny. He can't go over the ropes and into the ring to fight against Miguel Cotto. He can only train Manny the best he can.

"He may say and think Manny will knock me out but at the end of the day, it is just Manny and Miguel Cotto in the ring. No matter what kind of things Freddie Roach says before the fight, I have a very strong mind. The psyche game? I'm not going to follow that game."

There have also been suggestions that the Pacquiao camp are already planning ahead for their man's next fight in March - possibly against Floyd Mayweather Jr - but Cotto says if that's the case then they are playing a dangerous game.

"What they say and what they do does not concern me," Cotto added. "They know what they have in front of him. He better be focused on what they will have in front of him in Miguel Cotto.

"Once I beat Manny Pacquiao they can continue their plans and do what they want but I am not going home without winning this fight."

Instead it could be Cotto facing Mayweather should he win on Saturday night.

Asked about the prospect of such a fight, Cotto said: "I am here for the big names and ready for the hot opponents. That's what boxing needs for the guys at the top to fight other guys at the top, like it was 20 years ago. Make the fights that fans want to watch.

"I am here for any boxer that wants to fight Miguel Cotto. They have to start with my company and I am more than ready to fight the biggest names in boxing."

sportinglife.com

-----

The suspense is killing me and the days seems taking forever. I already secured a ticket to watch it live on a mall near our town. If I stay at home at watch it on TV, it will be approximately three hours delayed and the news of who wins the bout will reach us first even before the first round starts. This time I'm really hoping the oddsmakers are correct on who will most likely to win and I hope Manny Pacquiao wins as convincingly similar to his last three opponents. No offense to Puerto Ricans but being a Filipino myself I am rooting for my countryman Manny Pacquiao. On November 15, Manila time, let us all enjoy the greatest boxing event of the year.

Raul B. Romilla

Boxing Fanatico

Pacquiao's Fame Continues to Grow as he readies for Cotto

2009-11-08T02:34:00.000-08:00

Yeah that's right. If Manny Pacquiao wins this one, which I consider to be one of the most important fight of his life, his star will outshine other boxing greats and he will reach another milestone in his already successful boxing career. So how successful and popular Pacquiao is in the United States?

Doug Fischer of The Ring Magazine elaborates on this. Click on the link below.

The Ring Blog: Pacquiao's Fame Continues to Grow as he readies for Cotto

Watch Manny Pacquiao's appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on YouTube.

Raul B. Romilla
Boxing Fanatico

Manny Pacquiao makes it to the cover of TIME magazine

2009-11-06T18:47:00.000-08:00

Championships in six different weight divisions, check. Beat the “Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya, check. Appear on two nationally televised US talk shows, check. Toss ceremonial pitch at a Major League Baseball game, check. Make the cover of TIME Magazine, check.

These are some of the achievements that Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has accumulated in his more than 14-year pro boxing career that brought him out of the busy streets of General Santos City and Manila, and into the bright lights of Las Vegas prize-fighting.

His humble beginnings as a street hawker, construction worker and stevedore in General Santos City, and his sudden rise as one of pro boxing’s well-loved fighters made Pacquiao a media magnet and sort of a demigod in the Philippines.

And gracing the cover of TIME Magazine’s Asia edition, his most recent, adds more to Pacquiao’s already iconic personality. Pacquiao will be at the cover of TIME Asia but his five-page feature story will be published in all editions.

Being on the cover of TIME Asia, and TV appearances at ESPN Sports Center and the primetime talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live are enough proof that the world has embraced Pacquiao, the reigning holder of the mythical pound-for-pound title.

His fights, that gave him his multi-million peso fortune today, are eagerly awaited by his countrymen. During each fight, the streets of Metro Manila are free of the usual noise brought by the traffic and crime rate is always at an all-time low, with most Filipinos glued to their television sets rooting for their hometown hero.

According to the TIME Asia story, which has “The Great Hope" as cover title, the 30-year-old Pacquiao is considered to be the latest savior of the sport after boxing lost its once lofty status to the now popular mixed martial arts as the centerpiece of prize-fighting.

“(Pacquiao is) a fighter with enough charisma, intelligence and backstory to help rescue a sport lost in the labyrinth of pay-per-view. Global brands like Nike want him in their ads," wrote Howard Chua-Eoan and Ishaan Tharoor in the cover story for its November 16, 2009 issue. Pacquiao, who is aiming for an unprecedented seventh title in seven weight divisions, is featured by the prestigious magazine in a five-page story.

This will not be the first time that Pacquiao will be featured by TIME Magazine or any other internationally published journal.

He made the TIME 100 most influential list this year where he joined the ranks of global icons and luminaries like US President Barrack Obama, US Sen. Edward Kennedy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, tennis star Rafael Nadal and world No. 1 golfer Tiger Woods.

ESPN The Magazine had his bare torso in its Body Issue, which explores the engineering of several athletic physiques.

He was also featured on the cover of Reader’s Digest Asia where a seven-page story was also written about the Filipino boxing superstar. The issue came out before Pacquiao’s epic match against the legendary De La Hoya last year.

HBO's 24/7 show also featured him together with Cotto. The episode is currently being aired by the cable channel. HBO previously made a four-part 24/7 show when Pacquiao fought De La Hoya in the "Dream Match" and his "East vs West" bout with British boxer Ricky Hatton.

Pacquiao is the first Filipino sportsman on the cover of TIME Magazine Asia, further cementing his place in history, boxing or otherwise. Environmentalist Chin Chin Gutierrez was also featured in the 2003 cover of TIME Asia.

Other prominent Filipinos who made the cover of TIME Magazine were former Presidents Manuel L. Quezon, Manuel L. Roxas, Ramon Magsaysay, Ferdinand Marcos and President Corazon C. Aquino (who was featured four times, once as Woman of the Year in 1986).

Boxing phenom Manny Pacquiao joins the prestigious bunch of Filipino politicians and personalities - from former President Manuel L. Quezon to actress Chin Chin Gutierrez - to be featured on the cover of Time.

Pacquiao became the 10th boxer that was featured on the cover of TIME Magazine. Other boxers that made the cover were Jack Demspey (1923), James Tunney (1926), Max Schmeling (1929), Primo Carnera (1931), Joe Louis (1941), Sugar Ray Robinson (1951), Cassius Clay (1963), Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier (1971), Muhammad Ali (1978) and Mike Tyson (1988).

Pacquiao is also the 11th sports icon that made the cover of TIME Magazine after Pete Rose (1989), Magic Johnson (1996) Michael Johnson (1996), Michael Jordan (1998), Marion Jones (2000), Tiger Woods (2000), Sisters Serena and Venus Williams (2001), and Michael Phelps (2008). – GMANews.TV

See also: Manny Pacquiao, 2009 TIME 100 Finalist

Boxing Predictions: Two Strikes for Pacquiao Basher and Counting

2009-11-06T07:26:00.000-08:00

Strike 2! One more strike and you're out! It's good he's not into baseball else he'll end up packing once he gets the third strike.

If there is a so called sportswriter who depends too much on prejudice and not allowing proper reason to make a justified prediction on a boxing result there is one person that I know of. I rarely talk about these sports scribes but I have to mention this on my blog because I can't really understand how this person thinks or analyze boxers in an upcoming bout. It seems pure hatred which could have clouded his already poor opinion.

In the field of sports-writing, a journalist should not be biased to one or prejudice another that would affect ones good sense of judgment. One writer should look at a fighter's strengths and weaknesses and assess the possibility of a win by either fighter, not one sided result as predicted by this so called boxing expert. His one sided predictions are all for the opponents of Pacquiao and he truly believes that he'll get a good beating from his opponents.

To make my point clear, I'll be posting his three fearless predictions and you be the judge. I will not mention a name (yet) and just read below a portion of his columns and see what I mean.

PREDICTION NO. 1 DECEMBER 5, 2008: ON PACQUIAO VS. DELA HOYA
Though Pacquiao has a reputation for hurting people in the super featherweight division, his punches won’t have nearly the same effect against De La Hoya, whom has been fighting as a light middleweight for the past seven years and is accustomed to taking punches from much bigger fighters than the 130 pound Pacquiao. It’s all well and good that Pacquiao will be coming into the fight at roughly the same weight as De La Hoya, but the added weight that Pacquiao put on won’t translate to him hitting any harder than he ever did as a super featherweight. In truth, he’ll probably punch a lot less harder than he did previously and will still be the equivalent of a super featherweight fighting a light middleweight. Pacquiao, without being able to reach the taller De La Hoya, will be totally neutralized, and totally helpless to stop him from controlling the fight from the outside. Pacquiao, 29, has never fought anyone close to being as big and as skilled as De La Hoya, with, perhaps, the closest thing coming to him being 5'8? Erik Morales, who gave Pacquiao fits in their first fight, beating the Filipino star by a 12-round decision.

