'Pacman' focused despite recent distractions

October 29, 2009, CNN

(CNN) -- Manny Pacquiao is fully focused on next month's fight with Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas despite the typhoon which has devastated parts of his native Philippines, insists his trainer.

The 30-year-old took time out from his preparations to visit some of the worst-hit areas around the capital Manila and distributed food and supplies.

More than 700 people died and six million were left homeless while the IBO light welterweight champion, considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and dubbed 'Pacman' by his fans, was at home training.

He has now returned to his base in Los Angeles ahead of his November 14 showdown with WBO welterweight champion Cotto at the MGM Grand, and his trainer Freddie Roach believes he is ready to face the Puerto Rican.

"It left him mentally drained and very sad, naturally," Roach said of the Manila visit, during a conference call from Los Angeles on Wednesday.

"But once we got in the gym, he put it aside. Manny is able to put that side of real life aside when he gets into the gym. READ MORE

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Pacquiao not affected by distractions

October 29, 2009, Manila Bulletin

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Manny Pacquiao denied that humanitarian work in typhoon-ravaged Philippines took away from his training sessions for an upcoming title fight with Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao donated money and took time out from his sparring sessions to help the victims in the wake of typhoons that killed hundreds of people and rendered tens of thousands of families homeless in his native Philippines.

“It was mentally draining for him to see the devastation because thousands passed away and that is sad but once we stepped in the gym he was fine,’’ trainer Freddie Roach said.

About 1,000 people died due to the two storms and more than 162,000 people had to be moved into makeshift evacuation centres because of back-to-back typhoons Ketsana and Parma.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 27 KOs) said he would have liked to do more but had to get back to training or risk not being fully prepared to face World Boxing Organization champ Cotto in their November 14 fight in Las Vegas.

“I wanted to help them but I am in the middle of heavy training,’’ said Pacquiao. “It is difficult but I have to focus on my fight and nobody can help me in the ring.’’

Pacquiao, of General Santos City, is chasing a piece of boxing history by trying to win seven titles in seven-different divisions. Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) has been called a throwback fighter but Roach says Pacquiao is more old school.

“Manny is a throwback,’’ said Roach, who is predicting Pacquiao will knock Cotto out. “He is like a Henry Armstrong type of guy.

“He is carrying his punch and his power up with him. This would be one of the greatest achievements ever and he would surpass great ones like Sugar Ray Leonard.’’

Pacquiao, who attempted to run for a seat at the House of Representatives in 2007, arrived in Los Angeles on the weekend after training in both Baguio City and Manila for just over a month.

He has been working the last few days with Roach at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.

“I am excited,’’ Pacquiao said Wednesday. ‘’It is going to be great because our style is kind of similar.’’

“I am hungry to win this fight. I feel like I am in 100 percent condition. I can’t wait until November 14.’’

Roach said they had to leave for the US sooner than expected because of the demands on Pacquiao’s time in the Philippines.

“Baguio worked out well because we asked people to stay away,’’ Roach said. “He didn’t have politicians bothering him.

“He was on fire the whole month there and we had great camp. The weather messed with us but we ran in the rain and we ran inside sometimes.

“The last week in Manila was tougher because everyone was trying to pull him different ways. There were lots of politicians.’’

Pacquiao is hugely popular among people of all ages in his native country and among Filipino expats, working overseas as laborers or domestic helpers.

Roach took it one step further Wednesday saying that Pacquiao is more popular than American boxer Mike Tyson in his prime.

“Even Mike Tyson didn’t have the drawing power that Manny has,’’ Roach said of his former fighter Iron Mike. “People just swarm (Pacquiao) to get a touch or a look. His countrymen love him.

“He brightens up a room and has got a great smile. He’s the type of fighter that is going to keep boxing alive.’’

Roach said their game plan against Cotto is to stay away from underdog’s devastating left hook and take away his counterpunching ability. (TEMPO news)

(This article is originally posted at mb.com.ph)

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In Baguio, Pacquiao coach peeved at Villar visit

October 29, 2009, Philippine Daily Inquirer

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—After Manny Pacquiao left this city for Manila, people continue to wonder why. The new twist to the story is it’s Pacquiao’s coach Freddie Roach against Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

Part of HBO’s 24/7 presentation of the Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight prequel on their match-up is on the Internet. Most comments blame Villar for interrupting Pacquiao’s training.

In the video, Roach said Team Pacquiao should leave Saturday night or else Typhoon Ramil would catch up with them. As it turned out, Pacquiao had Villar as his guest at The Manor in Camp John Hay here and was hesitant to leave.

