Here in South Africa – seemingly miles off the beaten boxing track that is leading Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto to their destiny in Las Vegas on November 14 – two local boxers who have fought these great warriors are offering different views on who will emerge victorious.
Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, who lost on a sixth-round TKO to Manny Pacquiao in 2001, and Lovemore Ndou, a points loser to Cotto in 2004, were present at a press conference on Tuesday ahead of a big tournament in Johannesburg this weekend.
Ledwaba, who has picked up some weight since hanging up his gloves after suffering a detached retina, is now working as a trainer in Bloemfontein – which means many weekend trips to visit his family at home in Johannesburg.
“Hands of Stone” Ledwaba, one of South Africa’s finest boxers of the past decade or so, is tipping Pacquiao to win, although he reckons it will be a tough encounter that is likely to go the distance.
“Manny’s in his prime, but he’s fighting a really tough guy. Manny doesn’t like fighting a boxer who likes attacking the body, and Cotto is good at that. I’d still say Manny will win, but he must stay on the outside. He can’t afford Cotto to get inside.”
But Ndou, who fought out of Australia for years although he’s now training in east Johannesburg with Harold Volbrecht (a welterweight contender in the 1980s), reckons Cotto will have the advantage. “I fought Cotto – he’s a strong, smart fighter. I don’t think it will be easy, but if I had to bet, I’d put my money on Cotto.”
Ndou, also a former sparring partner of Floyd Mayweather, said he had no doubt who would win if Pacman and “Money” ever got it on. “Mayweather will win with one hand behind his back.”
Ndou, the IBO welterweight champion, is scheduled to defend against Matthew Hatton, Ricky’s brother, on November 13, and he’s confident of keeping his belt. “He’s living off his brother’s name. He’s like a donkey in a horse race. You can feed him carrots and make him think he’s a race horse, but I’ll show that he’s just a donkey.”
(Article is originally posted at blogs.timeslive.co.za)
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