PREDICTION NO.2: PACQUIAO VS HATTON May 2, 2009 Hatton Wins Weigh-in Stare Down, Pacquiao Looks Scared "Pacquiao couldn’t handle the stare down, started smiling sheepishly and reached out to shake Hatton’s hands, as if surrendering to the more powerful fighter. Hatton was having none of it, and continued to look straight at Pacquiao, eyes not blinking and looking like a stone cold punching machine. Hatton was not smiling and looked like he wanted to tear Pacquiao’s head off with a punch. Pacquiao, cringing a little, put his hands up by his ribs as if were expect Hatton to lay into his body with a huge punch at any second. I felt sorry for Pacquiao at that moment because he looked like he was literally melting away in front of a large sun. I wasn’t entirely sure who was going to win tonight’s fight until I saw the weigh-in, and now I’m positively certain that Hatton will be knocking Pacquiao out before long. I’m just wondering how Pacquiao is going to perform? I just don’t like the way he looked out there, like he wanted to find a hole to hide his head or something. Sheesh! Well, I just hope that Pacquiao makes it interesting for a little while at least and doesn’t stink up the joint by folding too quickly. Hatton is the much stronger fighter, and this will be a huge step up in class for Pacquiao. He really has nothing to compare to what he’ll be facing tonight against Hatton. "

PREDICTION No. 3: PACQUIAO VS COTTO NOVEMBER 4, 2009 I want to give Pacquiao more of a chance in this fight, but I just can’t see him winning against Cotto. The main reason is the size factor. Pacquiao looks far too small to compete against a natural welterweight like Cotto, and I suspect he’s going to get beaten to a royal pulp by Cotto. If Pacquiao wanted to prove that he was the real deal in the welterweight division, and thus earn his number #1 ranking in the World Boxing Organization, then he should have faced at a minimum Shane Mosley, Margarito, Andre Berto, Floyd Mayweather or Paul Williams. I know the welterweight division is one of the sorriest in all of boxing, but you can’t go fighting a shot De La Hoya and a shop worn light welterweight Hatton and be considered the top dog. Pacquiao needed to face better fighters – read: fighters in their prime – instead of Hatton and De La Hoya. And Pacquiao’s speed won’t matter one little bit. Speed is power, but when you have someone as small as Pacquiao, you need more than speed to win; You need size, and that’s something that Pacquiao is in short supply if in this fight. I’m right about this and you’ll agree with me later. I know boxing fans like Pacquiao because he’s the new flavor of the month, but when they see him against Cotto they’ll realize that the emperor has no clothes. Pacquiao is like fools gold. He looks good on paper, but when you put him in against Cotto, Pacquiao is going to look as bad as he did against Shawn Porter in the HBO Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7 episode.
------

To sum up his boxing analysis:

Before the fight with Dela Hoya, this writer thinks Pacquiao is too small and his punches would be ineffective on the bigger guy. Against Hatton, Pacquiao is even too scared to look straight to Hatton's eyes and that he will end up getting knocked out by the British Bomber. And now against Cotto, he is telling us that he fought guys who are past their prime and not really quality fighters. He mentioned names like Shane Mosley, Margarito, Andre Berto, Floyd Mayweather and Paul Williams. He never even menttioned Miguel Cotto. Which I would think that Miguel Cotto is not a member of his list of elite fighters. But he believes Cotto will give Pacquiao a really nasty beating.

But I must admire this guy for he writes his column and predicts fights fearlessly before the actual fight and you got to have really tough nuts to muster that courage to write such daring forecasts. And the hell he'll be receiving in his inbox once he's wrong and how to excuse himself on doing so.

Now let us wait and see what happens on November 14. You may want to know who wrote the above boxing predictions?

Raul B. Romilla

boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Pacquiao set to deliver knockout to Cotto, says Roach

2009-11-05T20:14:00.000-08:00

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has predicted a knockout by the Filipino southpaw when he challenges Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title next month.

Roach had initially forecast the November 14 bout in Las Vegas would go the full distance but he has since changed his tune because of his fighter's impressive work in training camp.

"Camp is going very, very well and we are 100 percent ready for the fight," Roach said on a teleconference call with Pacquiao on Wednesday.

"I feel like Manny, the way he is punching right now and with the power has at this weight, is going to knock Cotto out. I am very confident and I look forward to the win.

"I just think Miguel Cotto's defense isn't good enough. He's hittable and people that Manny can hit he knocks out."

Pacquiao, who has a career record of 49-3-2 with 37 knockouts, spent a month training with Roach in the Philippines before returning to Los Angeles this week to complete his preparations.

Although their time in Manila had to be cut short with Pacquiao being distracted by mass local attention, Roach described their trip to Asia as a great success overall.

"We had the best first four weeks we have ever had and Manny was on fire from day one," he said. "We are just getting ready for Miguel Cotto whatever he brings. If he wants to box us or if he wants to fight us, we are ready for both."

Pacquiao, a winner of six world titles in as many different weight divisions who is regarded by many as boxing's best pound-for-pound fighter, is again moving up in weight to take on Cotto.

SPLIT DECISION

He respectfully acknowledged the challenge posed by the Puerto Rican who retained his WBO title with a gruelling split decision win over Ghana's Joshua Clottey in June.

"Cotto is a bigger guy than me, a hard puncher and strong," Pacquiao said. "He is the champion for this fight and I am the challenger.

"So I am not underestimating Cotto's abilities in boxing," added the Filipino, who cemented his status as the sport's top fighter with a stunning second round knockout of Britain's Ricky Hatton in May to claim the IBO light welterweight crown.

Cotto, 34-1 with 27 KOs, is renowned for his punching power, strength and intelligence but Roach firmly believes Pacquiao's speed will give him the upper hand.

"He (Cotto) makes certain adjustments when he fights southpaws and it's something we expect," Roach said. "But he has never fought a guy like Manny Pacquiao with his speed.

"I think he's going to have trouble with that speed. I really don't think he can handle it."

Roach also rebuffed the danger posed by the Puerto Rican's left hook.

"It's pretty strong but I don't think it's the strongest we ever faced though," he said. "Hatton was supposed to be stronger than us also but I had no worries about that because that doesn't win fights.

"Boxing ability will win fights and Manny is a better boxer than him and will show that on the night."

------

All I can say that good luck to both fighters but I hope Manny Pacquiao delivers. Do make us proud again Manny and we're counting on you.

boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Countdown to Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Firepower

2009-11-05T16:50:00.001-08:00

Only a few days remaining on the much awaited bout between the pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao and the reigning WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. I have included a countdown on my blog and I will keep you updated on these two excellent fighters up to show time. I will update this blog daily so please keep visiting and participate also on the polls I created on which who you think will win this megafight of the year. And there are still questions on who is really the pound for pound king so choose who you think is the real deal and let the polls decide and the majority wins. No prizes for now, just bragging rights but this bragging rights that I mentioned is a prized weapon when discussions arises. So vote. Please follow, add and share your comments on the upcoming bout and as I have said, I welcome both positive and negative as long as its constructive and so we can have intelligent exchange of ideas. I created this site about 3 days ago and you'll notice that fighters featured are mostly Filipinos. I am more familiar with Filipino fighters and in order to start this blog, I decided to feature boxers to which I'm most familiar with. I promise I'll be featuring other boxing greats and their fights like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Kelly Pavlik, Juan Manuel Lopez and more.

Your contributions to this site will be very valuable in making this better.

For now, the countdown begins.

boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Pacquiao-Cotto bout 50-50 affair, says Rourke

2009-11-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

11/05/2009 | 09:06 PM

HOLLYWOOD – Mickey Rourke has been a disciple of trainer par excellence Freddie Roach and is known chummy with boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.

But when asked of his thoughts about Pacquiao’s 12-round title fight against Miguel Cotto for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight belt, the American actor and Academy award nominee said things are going to be even.

“It’s 50-50," Rourke shot back when pressed on who he favored to win the bout.

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, right, poses with actor Mickey Rourke after a media workout in Los Angeles, Wednesday (Tthursday in Manila). Pacquiao will face Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto in a welterweight boxing match in Las Vegas on Nov 14. AP

A one-time boxer in the early 90s who had no less than Roach for trainer, Rourke came over at the Wild Card gym here coinciding with the two-hour long media workout of the 30-year old Pacquiao.

The 57-year old Rourke, whose portrayal of Randy “The Ram" Robinson in the 2008 movie “The Wrestler" earned him an Oscar Best Actor nomination, shook hands and had a pleasant conversation with Roach, and later on, had a photo op with Pacquiao while the pound-for-pound king was in training.

But he appeared less gracious when his thoughts about the WBO championship fight were raised.

Rourke said Pacquiao beating Cotto is not as easy as learning A-B-C.

“I don’t think Cotto would be a walk in the park," said the veteran actor. “He’s gonna be strong. Cotto is the bigger fighter and a very good fighter."

However, one thing going for Manny, according to him, is the Filipino superstar’s vaunted speed.

“Speed would be able to offset Cotto’s power. Speed is more important than power. Manny has got to stay away from Cotto’s range since he (Cotto) can bang with both hands," Rourke said.

Rourke knows where he’s speaking from.

After briefly staying away from acting in 1991, Rourke relived his love for the sport of prizefighting by turning pro under Roach’s watchful eyes.

He was undefeated in eight fights with two of them ending up in draw.

“I would have lost if I haven’t had Freddie, coz my training habit wasn’t that good," he said of his short-lived boxing career.

Rourke would quit boxing soon after, giving to Roach all his equipment that can still be found now at the Wild Card gym.

“He’s my best friend. I wouldn’t be here now (Wild Card gym). He’s the one who brought me here," said Roach in acknowledging all the help Rourke did while the three-time Trainer of the Year was still starting off with his famous sweatshop at Vine St.

Given the chance, Rourke said he’s more than willing to accept a role should a Hollywood movie on Pacquiao be made.

And he already had an idea on who is he going to play.

“I would do the Freddie roach story but I would have to wait 20 years from now," he said, teasing Roach as being too old for him to play.

-----

That's a safe statement from Mickey Rourke for he feels he can not decide to choose between the pound for pound king who'll move up in weight as a challenger or the bigger WBO Welterweight Champ. Although oddsmakers favors Pacquiao, we may never know the outcome until the final round or the final referee's count. They are right in the Pacquiao vs Hatton fight but blundered big time in Pacquiao vs Dela Hoya bout.

Being a long time follower of Pacquiao's fight, I observed that the person whose prediction is the closest to the outcome of every Pacquiao fight is none other than the guru itself Freddie Roach.

If my memory serves me right, he predicted a 9th round stoppage of Oscar Dela Hoya, a 3rd round knockout to be dealt by Pacquiao to Hatton and a total annihilation of David Diaz for he (Roach) sees nothing in him that could give Pacquiao trouble inside the ring.

On this coming fight with Miguel Cotto, I am just happy to hear that Freddy Roach is confident that Pacquiao will win. That's enough for me.

boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Bob Arum: "We’re going crazy!" - Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Now officially the Hottest ticket in Town!

