Larry Merchant needs no introduction. He is considered the greatest television boxing analyst of all time. Larry is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Let’s welcome Larry into the doghouse.
David Tyler – Larry, let’s discuss the Cotto/ Pacquiao mega fight November 14th on HBO PPV. Your thoughts?
Larry Merchant – Well the first thing that comes to mind is that Pacquiao is about a two to one favorite and I think it’s virtually an even fight going in. I think that Pacquiao for the first time since he moved up in weight is fighting a naturally stronger fighter who is a quality fighter in his prime and that will be a really serious test for him.
DT – I agree. How do you see Miguel Cotto presenting problems for Manny Pacquiao?
LM – I think that Cotto unlike Pacquiao is a versatile fighter. He has proven that he can box as well as throw and punch. Maybe the main issue will come down to what happens when Pacquiao hits Cotto with that explosive straight left hand? Also, what speed differential there is between them. Since he has moved up from 130 pounds, Pacquiao has fought three opponents. He had to hit David Diaz enumerable times before stopping him. Everyone remembers his more high profile fights with Oscar who he was just too fast for and Hatton who he just nailed while Hatton was trying to get inside. Hatton couldn’t see the punches coming and lost by a sensational knockout. So going by all that the question is if it turns out to start as a tactical fight who has the edge. Is it the quickness of Pacquiao? If Cotto can handle his punch that may give Cotto the serious edge he needs by being able to put Pacquiao on the defensive.
DT – Cotto has fought some fighters with speed such as Shane Mosley and Zab Judah, they don’t have the speed of Pacquiao. How can Cotto manage the speed issue?
LM – When a fighter moves up in weight and seems to carry his punch with him giving him an edge in speed and punching, that’s difficult to beat and that’s what makes Pacquiao so unusual. What made Ray Robinson so unique was he started as a dominate Welterweight and he was knocking guys out at Middleweight with one punch and that’s not normal. That’s what makes some fighters exceptional and we all know that Pacquiao has that. I don’t think of Pacquiao as a one punch knock out artist. He is boxer, puncher who uses both skills, both controlled in a committed way by that I mean when he boxes he is under full control and when he punches he commits to his punches. So if he can do that to a guy like Cotto then that makes him more of an exception than we already think he is, but I think that Cotto because he can box and has dealt with speed as he did against Mosley and Judah, is what makes him such a serious talent and the question how good does he impose himself on his opponent without endangering himself too much? And near the end of the day in fights like this it often comes down to will and who yields. And that’s something that we don’t know going into this fight.
Larry Merchant
LM – It would seem to have a chance to do very, very, well because it has the fighters on the card who have such strong connections to their fans. I can’t imagine there is a Filipino in America who wouldn’t want to watch this fight or a Puerto Rican. So that’s two serious ethnic groups that are involved and then you have the Mexican American fans who identify pretty closely with Pacquiao and you have Chavez Jr. on the undercard. So you have those three groups heavily involved plus the rest of us degenerates and even Mayweather fans who will watch hoping Pacquiao wins so Mayweather will have the chance to fight Pacquiao. It seems to me that you have the potential to get into the million range and maybe beyond.
DT – I feel somewhat sorry for Cotto in the fact that Freddie Roach and team Pacquiao have been very media friendly and I can’t find anyone supporting Cotto. It seems everyone has given up on Cotto.
LM – I have seen a couple of interviews on television and I was at the Pound for Pound gym on Tuesday and there was a good media turnout. Pacquiao has become a boxing superstar and a phenomenon that has transcended the sport to some degree so it’s natural that with his sensational victory over Hatton and his unexpected victory over Oscar it’s just normal that there would be more star power radiating from him attracting the media. Plus the fact of his having to deal with the typhoon and other issues in the Philippines. When you get a guy like this it’s like every time he fights the preparation becomes bigger than the fight. Now it’s becoming an event. Just think of two guys from places who are not from the United States mainland coming to fight in Vegas and generating enough interest, we are talking about one of the biggest PPV events ever for a non-heavyweight. That in itself is a phenomenon.
DT – Larry, I just can’t find anyone that gives Cotto a chance………..
LM – I give him a chance. I think that it’s an even fight and that certainly means I give him a serious chance.
DT – If I put a gun to your head and said pick one, who would you pick?
Please read the rest of this Interview at DoghouseBoxing.
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Special thanks to Chee of Doghouse Boxing.
Marshall N. B., Boxing News World
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