By Johnny Benz (Nov 5, 2009) DoghouseBoxing

It's the hottest ticket in town! Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto is officially sold out and tickets are no where to be found for the November 14th event. If you got your tickets, then you are in great shape... all others are probably going to have to sell an organ, like a kidney to get their hands on some.

Promoter of the event Bob Arum confirmed yesterday to Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com that tickets are absolutely gone. "Absolutely, you call them, there’s not one ticket left," stated Arum.

The tickets have been all purchased that not even Arum can get anymore tickets to fill in requests from people who want to get their hands on some. "Not one. Sold...completely... out. I mean, we’re going crazy, we got a list of 100 names of people that want tickets and we don’t have any," Arum told MaxBoxing. Arum went on to add: " I defy anybody to call the box-office and buy a ticket. I got the box-office report this morning. Yesterday we had five $1,000 tickets left and yesterday they picked them all up."

Arum did say there are still closed-circuit venues in Las Vegas with about 22,000 seats remaining.

Malacanang Palace dissuades lawmakers from watching Pacquiao bout

2009-11-04T04:52:00.000-08:00

11/04/2009 | 01:17 PM

While admitting that Malacañang is powerless to stop them, a Palace official on Wednesday sought to dissuade lawmakers from going to Las Vegas to watch boxing icon Manny Pacquiao mix it up with Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo reminded lawmakers of their job to tackle pending bills when Congress resumes session on Nov. 9 – one week before Pacquiao’s anticipated fight against the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion on Nov. 14, Saturday (Nov. 15, Sunday Manila time).

“Kung tutuusin di tayo dapat makialam sa decision lalo kung personal na pera ang kanilang gagastusin at walang kinalaman sa pondo ng bayan (The Palace should not be interfering in the affairs of Congress, especially if the lawmakers will spend their own money)," Fajardo said in an interview on dzXL radio.

"Kaya lang may pending bills... Ang moral support maraming paraan di kailangan tayo mismo nandoon para panoorin ang laban niya (But there are pending bills...We can show Pacquiao our moral support even if we don’t go there personally)," she added.

Reminding that the country is still reeling from the effects of Tropical Storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng, Fajardo said lawmakers’ presence at their respective districts will do wonders for their campaign if they are planning to seek reelection in May 2010.

“I think it will be pogi points for them kung mas makita sila sa distrito at mas maraming papadala sa kababayan, that would be more than enough for them to campaign instead of going to Las Vegas (I think being at their districts will earn them more brownie points if they plan to campaign next year, instead of going to Las Vegas)," she said.

Lawmakers had earlier been criticized for flying abroad in big numbers to watch Pacquiao's boxing matches, their absence sometimes causing problems in coming up with a quorum during session.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles, an avid Pacquiao supporter, said he is not aware how many congressmen will be flying to Las Vegas this time. But Nograles assured that the lawmakers will not be using taxpayers' money for their trips.

“They are on their own, spending personal money and using regular Philippine passports," he said in a text message to GMANews.TV.

The House leader said he himself will be going to the Pacquiao-Cotto fight. "Never missed his fight and am part of the team especially because he comes from Mindanao and has residence in my district in Davao," he said.

House committee on ethics chair and Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said his committee cannot investigate those who go abroad without a fellow House member lodging a complaint against those who went to Las Vegas.

Complaints lodged by non-members of the House of Representatives will have to be “verified" before the ethics panel can act on them, he added.

“Di namin pwede gawin motu propio. Kung walang complaint di kami pwede mag-action. Kailangan ng complaint (We cannot act on our own. We need
a formal complaint to initiate an investigation)," he said in a separate interview on dzXL.

Minority solons voice suspicion

For his part, minority leader Rep. Ronaldo Zamora (San Juan City) said it was sad that many lawmakers insist on going to Las Vegas to watch Pacquiao’s bout.

“Nakakalungkot yan. Unang una, halal sila ng bayan para magtrabaho, di para manood ng boxing match sa Las Vegas pa... Araw-araw natin
dinadaanan ito paulit-ulit. Ilang laban na si Pacquiao (It is getting sad. They are elected to work on lawmaking, not to watch Pacquiao’s bouts, let alone the bouts in Las Vegas. And how many bouts has Pacquiao had abroad)?" Zamora said in another interview.

He also said the trip of administration solons – including House Speaker Prospero Nograles – fuels suspicions Malacañang wants the P1.414-trillion budget for 2009 reenacted.

This way, he said the entire budget can be treated as a giant pork barrel for Malacañang.

“Kami iniisip namin talagang plano nila huwag magkaroon ng reenacted budget, gusto nila lahat na poder mapunta sa presidente gusto nila reenacted budget, in effect transforming the budget into a pork barrel fund (We are prompted to think the administration wants the 2009 budget reenacted, so it will become a giant pork barrel fund for the administration)," he said.

Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said he had received information that lawmakers going to watch Pacquiao's bout were a financial burden on the boxing champ.

"Pag may boxing si Pacquiao ginagastusan niya ang member ng Kongreso. Dapat ma-check ito (When Pacquiao has a bout abroad he shoulders part of the expenses of some lawmakers. This must be looked into)," Pimentel said in another interview on dzXL. – With a report from Jam Sisante, GMANews.TV

-----------

Who will keep these government officials from watching Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto bout? It will take tremendous political will to be able to stop these elected/appointed officials from going. That is one virtue sorely lacking in the Philippine government and not only in the highest positions but also to the lowliest position as well.

If they (government officials) are going to use their personal money in watching the Philippine boxing idol live, I don't see a problem in that. But, if they knowingly take even a centavo from the people's money to be entertained by the best pound for pound fighter, it's another story.

Another concern is that, they are trying to ride on Pacquiao's popularity to bolster their chances in the coming elections. Do these guys know Philippine's other boxing champs or the most promising fighters worthy of a championship bout. I guess they never even watched even on TV or youtube the likes of Donnie Nietes, Marvin Sonsona, Z Gorres, or Boom Boom Bautista. I just hope those officials who are diehard fan of Pacquiao would do something to improve the welfare of professional boxers and help them achieve what Manny Pacquiao has achieved. How much do Philippine professional boxers receive in every skull bashing bout?

Does anybody know whether Luisito Espinosa ever received the amount of $130,349 which should be his purse in his featherweight title defense against Carlos Rios?

With regards to bills that need to be passed, my position is that Manny Pacquiao fights an average of twice a year and if it includes the government officials R&R, that would total to about 10 days and we have more than 300 days to do that. So what are these people doing during those days? If they are really keen on passing these bills to a law, every working day with or without Pacquiao fight is the best day to do it. I see some hint of grandstanding in rebuking these officials watching the bout.

Raul B. Romilla

boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Cotto 'won't leave anything to chance' against Pacquiao

2009-11-03T23:15:00.000-08:00

A picture of Manny Pacquiao is seen at the ring as Miguel Cotto (left) trains at the Pound4Pound Gym in Los Angeles, on November 3. Cotto will carry the hopes of his native Puerto Rico on his shoulders in November 14 mega-fight against Pacquiao.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - – Miguel Cotto's handlers say they will carefully scrutinize the gloves and hand wraps of Manny Pacquiao before their World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight in Las Vegas.

Miguel Cotto Sr said Tuesday they blundered by not inspecting Antonio Margarito's gloves prior to Cotto's lone career loss in July of last year and vow never to let it happen again.

"We only commit the same error once," said Cotto Sr. "We will never make that mistake again."

The increased vigilance comes after Margarito was caught using "loaded wraps" in his following fight against Shane Mosley in January.

Unlike Cotto, Mosley's trainers entered Margarito's dressing room prior to the fight. There they noticed that a damp hard white powder had been placed in between the rows of wrapping and tape before Margarito put his gloves on for the fight.

It has never been proven that Margarito cheated by using a plaster of Paris type substance for the Cotto fight but suspicions are strong, especially in Cotto's camp and that's the reason for the stepped up inspections of opponents' gloves and wraps.

Cotto, of Puerto Rico, senses he has the public support on this one.

"A loss is a loss. Nobody knows for sure if he uses it with me, or not, just Margarito and his team," said Cotto, after a 90 minute workout at the Pound4Pound Gym in Beverly Hills Tuesday. "But it makes me feel better (about the loss). Boxing fans are knowledgeable. They are the judges."

A classic boxer in the true sense of the word, Cotto is 34-1 with 27 knockouts.

Cotto bristled Tuesday at suggestions by Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach that the first loss is one of the toughest for a previously unbeaten fighter to recover from.

Cotto denied that the loss to Margarito had any negative effect on his confidence in the ring.

"Why don't you ask Manny that question because he has had three losses I have just one," Cotto said.

"My commitment is with myself. In my last fight (Joshua Clottey) I could have stopped the fight (cuts) but I decided to stay in the ring because of my commitment to myself and my family."

"Sometimes when you lose you win. Since Margarito great things have come to my career.

"Where is Margarito right now and where is Miguel Cotto?"

Said Cotto Sr, "We have worked a lot with his mind and staying focused. Mentally he is a strong guy."

Roach is predicting that the November 14 fight at the MGM hotel and casino won't go the distance and that the favoured Pacquiao will knock Cotto out capture his seventh title in seven different weight classes.

"This is the problem," Cotto said. "Freddie Roach is not the guy who is going to climb into the ring. If he prepares Manny for just nine rounds then he has three more rounds.

"He (Roach) can say whatever he wants. One day he says the first round and the next day he says round seven. I'm preparing for 12 rounds and nobody is going to know what will happen until the night of the 14th."

Cotto said he is focusing on this 145-pound bout and doesn't listen to talk about Pacquiao (49-3-2, 27 KOs) possibly fighting Floyd Mayweather in a mega title fight if he beats Cotto.

"He can fight Mayweather as many times as he wants after I beat him," Cotto said.

Cotto respects Pacquiao for the way he has come from modest roots in the Philippines to become a world class boxer who is revered by Filipinos at home and abroad.

"He has earned everything he has," Cotto said. "Manny looked good against Oscar De La Hoya and (Ricky) Hatton. But I'm not Oscar or Hatton. Manny chose the right time to fight Oscar."

Cotto is looking forward to wrapping up training camp, heading to Las Vegas next week and says this is the biggest fight of his life.

"It is the most important fight of my career, but we'll have to see on the 14th if he is the toughest guy I have fought in my career," Cotto said.

-----

It is just fair for each camp to scrutinize each others wraps and gloves before the fight just to make sure everything is leveled come game time. Discovery of Antonio Margarito's loaded handwraps put into question Miguel Cotto's only loss in his entire career. Just in time for Shane Mosley but too late for Cotto. Just the same, Cotto's camp is wiser now and they can be certain that their prized fighter would be protected from such unfair disadvantage in the future.

Cotto still considers that loss a loss though but he's now less bitter about it. The coming fight will show how the two prepared for the fight and will answer questions whether Cotto retained his ferociousness and confidence or whether Pacquiao will be the first boxer to win 7 world titles.

Then the medical tests. I guess Manny Pacquiao should also make copies of his test results and shove it to Floyd Mayweather Senior's throat who months ago has been claiming based on his observation that Pacquiao could have been using steroids which makes him relentless inside the ring. I love seeing people especially the likes of Floyd Sr. wrong.

Raul B. Romilla

boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Pacquiao Foe Miguel Cotto To Hold Media Workout

2009-11-03T05:47:00.000-08:00

11/03/2009 | 07:36 PM

HOLLYWOOD – World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Miguel Cotto gets to show how ready he is for his Nov. 14 showdown against Manny Pacquiao by holding a media workout in this district of movies and stars Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).

The 28-year old Puerto Rican is arriving here from Las Vegas, Nevada where he had already been staying as early as the other day.

WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico

Cotto is scheduled to work out at the Pound4Pound gym in La Cienega Boulevard in El Segundo, California, where an open forum will first be held before the champion does his thing in the ring along with trainer Joe Santiago.

The Caguas, Puerto Rico native already broke camp in Tampa, Florida last week and arrived in Las Vegas the other day, two weeks before his highly-anticipated Nov. 14 showdown with the Filipino boxing superstar.

Reports coming from Las Vegas had it that Cotto appeared drained as he try to meet the 145-pound catch weight agreed upon for the welterweight bout dubbed “Firepower" promoted by Top Rank.

Under the fight contract, Cotto is bound to pay $1 million for every pound excess of the agreed catch weight. This will be the first time the Puerto Rican will be fighting below the welterweight limit (147 pounds) since 2006.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, holds his own public workout the following day (Wednesday, Thursday in Manila) at the Wild Card gym here, where he is in his final phase of an eight-week training that began at the Shape-Up gym in Baguio City, Philippines.

As Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) does his media workout, the 30-year old Filipino ring idol (49-3, 37 KOs) will be sparring with regular sparmates Shawn Porter, Rey Beltran and Rashad Holloway also at the famed sweatshop owned by trainer Freddie Roach.

Pacquiao has already sparred close to 130 rounds and is expected to complete their target of 150 by the time his team departs for Las Vegas Monday next week.

Miguel is a welterweight with a lot of power and fast hands. Miguel has to make his fight. I don’t think Pacquiao will exchange punches with Cotto, who will win by either decision or knockout.

– Carlos Quintana

Despite being a 2-1 underdog, two world champions are predicting a big win for Cotto.

Compatriots Juan Manuel Lopez and Carlos Quintana have it on record that the Puerto Rican native will be able to pull off an upset.

“Miguel has all the tools to beat Pacquiao," said Lopez, the reigning WBO super-bantamweight champion, in an interview by Primera Hora, a Puerto Rico-based newspaper.

The undefeated champion, however, stressed that should Cotto gets tired the way he did in his last fight against Joshua Clottey during their WBO championship at the Madison Square Garden, he can be in for a big trouble.

“In his last fight, Cotto was a bit tired in the end, and because Manny throws a lot of punches, that could make him tired. And if that happens, he will have problems," said Lopez.

But Quintana, whom Cotto beat via a fifth round technical knockout in a 2007 title fight, believes the champion’s strength will be too much to offset Pacquiao’s speed.

“Miguel is a welterweight with a lot of power and fast hands. Miguel has to make his fight. I don’t think Pacquiao will exchange punches with Cotto, who will win by either decision or knockout," he said. – GMANews.TV

We will all be surprised by how to two fighters start fighting in the ring. Unlike Floyd Mayweather whose boxing style rarely changes and quite predictable, Manny Pacquiao's style still baffles both boxing fans and his opponents alike. We still have to see much of Manny Pacquiao because his last bout is too short to make thorough analysis of Pacman's style. He hardly broke a sweat and I think his sparring partners gave the pound for pound king more trouble than Ricky Hatton. I believe this fight will show the mettle of Manny Pacquiao and who he really is and will be the gauge of future opponents of Pacquiao when its their turn to face the Philippine boxing idol.

Raul B. Romilla
boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Pacquiao Cotto Fight

2009-11-03T04:17:00.000-08:00

11/02/2009 | 10:18 AM

Veteran boxing expert Moy Lainez has known boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao like the palm of his hands.

So when he says the "Pacman" is going to win his 12-round fight against Miguel Cotto for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title two weeks from now, there’s little room left to doubt the man.

“Ako tingin ko talaga mananalo si Manny. Kung ako ang pupusta, within rounds 1 to 5, baka diyan bumagsak si Cotto," he said.

Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican bomber Miguel Cotto. Top Rank photo

Pacquiao is no stranger to Lainez, who, along with the late Rod Nazario and Lito Mondejar, formed part of the original Team Pacquiao.

It was in the weekly boxing show “Blow By Blow," produced by Nazario, Lainez and Mondejar, where the then gangling Pacquiao had his humble beginning.

It was also through them that Pacquiao won his first world title (World Boxing Council flyweight crown) in Thailand 11 years ago, and subsequently, his first foray in the rich American boxing circuit in 2001.

So familiar he is with the boxer he already considers as his son that Lainez wouldn’t dispute what trainer Freddie Roach said in passing that Pacquiao may even knock Cotto out in the first round of their November 14 showdown.

Like Hatton
“Naniniwala ako na may posibilidad pa yun. Hindi malayong maging Hatton yan," he said.

Pacquiao’s former handler was obviously referring to the vicious second-round demolition suffered by Briton Ricky Hatton at the hands of Pacquiao when they clashed for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light-welterweight title six months ago.

Like Hatton, Lainez said Cotto does have the size and strength factor going his way.

But as past opponents of Pacquiao would later admit, including Hatton, former world lightweight champion David Diaz and the legendary Oscar De La Hoya, it’s the speed of the current pound-for-pound king that blew them away.

Cotto would be no exception.

“Malaking factor `yung bilis ng kamay at suntok ni Pacquiao. Bibitaw yan, 1-2-3-4. Bago maka-react si Cotto, wala na agad si Manny.

“At tsaka sa welterweight, sa tingin ko mabagal si Cotto," he said of the 28-year-old warrior from Caguas, Puerto Rico, whose World Boxing Organization (WBO) title will be at stake.

Not the same after loss to Margarito
Lainez also pointed out what other boxing expert had been saying – Cotto has never been the same fighter he once was after suffering his first career loss to Mexican Antonio Margarito last year.

Margarito stopped Cotto in the 11th round of their action-packed welterweight clash, a result that later would be held under suspicion after the Mexican was caught applying illegal hand-wraps during his fight with Sugar Shane Mosley.

“Sabihin na nating kargado si Margarito, pero si Cotto nag-deteriorate na after nung laban na yun. Parang takot ng matamaan," Lainez said, even pointing to the outcome of Cotto’s last fight against Joshua Clottey, which the Puerto Rican won by split decision.

“Tingin ko nga panalo pa si Clottey doon. Binigay na lang kay Cotto dahil nga para maikasa itong laban kay Pacquiao," he added.

And should Pacquiao fail to score a knockout and the fight goes the full route, the Filipino has all the more chance of winning.

“Pacquiao pa rin. Mas marami siyang sumuntok kaysa kay Cotto, eh." said Lainez.

Only one way would Cotto be able to pull off an upset, according to the man behind the weekly boxing show "Rod Nazario’s In This Corner."

“Sa boxing meron tayong lucky punch. Ang panalo lang ni Cotto knockout." – GMANews.TV

Cotto Washed Up? Think Again!

November 2nd, 2009 | by Oliver Suarez

Miguel Cotto is undoubtedly one of the most exciting boxers out there today. He personifies what a great boxer should truly be: a champion who strives to face the best competition while continuing to improve his craft.
In my opinion, too much emphasis has been put on his loss to Margarito and his “controversial” win against Clottey. Many so-called “experts” have branded him as a washed up fighter while others have questioned if he is the same fighter mentally. Are you kidding me?

Without a doubt, Miguel Cotto is still an elite fighter; maybe even one of the top 5 boxers today. His lone loss to Margarito should be changed to a No Contest. How many of you actually believe that the Mosley fight was the first time that Margarito used plaster on his handwraps? When has Margarito ever been that dominant against an elite fighter before the Cotto fight? He clearly lost against Daniel Santos and Paul Williams and struggled to win a decision over an injured Clottey. Even with the plaster on his wraps, Cotto was still winning throughout most of the fight until his body could no longer handle the damage caused by Margarito’s loaded gloves.

The questions about his mental state are nonsense. On the contrary, his mental strength is one of his best attributes. How many times have we seen him hurt and knocked down in fights, only to come back and find a way to win? How many “mentally damaged” fighters, whose confidence was supposedly shaken, would have taken a fight in the first place against Clottey, who was considered to be one of the most “avoided” fighters at the time?

The truth is Miguel Cotto remains to be among the elite in the welterweight division. He is far from being a washed up fighter. What exactly is the definition of a washed up fighter in the first place? Is it a fighter who struggles against subpar opponents? Well, Cotto dominated a solid fighter in Jennings after the Margarito fight. Is it a fighter who can no longer be competitive against the elites of the division? Didn’t Cotto just beat Joshua Clottey?
While some may question the validity of his victory over Clottey since he escaped with a narrow decision, the fact remains that Cotto did enough to win despite a severe cut over his eye. Besides, has anyone ever dominated Clottey in his career? Throughout the history of boxing, there are always fighters that are tough to look impressive against and Clottey just happens to be one of those fighters. He’s got enough skill, toughness and awkwardness to challenge anybody in the division.

Miguel Cotto may not win against Pacquiao, but before anyone completely writes him off or makes him a 3-1 underdog, they probably need to look at Cotto’s past fights. He is a very versatile fighter who can box coming forward or backwards. He fights in an orthodox manner, but is a naturally a southpaw and often switches stances during his fights. Many experts often mention that Pacquiao’s speed will be too much for Miguel Cotto, but that is what they said before the Judah and Mosley fights as well. Speed is a great asset no doubt, but it can be nullified with great accuracy and timing, both of which Miguel Cotto has unveiled as weapons.

No matter what happens come November 14th, it will only enhance the legacy of both fighters. Pacquiao and Cotto are two of the classiest and most humble fighters in the sport. If you ask a number of Filipinos who their favorite fighter is besides Pacquiao, a great number would likely mention Cotto. Likewise, many Puerto Ricans love Pacquiao for his style and aggressiveness. This fight may not surpass the pay-per-view numbers of Mayweather vs. Marquez, but it will surely provide far more action and excitement, making the fans the real winners regardless of the outcome.

-------

Here are two different opinions on the outcome regarding the much awaited megabuck fight between Philippine pride Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican boxing hero Miguel Cotto. I am a big Pacquiao fan I must admit and his incredible punching power plus the blazing speed of his mitts inside the ring is spectacular and thank heavens for replays so we can watch again and again what happened when his opponent got knocked down or out.

I have mentioned before, Pacquiao already carved his name in history and win or lose, he's already a boxing legend which will be talked about in many generations of boxing fans.

I hope DC or Marvel makes a comics of his exploits. Or maybe create another gamma exposed superhero that fights intergalactic species in boxing. Kidding aside, Manny Pacquiao, you are Philippine's living hero.

Regarding this coming bout with WBO Welterweight Champ Miguel Cotto, I consider him a dangerous fighter. His silence could mean depth and hidden strength that can be revealed only on the day of the bout. I hope Pacquiao would keep his guard up and a number of well placed mighty punch from this guy could mean trouble for Pacquiao. He looks tough as nails and as a veteran of more than 30 fights, I bet he can handle a lot shots in the face and body.

I don't want to predict but I just hope Pacquiao will beat the heck out of him.

Raul Romilla
boxingfanatico.blogger.com

Hijab Boxers in 2012 Olympics

2009-11-03T01:53:00.000-08:00

IslamOnline.net & Newspapers

A group of Afghan boxers are hoping to make history contesting the 2012 London Olympics. (Times Photo)

CAIRO — The International Boxing Association, which awards world and subordinate championships, said Muslim boxers will be allowed to play in the 2012 Olympics while observing their religious dress code.

“At the moment there is nothing preventing women boxers from wearing full Islamic dress," an IBA spokesman told the Sunday Times on October 4.

The 2012 summer Games in London will be the first time women allowed to box under the Olympic banner.

The International Olympic Committee said women will compete at three weights; flyweight (48 - 51kg), lightweight (56 - 60kg) and middleweight (69 - 75kg), with 12 boxers taking part in each category.

Many Muslim nations are considering sending female boxers, including many donning hijab, to the Olympics.

Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one’s affiliations.

"Obviously, religious requirements should be taken into account and we want to be as inclusive as we can,” said the IBA official.

The issue of hijab in sports was thrust into the spotlight in the West recently.

Last January, an American high-school Muslim star runner was pulled out from a local competition for wearing hijab.

An 11-year-old Canadian kid was also thrown out from a national Judo tournament for wearing hijab.

In March 2007, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the game's ultimate regulators, said hijab is forbidden in soccer games.

Peace Ambassadors

A group of veiled Afghan boxers are already preparing to contest the 2012 Olympics qualifications.

“In a country ravaged by 30 years of war and run by a conservative male-dominated society, these female boxers are Afghanistan’s most improbable ambassadors for peace,” Oxfam, a London-based charity sponsoring the Afghan female boxers team, told the Times.

“We are proud to support these athletes who challenge preconceived notions about Afghan women through peace building.”

The Afghan national female boxing team includes about 25 boxers with ages ranging between 14 and 25.

They are now involved in grueling training sessions at Kabul’s Olympic stadium under their coach Fadir Sharify, a former professional boxer who has persuade the families that it is not inappropriate to take to the ring.

Mirwais Wardak, who runs Fighting for Peace, the Kabul boxing program, said the team is a big step forward for Afghan woman, challenging stereotypes about how women should behave.

UK Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell, who lobbied for women’s boxing to be recognized as an official Olympic sport, hopes to see the Afghan female boxers reach the London Olympics.

“The fact that these women have formed a boxing team in a country where women are routinely harassed for taking part in sport should be applauded,” said Jowell.

“Their courage deserves to succeed.”

---------

Sports is one of the ways in uniting our divided world. Through sports, political and religious differences are temporarily set aside just to enjoy the game and be competitive. I admire these women and I hope more will follow their examples. I'm sure these women moved heaven and earth just to make their aspirations a reality.

Raul B. Romilla

boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Floyd Mayweather Finally Loses

2009-11-03T00:34:00.000-08:00

By Frank Lotierzo

40-0. A perfect track record of big-buy pay per views. Flawless manipulation of the public, the media, and damn near everyone else he’s ever encountered.

And then Floyd Mayweather managed to get taken down by a New York emcee named R.A. the Rugged Man, who outthought, outmaneuvered, and outslugged Money from the opening bell until it was all over. If I’d been Floyd’s cornerman, I’d have pulled the plug after the first few rounds. There’s no way he should have taken that kind of beating.

Mayweather was a surprise phone-in guest of the R.A, the Rugged Man’s Sirius Eminem’s Shade 45 Show. After a moment of feeling each other out, exchanging pleasantries, the normally cautious Mayweather walked right into a sucker punch that nailed him squarely on the chin, a mistake he's seldom made in the ring as a fighter.

“So Floyd, when you gonna fight somebody your own size in the top two?”

Maybe like a lot of fighters who get caught cold, Mayweather never recovered from the punch he didn’t see. Not to mention R.A. was Floyd's equal when it came to speed and thinking on your feet.

As it turned out, R.A. came armed with information - lots of it. This wasn’t some boxing-ignorant radio personality trying to drum up a little controversy. His criticism was pointed and entirely valid. Everything he threw at Mayweather is what many fight aficionados have thought about saying to him had they been presented the opportunity to. Mayweather’s response revealed a lot about how he thinks, how surprisingly easy it is to unsettle him, and the lengths he’ll go to in order to justify why he’s been avoiding certain fighters.

Here’s how he answered the question above.

“It’s not up to me. Boxing don’t work like that.” This comes from a guy who is always quick to point out that nobody tells him what to do, that he fights who, when, and where he wants, and that he’s not stuck in service to any promoter.

After explaining how Bob Arum doesn’t want either Miguel Angel Cotto or Manny Pacquiao to fight him, Floyd begins bragging about his decision win over Carlos Baldomir. Could anyone envision Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto trying to suggest how they're greater than Sugar Ray Robinson by highlighting they beat Carlos Baldomir?

“Oh man, Baldomir with eleven losses? How about this: why didn’t you fight Margarito when you were offered eight million dollars?”

And the guy who compared himself favorably to Sugar Ray Robinson begins hemming and hawing, arguing with a man he doesn’t know in an attempt to justify himself. He begins lying.

“Why would I fight Margarito for eight million when I could get twelve million fighting for the title?”

“Who’d you get twelve million for fighting? I don’t believe you.”

R.A. the Rugged Man is right about that. It wasn’t that he was simply trying to trash Mayweather. As a boxing fan, he was willing —even eager— to concede that Floyd was a great fighter. That was his point: he felt that Mayweather was squandering his legacy.

Floyd tries to suggest that neither Cotto nor Pacquiao is calling him out, but the Rugged Man cuts him off by saying that everybody wants to fight him. He mentions Shane Mosley, then adds that Paul Williams would “smack your ass.”

Floyd’s response is that people are “praying for his downfall.”

No dice. The Rugged Man points out that he was a big fan of Floyd’s. He cites the Diego Corrales fight as an example of what Mayweather could be at his best.

Things go downhill. Mayweather boasts about the miracle of coming back from a two year layoff. It’s pointed out that the layoff wasn't two years and was against a 36 year old featherweight. Floyd screams, “I’m in my 30s!”

He talks about Mosley’s past steroid use as a reason for not fighting him. At every turn, he shows weakness.

I’d always assumed that Floyd Mayweather talked the way he did because he’s a businessman first and foremost. And I thought that, at some level, he really believed he was the great fighter he presented himself to be. Coming from a fighting family and having lived his entire life in a boxing ring, I figured that he was completely secure about fighting anyone, and that it didn’t bother him when detractors challenged him on his legacy.

I was wrong. Floyd Mayweather knows he’s ducking Mosley, Williams, Margarito, and Cotto. It’s not about money. He wants money, but he’s heard the whispers and he’s worried that, once defeated, he will have irreparably tarnished his reputation. He’s made his name on being undefeated, and he’ll do anything necessary to stay undefeated, even if it includes embarrassing himself.

Floyd Mayweather has shown very few exploitable weaknesses in the ring. He’s fought a lot of good fighters, and he’s remained unbeaten. But he got knocked out by a radio deejay. And, in allowing himself to enter into a desperate argument in public, he showed a character chink in his armor that any future opponent may be able to take advantage of.

No other all-time great had to beg for accolades like Mayweather has. Can you imagine Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, or Bernard Hopkins arguing with a radio deejay about their legacy and all-time great status?

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

------

I do hope Floyd Mayweather finally loses inside the boxing ring.

Not that I'm a hater of Mayweather, but what is really ticks me off is that his mouth is faster than his mitts and it won't matter to me as long as there's sense in what's he's saying. All I hear from him since his return from his retirement are bull . . . . He's not ducking this fighter, he's the best and the number one pound for pound boxer and his numbers shows his popularity as the best fighter and the biggest draw. Ho-hum. There are his followers who believed him and and there's even a site where he was rated number one pound for pound by just defeating Juan Manuel Marquez. In his absence, Pacquiao has been pummeling opponents left and right and after his return bout against Marquez he instantly became number one in his list. Haha!

To Mayweather, why not just sell and not box anymore so you can keep your record blemish free. It's easy money and it would keep others from hitting your beautiful face. I don't care about your boxing style if it keeps you winning. But fight the legitimate contenders of your league and not someone who'll go up two divisions in your weight. The one you fought is not Pacquiao although he may be one of the greatest Mexican fighters, he's not Manny Pacquiao. Prove us wrong Mr. Money Mayweather.

I hope Manny Pacquiao wins and if he does that, I'm sure Mayweather will be stalking Pacquiao everywhere he goes and even bringing a contract and shoving it in front of his face just to let Mayweather fight him. Familiar scenario?

Raul B. Romilla

boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Team Pacquiao 'not desperate' for Mayweather

2009-11-02T23:51:00.000-08:00

by Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA – Even as Manny Pacquiao is set to fight Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on November 14 in Las Vegas, talks about his possible showdown with erstwhile pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr. are still going around and gaining the spotlight.

If it pushes through, fans and critics alike said the Pacquiao-Mayweather clash will surely be a blockbuster fight.

But Pacquiao, for his part, told the LATimes.com and Associated Press that the mega fight might not happen because for Mayweather, it is all about the money.

“You know obviously I’ve had minor discussions,” Canadian Mike Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser, revealed to abs-cbnNEWS.com. “Manny's focused on this fight. We have a number of options for the next fight.”

Koncz said that their options include Shane Mosley and Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. “It’s not just Mayweather,” he reminded.

“Do we wanna do Mayweather? Of course we wanna do Mayweather,” stated Koncz. “But we won’t be railroaded and pushed around, bullied around.”

“I think the economics of the fight has to be right for us to agree,” he continued. “Do we need Mayweather? We don’t need Mayweather. If Manny gets past Cotto in great fashion, I don’t believe it makes a difference who he fights next.”

Great for fans

The Canadian adviser said if Manny wins on November 14, his popularity would surge just like what happened when he overpowered Oscar de la Hoya in 2008 and Ricky Hatton in May.

“We'd love to make the Mayweather fight. I think it will be a great fight for the fans. I think the fans want to see it. But again we're not desperate for it,” he declared.

“We’ve had open line communications with their people over the last year so they know what terms we're looking for… We’re not gonna chase Mayweather, absolutely not.”

Mayweather, who came out of retirement in May, won over Juan Manuel Marquez, in September by unanimous decision.

“They know where we’re at and I know where they’re at so hopefully we’d come to a place where we can all agree,” said Koncz.

Pound-for-pound

Meanwhile, Pacquiao was asked about claims made by critics saying that Mayweather deserves to be the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer.

“Nagkaroon naman ng botohan. Lahat ako pa rin ang pinili. Pero sabi ko nga sa kanila okay lang kahit i-claim pa niya na siya ang [pound-for-pound king], walang problema sa akin,” Pacquiao told abs-cbnNEWS.com.

The Filipino boxing superstar (49-3-2, with 37 KOs) is No. 1 in the Ring Magazine pound-for-pound ratings while Mayweather (40-0, with 25 KOs) is No. 2.

“Alam naman ng tao, alam ng lahat kung ano ang na-achieve ko sa boxing, nagawa ko sa boxing,” said Pacquiao, who is gunning for his 7th world title. He said he hopes to make history by becoming the first boxer to win 7 titles in 7 different weight divisions.

“Sila na mag-compare. Ayoko namang buhatin ang sarili kong upuan. Okay na ako na ganito lang ako, simple lang,” he added.

Koncz, meantime, said he thinks WBO welterweight champion Cotto is better than the undefeated Mayweather.

“You know on paper at least I think Cotto has fought a lot more compelling fights than Mayweather. Mayweather seems to handpick his opponents while Cotto will fight anybody and everybody,” he said.

“So to me I feel Cotto is the much stronger fighter than Mayweather,” noted Koncz. -- Report by Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com

_____

The Money man Mayweather always thinks he's the biggest boxing draw and the boxing industry lives and dies with him.

If I am to choose which fight I'm willing to pay to watch, hands down it's Manny Pacquiao's fight. Boxing experts once joked that when you watch Floyd Mayweather's bouts, you can sleep in between rounds and just wake up upon announcement of the judges decision.

Well in Manny Pacquiao's case, you can't do that for anything will happen and if you blink, you might not see that perfect punch that kayoed boxing's best. Let us thank the wonders of technology for we have instant replays that we can watch it over and over again.

Back to Mayweather, I don't seem to catch the reasons why he fought little man Manuel Marquez instead of opponents of his built and class. Yes, I do believe Marquez is a great champion and yes, he did give Manny Pacquiao the fits during their two fights. But it doesn't mean he's the best opponent for him and he'll earn the boxing fan's respect in defeating this guy. The fight was greeted by sneer by most fight fans.

In Oscar De La Hoya's fight "The Dream Match" with Manny Pacquiao, he talked about the need to win by knockout, claiming it would be a disaster if he didn’t. To cement his (Dela Hoya) legacy, a convincing knockout must be witnessed by people and not by judges scorecards.

Mayweather simply won one knockdown and a unanimous decision to Juan Manuel Marquez.

Big deal.

Raul B. Romilla

boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Dundee Not Betting on a Pacquiao win vs Cotto

2009-11-02T22:49:00.001-08:00

For the third time, legendary trainer Angelo Dundee is keeping off his bet on Manny Pacquiao in his Nov. 14 title showdown with Miguel Cotto.

Despite being proven wrong twice before by the Filipino boxing champion, the 88-year-old Dundee thinks reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title holder Cotto has got what it takes to pull off a stunning upset.

Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican bomber Miguel Cotto. Top Rank photo

Hall of Fame trainer Dundee visited Cotto's training camp recently in Tampa, Florida, and was convinced the Puerto Rican champion can beat Pacquiao based on what he had seen.

“If I had to pick anybody in the world to fight Pacquiao, it would be Cotto," Dundee, who recently moved in from Miami to Tampa, told Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, whom he chanced upon at Cotto’s Florida training camp.

“Cotto has the best chance of anybody to beat him (Pacquiao) because of his physical power and strong left hook."

Despite being a revered boxing personality involved in the “sweet science" for more than six decades now, Dundee has never got it right in Pacquiao’s last two fights.

The long-retired trainer helped prepare superstar Oscar De La Hoya when he fought the "Pacman" a year ago in a mega-fight that ended with boxing’s "Golden Boy" quitting on his stool just before the ninth round of their "Dream Match" showdown.

The bout proved to be De La Hoya’s last as he retired shortly after.

And only last summer, Dundee also picked two-time junior middleweight champion Ricky Hatton to beat the hell out of Pacquiao. The opposite happened as the 30-year-old General Santos City native knocked the lights out of the boxer from Manchester and scored a swift, second round technical knockout.

If I had to pick anybody in the world to fight Pacquiao, it would be Cotto. Cotto has the best chance of anybody to beat him (Pacquiao) because of his physical power and strong left hook.

– Legendary trainer Angelo Dundee

As the man who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, Arum wouldn’t come out in public as to who he thinks will win the much-anticipated slugfest at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

But having seen the two fighters sweat it out in training camps, the veteran boxing promoter, undoubtedly, is a lot impressed with Pacquiao’s work ethic.

“I think, in general, both guys looked very, very good," he said.

“Cotto looked strong. He’s Cotto. He works hard for two hours, He does all his sparring. He’s in tremendous shape," said Arum of the 28-year-old champion from Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Yet for Arum, Pacquiao does more than that.

“I know Cotto works hard, but in contrast to the other guy (Pacquiao), it looks like he’s taking a vacation," said the 77-year-old promoter. - GMANews.TV

------

I can't blame him (Dundee) for his comments. His reasons dictates that the bigger fighter (Cotto) has the biggest advantages in winning this megabuck event between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. Although oddsmakers favored Pacquiao in this fight, seeing a smaller man challenging a bigger man tells boxing fans that this is not a walk in the park for the pound for pound king. It always means that the bigger and heavier man packs the biggest punch and the possibility of knocking out Pacquiao is not far from the equation. Statistically and physiologically, Cotto is ahead in numbers.

But then, Pacquiao is different. I can still recall a joke saying that Manny Pacquiao is a heavyweight disguised as a lightweight. This speaks of his dynamite fists that either bloodied faces or simply puts bigger boxers lying in the canvas. Of course what is strength without accuracy and Pacquiao reiterates the importance of accurately hitting his opponents is as important as having firepower in each hands.

My bet is Manny Pacquiao winning his 7th world title this coming November 2009 and the manner of winning the fight? I simply don't care as long as he wins the bout.

Raul B. Romilla
boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

WHO IS DONNIE NIETES?

2009-11-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

Donnie Nietes is a Filipino professional boxer and the current WBO minimumweight champion.

His nickname "Ahas" which is Tagalog for "snake" comes from the way he approaches the ring with a python around him, a personal pet of his.[1] His cousin, Gerson Nietes, is also a boxer.[2]

Originally a utility man who worked at the Antonio Lopez Aldeguer (ALA) boxing gym, Nietes took up boxing after being encouraged by the practitioners whom he socialized with. He turned professional in 2003 and became a national champion one year later.[3]

Nietes fought a then undefeated Pornsawarn Kratingdaenggym of Thailand for the vacant WBO title on September 30, 2007 in Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel, Cebu City, Philippines. Although Nietes floored Kratingdaenggym in the fourth round, the Thai boxer managed to go up to the final bell. The bout ended in a unanimous decision in favor of Nietes.

For three times, Nietes has been pitted against a fighter to whom he was supposed to defend his title, but all plans have been aborted for undisclosed reasons. Because of these, he was at risk of being stripped as the WBO rules state that a champion has to defend his title within a year.[4] After 11 months of inactivity, he finally defended his crown, against Eddy Castro (12-3-1) on August 30, 2008. Nietes (23-1-3, with 14 knockouts) won the fight by technical knockout at 2:49 mark of the second round.[5][6]

Nietes defended his title for the second time by scoring a unanimous decision victory over Erik Ramirez on February 28, 2009. En route to the win, Nietes sent Ramirez to the canvass four times in separate rounds.

In his third defense, Nietes battled interim champion Manuel Vargas on September 12, 2009. Nietes won the bout by split decision. - WIKIPEDIA

Q & A with Donnie Nietes

Since Manny Pacquiao emerged from just another fighter looking to make a living, to a multi weight world champion and on to Bona fide Superstar. Boxing has taken an upsurge in The Philippines. One such fighter to take advantage of this is WBO Strawweight world champion Donnie Nietes 24-1-3(14). He won the title in September 2007 when he outpointed then unbeaten Pornsawan Porpramook. He was then kept from defending his title for a variety of reasons before he re-emerged the following August showing no ring rust when he demolished Eddy Castro in two. This past February Nietes made his second defence, this time on the road in Mexico where he turned back the valiant attempt of Erik Ramirez on points. Next up will be another trip to Mexico when he will fight Manuel Vargas on 5 September on the undercard of Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr & Jason LeHoullier. Not bad for a guy who used to be a gym hand and only got into Boxing when he was encouraged to by the other guys in and around the gym.

Hello Donnie, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright - Firstly I believe you have an upcoming fight with your Interim champion Manuel Vargas on 5 September in Mexico. What can you tell us about the fight and what do you know about Vargas?

Donnie Nietes - Yes the fight will be in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico on September 5, 2009 against Manuel Vargas. We have been training for three months now in preparation for this fight, this fight is very important for me. I know Vargas is a good fighter and strong. But I believe I will win this fight .

Anson Wainwright - Can you tell us about your team your manager, trainer, promoter and where you train?

Donnie Nietes - My manager is Mr. Michael Aldeguer. My chief trainer is Edmund Villamor and I am promoted by ALA Promotions. I train at the ALA Gym in Cebu, Philippines.

Anson Wainwright - Back in the early part of this decade Manny Pacquiao made a name for himself and is now a national idol, do you feel he has opened the way for fighters like yourself in the Philippines?

Donnie Nietes - Manny Pacquiao not only encourage more Filipinos to take up boxing as a livelihood but open the way for Filipino fighters to have more opportunities to fight abroad, particularly in the States.

Anson Wainwright - Are you comfortable at 105 or do you see yourself staying at Strawweight?

Donnie Nietes - Yes I am comfortable at 105 lbs. But I have set my eyes at 108. I have no intention to stay at the Strawweight.

Anson Wainwright - What are your goals at Strawweight?

Donnie Nietes - My goal at Strawweight is simply to make successful defences. What I want is to go up and win another title at 108 lbs.

Anson Wainwright - You fight in Boxing’s smallest weight class, what do you think of the other top fighters there? WBC Sithsamerchai, WBA Gonzalez & IBF Garcia?

Donnie Nietes - As a champion, I always have my respects on them as I also want them to respect me. However, I honestly believe I can beat them.

Anson Wainwright - What can you tell us about your life from when you were growing up and how it took you into Boxing?

Donnie Nietes - Just like an ordinary Filipino kid during my primary years in school my friends and I plays boxing during lunch time and from then on I learn to love boxing. I move to Cebu and worked as a janitor of ALA Gym. After everyone does their training I tried to do the same thing eventually got the courage to fight professionally.

Anson Wainwright - The ALA gym in The Philippines is well known, could you tell us about the gym, what other fighters fight out of there and are there any young fighters who you think could become the next big thing in the Philippines?

Donnie Nietes - Yes –ALA Gym is well-known all-over the world because it has world-class fighters. It has produced world champions like Gerry Penalosa, Joma Gamboa, Malcolm Tuñacao and myself. It has also many good fighters who are world rated with the likes of Z Gorres, AJ Banal, Boom Boom Bautista, Milan Melindo, Michael Domingo, Mark Melligen and a few more others

Anson Wainwright - Who is your Boxing hero?

Donnie Nietes - Of course, Manny Pacquiao is my boxing hero.

Anson Wainwright - What do you like to do when your not fighting?

Donnie Nietes - Vacation in my province.

Anson Wainwright - Do you have a message for any of the other Strawweight world champion’s?

Donnie Nietes - Hope someday we will fight each other.

Best wishes and good luck in your upcoming defence.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

--------

Manny Pacquiao's successful boxing career paved the way to other Filipino boxing fighters making it easier for them to earn championship fights compared to years before Pacquiao era. I can confidently say that Pacquiao's era is the Golden Age of Boxing for the Philippines. During Pacquiao's reign, a lot of Filipino boxing champs emerged. There's Brian Viloria, Gerry Penalosa, Donnie Nietes, Nonito Donaire and the latest addition to the list is the boxing boy wonder Marvelous Marvin Sonsona. There are still a number of Filipino fighters itching to earn a championship fight and prove their mettle. Ray "Boom Boom" Bautista is one worthy contender and I hope he gets another chance a crack at a Championship bout.

With the support of the government to boxing not just the current champions but also those aspiring fighters, I am 100% sure the Philippines can produce a dozen more champs in the caliber of Manny Pacquiao. They should support Philippine professional boxing like giving proper benefits to licensed professional fighters and health care plan. I hope this Golden Age of Boxing of the Philippines continues.

Raul B. Romilla
boxingfanatico.blogspot.com

Miguel Cotto Could Be Next Spoiler As Puerto Rican “Game Changers” Not Unusual In Sport’s History

2009-11-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

Although boxing and betting experts are bestowing their beliefs and bank accounts on a Manny Pacquiao victory over Miguel Cotto on Saturday November 14, Miguel Cotto believes differently and boxing history books tell a different story as there have been many a Puerto Rican fighter—from an island rich in producing infamous boxing champions—who have come in the underdog and walked away with the upset victory. Cotto looks to keep the tradition of these former Puerto Rican fighters alive by doing the same to Pacquiao when they meet in one of the most exciting boxing battles of the year..

March 30, 1965: Jose Torres KO 9 Willie Pastrano, MSG, NYC (Wins world light heavyweight title): Pastrano, a veteran of 82 fights, is dropped by Cus D'Amato protege and 1956 Olympic silver medalist Torres, 34-1-1, in the sixth round, and the fight is stopped between the ninth and 10th. Torres, 28, becomes an instant hero in NYC. Pastrano, 29, never fights again.

November 13, 1965: Carlos Ortiz W 15 Ismael Laguna, San Juan (Regains WBC lightweight title): Seven months earlier, Panamanian speed demon Laguna, 40-2-1, had taken the title from the 28-year-old Ortiz in Panama City. In the rematch, Ortiz, 45-5, stuns the world by negating Laguna's speed and reclaiming the title by unanimous decision. They would fight a rubber match in 1967, with Ortiz winning by unanimous decision in New York City.

March 6, 1976: Wilfred Benitez W 15 (split) Antonio Cervantes, San Juan (Wins WBA junior welterweight title): Puerto Rico's Benitez, 17, becomes the youngest world titlist in history (record still stands) by brilliantly outpointing consummate pro Cervantes, 30, who was making his 11th defense and engaging in his 86th fight. It can be argued that defensive genius Benitez, 26-0, never matched this performance despite going on to win world titles at two additional weights.

November 17, 1972: Esteban DeJesus W 10 Roberto Duran, MSG, NYC (non-title bout): In the first of what would be three epic battles, the 21-year-old DeJesus, 33-1, floors lightweight champion Duran, 31-0, with a left hook in round one and goes on to win a unanimous decision to the delight of the predominantly Puerto Rican crowd at the Garden. Duran would win the second and third bouts, both title fights, by kayo, and DeJesus would go on to win the WBC 135-pound title.

October 28, 1978: Wilfredo Gomez KO 5 Carlos Zarate, Hato Rey, PR (Retains WBC super bantamweight title): The 21-year-old super bantamweight champion Gomez, 21-0-1, shocks the boxing world by crushing Mexico's Zarate, the reigning bantamweight champion who is ranked in the top three on virtually all pound-for-pound lists. It is Gomez's sixth title defense. Zarate was favored because he entered the ring with a barely believable record of 52-0 with 51 kayos. Both fighters struggle to make weight, but Zarate needs four trips to the scale to reduce to 122, and is clearly weakened by the effort

September 26, 1986: Edwin Rosario KO 2 Livingstone Bramble, Miami Beach (Wins WBA lightweight title): After losing to Hector Camacho in June, Rosario, 28-2, is a significant underdog against the 26-year-old Bramble, 24-1-1, and in his prime after scoring wins over Ray Mancini (twice) and Tyrone Crawley. Rosario, 23, flaunts his crushing kayo power against a fighter with a defense that had been thought to be impenetrable. It is the start of Rosario's second reign as a 135-pound titlist.

September 18, 1999: Felix Trinidad W 12 Oscar De La Hoya, Las Vegas (Retains IBF welterweight title; Wins WBC welterweight title): In a hotly anticipated battle of unbeaten champions and icons, Trinidad and De La Hoya add a significant chapter to the history of Puerto Rico-Mexico (or Mexican-American) battles. The 26-year-old Trinidad, 35-0, rallies in the late rounds, forces De la Hoya to retreat and wins a controversial majority decision.

ABOUT PACQUIAO vs. COTTO

Promoted by Top Rank in association with MP Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions, MGM Grand and Tecate, FIRE POWER: PACQUIAO vs. COTTO will take place Saturday, November 14 at the sold out MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®, beginning at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, has won six world titles in as many different weight divisions ranging from 112 to 140 pounds. His performance in 2008 was described as “Henry Armstrongesque,” winning world titles at 130 and 135 pounds with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz, respectively, and knocking out and retiring Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds to complete the trifecta. This year, he picked up where he left off last year – winning another world title in a new weight division – by dealing defending junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton a one-punch second-round knockout on May 2.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico has sold more tickets to Madison Square Garden in this millennium than any other fighter. He has held a world title every year since 2004. Puerto Rico’s most exciting fighter, Cotto held the WBO junior welterweight crown from 2004-2006, successfully defending it six times before vacating it to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title at the end of 2006, a title he held for nearly as long. He won his second welterweight title in February, knocking out Michael Jennings in the fifth round at Madison Square Garden to become the WBO welterweight champion. Notable scalps on Cotto’s belt include Sugar Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey, Paulie Malignaggi and Demarcus Corley.

The Pacquiao vs. Cotto pay-per-view telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, has a suggested retail price of $54.95, will be produced and distributed by HBO Pay-Per-View® and will be available to more than 71 million pay-per-view homes. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. HBO Pay-Per-View®, a division of Home Box Office, Inc., is the leading supplier of event programming to the pay-per-view industry. For Pacquiao vs. Cotto fight week updates, log on to www.hbo.com or www.toprank.com.

HBO's® fast-moving reality series "24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto" returns with an all new episode on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. The four-episode series chronicles the preparations and back stories of both fighters as they train for their November 14 pay-per-view showdown. Episodes one and two are available on HBO ON DEMAND®.

Source: East Side Boxing

-------

Upsets are not uncommon in boxing and seemingly invincible boxing champs got beaten in a pulp by once unheralded boxing newcomers or washed up looking old-timers. Always a possibility in the world of boxing. But for me, as long as Manny Pacquiao follows Freddie Roach's training regimen, he can take care of himself inside the ring. I'm sure Roach is aware of Cotto's punching power being the bigger guy and makes the necessary adjustments in defense. I hope Manny Pacquiao wins convincingly and I wish him more success to his endeavors.

Raul B. Romilla
BoxingFanatico.blogspot.com

Marvin Sonsona Gearing Up For War

2009-11-02T05:27:00.000-08:00

Marvin Sonsona (born on July 25, 1990) is a Filipino boxer from General Santos City, South Cotabato. He is the Current WBO Super flyweight Champion. A relative of his named Eden Sonsona is also a boxer and a former Philippine national bantamweight champion. One of Sonsona's trainers is Nonito Donaire Sr., the father and former trainer of Nonito Donaire.

Sonsona started boxing at 7 years of age under the tutelage of his uncle. Before fighting as a professional, he fought 150 times as an amateur.

He won his pro debut at flyweight on points then knocked out his next ten opponents in short rounds. All his first opponents were unknowns but then he also knocked out former two time WBC world Champion Thai fighter Wandee Singwancha (record 57-10) via second-round KO.

Sonsona climbed up in weight to challenge José López for the WBO super flyweight title on September 5, 2009. He scored a knockdown in the fourth round and fought his way to a unanimous decision victory.^[4]

He is Scheduled to Defend his title for the first time on November 11, 2009 again at Casino Rama, Ontario, Canada against a Mexican Orthodox named Alejandro Hernandez.

Source: Wikipedia

MANILA -- World super flyweight champ “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona is doing well in his preparations for his first title defense on November 21, according to his trainer Nonito Donaire, Sr.

Donaire, Sr., who is working with Sonsona’s long time coach Juan Agrabio to whip up the champ to shape, told InsideSports.ph that the Filipino lefty is already entered the sparring phase of his training.

Sonsona, the youngest Filipino world champion today at 19, is scheduled to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight title against Mexico’s Alejandro “Payasito” Hernandez.

Sonsona, who won the WBO belt from veteran Jose “Carita” Lopez of Puerto Rico, remained undefeated in 14 fights (12 knock outs) while Hernandez has a fighting record of 22-7 (11 knock outs).

The fight will take place in Casino Rama in Canada, the site of Sonsona’s victory over Lopez.

Donaire Sr. said Sonsona is currently sparring 4 to 6 rounds on some days and works on the punch-mitts in Mandaue City, Cebu.

He added that he doesn’t want Sonsona to spar with heavier opponents and instead has him going up against the likes of Filipino boxer Richard Bitos, who is regarded for his quickness.

Donaire Sr. said the lanky southpaw currently weighs 130 pounds but should have no problem making the 115 pound limit at the official weigh-in.

Sonsona: I had no idea I'd become a champ

By Dennis Gasgonia, abs-cbnNEWS.com

MANILA -- When Marvin Sonsona first laced his gloves for an amateur fight 12 years ago, he had no inkling that he’d become a world champion someday.

In fact, what he wanted back then was to be a policeman.

“Pangarap ko po dati maging pulis,” said the 19-year-old Filipino boxer who decisively beat erstwhile WBO super flyweight champion Jose “Carita” Lopez in Ontario, Canada last Friday (Saturday in Manila).

The “Marvelous” Marvin connected a powerful right hook to Lopez’s jaw sending the Puerto Rican down to the canvass in the fourth round.

The 37-year-old Lopez, a veteran of nearly 50 fights, eventually recovered from the decking. But it was that knockdown that put the younger Marvin ahead in the score cards.

“Hindi ko naman nai-imagine noong bata ako na magiging world champion ako,” said the soft-spoken Marvin.

Family of boxers

Marvin, the eldest among three siblings, grew up in General Santos City just like “People’s Champ” Manny Pacquiao and Rolando “Bad Boy of Dadiangas” Navarette.

His father introduced him to boxing when he was just seven years old.

“’Iyong papa ko po nagturo sa akin, boksingero rin siya dati,” said Marvin, who is also related to RP bantamweight champion Eden Sonsona.

Marvin’s younger brother also tried his luck as an amateur. “Pero pinahinto ko na lang,” he added.

Life wasn’t easy for his family. He had to work as a garbage collector to help his parents provide their basic needs.

“Nagtatapon po ako ng basura… basurero po ako noon. Kahit nagbo-boksing na ko,” he said.

He eventually dropped out from high school and gave up his dream to become a police officer due to financial difficulties. But he continued boxing.

To test his mettle as a young amateur, he has joined several regional and national meets.

“Marami na rin akong nagiging laban sa amateur. Naglaro na po ako sa Batang Pinoy, National Youth Open at Palarong Pambansa,” he said.

Turning pro

Banking on his raw punching power, Marvin has compiled a considerable number of wins. He tried his luck as a professional boxer upon reaching the age of 17.

“Hindi pa ako pinayagan kasi masyadong bata pa daw,” remembered Marvin. “Then isinama nila ako sa exhibition sa Ynares Plaza sa Binangonan, Rizal, doon sa ‘In This Corner’? Noong tinalo ko iyong kalaban ko, in-approve nila akong maging professional.”

From then on, he collected 13 straight wins. Out of these victories, 12 ended by knockouts and none of them went beyond five rounds.

Some of his biggest tests were against Thai boxers Liempetch Sor Veerapol and Wandee Singwancha.

Marvin fought Veerapol in January, 2009 for the WBO Asia Pacific Youth title. He beat Veerapol by technical knock out in the fourth round.

Singwancha, a former world champion, suffered the same fate in the hands of the “Marvelous” in May, 2009. Marvin won the WBO Oriental flyweight title by beating Singwancha in just two rounds.

“When we saw him win over Singwancha, sabi namin ‘mukhang handa na siya para sa isang world title fight’,” said Marvin’s Filipino promoter Sammy Gello-ani.

Canadian support

Marvin is already 19 when he won against Singwancha. However, to the eyes of US boxing promoters, he is still a boy.

“Nobody wanted to promote him in America because he’s very young. So we ask them [boxing promoters] in Canada: are you willing to gamble? He’s a potential boxing champion,” said Gello-ani.

Orion Sports Management President Allan Tremblay took the gamble.

With the help of international matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz, they have penciled Marvin for a September 4 match up with Lopez at the Casino Rama in Ontario.

The showdown was dubbed “Rumble at Rama IX”.

Marvin was well supported by the Filipino community in Canada. In fact, according to Gello-Ani, two-thirds of those who attended the fight were Canada-based Filipinos.

Marvin then showed Lopez why he is known as the “Marvelous”, firing his right fist and the thunderous left that dropped the Puerto Rican. “Carita” seemed to have become desperate in the latter rounds and was deducted points for a couple of low blows.

Judges saw the fight 114-111, 115-110 and 116-109, all in favor of Marvin. He went home as the winner.

For the love of his family

Marvin said most of his winnings, amounting to more than a million pesos, will go to his family.

He said he has become a boxer to feed his family.

“Basta kung ano ang maiuuwi ko sa pamilya ko, sila na bahala. Wala kasi silang trabaho, mga kapatid ko nag-aaral,” said Marvin.

In the end, he said he only wanted his family to be happy.

“Masaya po ang pamilya ko, magaan po ang pakiramdam nila,” Marvin, the latest “Wonder Boy” of Philippine boxing, said while smiling.

------

While I can confidently say that more than 90% of Filipino fans are excitedly awaiting the PPV superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto, there is another upcoming superstar in the making who can possibly equal if not surpass the achievement of the current boxing great Manny Pacquiao. His name is Marvin Sonsona, the current WBO Superflyweight Champion. Wait for this kid's time to shine. Mark my word.

Raul B. Romilla
boxingfanatico.blogspot.com