While having lunch with Villar, Roach approached the two in what HBO 24/7 described as “a standoff that turned severe.” Roach told Pacquiao that they had to go. In a separate interview, Roach threatened to quit if Pacquiao stalled but “cooler heads prevailed.”

The first part of the HBO 24/7 feature, where Villar appeared, was shown Saturday in the United States. The HBO crew arrived after Typhoon Pepeng devastated parts of Baguio City. This installment showed Team Pacquiao caught in the typhoon, forcing Pacquiao to swim, not jog, for a few days.

Despite media interviews that they would finish their training at Shape Up Boxing Gym in Cooyeesan Mall here until Oct. 24, Roach got ready to leave Saturday night.

The feature showed Roach and Pacquiao having dinner Saturday night and later talking in Roach’s suite about the need to leave the next day.

Roach said, “If we stay here, we have a chance of getting stuck. Or we can do it tomorrow so we can sleep tonight.”

Villar turned up Sunday night and the plan to leave seemed delayed. That was when the Roach-Villar stand-off happened.

What Pacquiao and Villar discussed was not known, but Villar is known to have pulled all stops in his presidential bid and being seen with the immensely popular Pacquiao would be a plus in his campaign.

Two YouTube versions of that segment were leaked on Oct. 26. A handful watched it, but the reactions were nasty toward Villar who, viewers said, “should be in typhoon-devastated places helping others.”

Villar is hell bent on winning the presidential race and has resorted to intense advertisements to help him make sure of it.

He has penetrated TV shows such as “Wowowee,” which became heavily popular for giving away money to contestants willing to show off their talents or simply embarrass themselves in front of cameras.

Villar, a real estate mogul who faced a Senate ethics investigation for road funding anomalies, has also acquired the support of Wowowee host Willie Revillame, who remained extremely popular despite the deaths of 74 would-be contestants on Feb. 4, 2006, in a stampede of people trying to get into his show.

Villar has also acquired the support of allies of President Macapagal-Arroyo, including Camarines Sur Gov. Luis “LRay” Villafuerte Jr.

According to sources in the know about his campaign, Villar has already spent at least P1.5 billion for his promotional blitz.

In the HBO 24/7 prequel, the segments on Cotto showed that his training in Florida was more focused and relaxed.

Frank Cimatu, Inquirer Northern Luzon

(This article is originally posted at politics.inquirer.net)

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Video: Pacquiao's trainer predicts KO (Fox Sports)

Source: Fox Sports

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&brand=foxsports&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:db9eed3f-86dc-45f9-9572-b5723226c809&showPlaylist=true&from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videosearch&fg=everyzing" target="_new" title="Pacquiao&#39;s trainer predicts KO">Video: Pacquiao&#39;s trainer predicts KO</a>

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Video: Pacquiao's training camp - Wildcard gym (Oct. 28)

Elie Seckbach's video (Source: YouTube.com)

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Floyd Mayweather, lover and fighter, cooking with Chili

October 29, NY Boxing Examiner, Michael Marley, Examiner.com

When it comes to boxing news, Manny Pacquiao is dominating the way Floyd Mayweather Jr. dominated against Juan Manuel Marquez.

That’s to be expected with Megamanny’s huge fight against Miguel Cotto right around the corner, now just a fortnight away from Saturday night.

But, despite my recent article wondering if Mayweather was MIA, he has been popping up in some unusual locations, the gossip columns in newspapers and on the Internet.

New York Post’s famed “Page Six” ran a brief item about Formerly Known as Pretty Boy and a pretty girl, the TLC singer who goes by the name of Chili. READ MORE

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Roach Says A Win Over Cotto Puts Manny In All-Time Top 5

By Michael Woods, The Sweet Science

Freddie Roach isn't simply the man who transformed a whirling dervish of kinetic energy into a technically adept, supremely focused hitter, he's Manny Pacquiao's most ardent fan.

OK, that mat be straying over the line, considering Manny whips more than 90 million of his countrymen, women and children into a frenzy of adoration typically reserved for deities. But Dedham Freddie has done more than any one person to bring Pacquiao to where he is today--the top of the pound for pound tier, or as Floyd Mayweather fans might assert, just beneath that level.

Mayweather's mastery on Sept. 19 against Juan Manuel Marquez had some pundits re-installing the American atop the P4P platform, despite his shadily obtained weight advantage. I moved into that camp myself, and suppose disagreements will have to stand until the inevitable showdown between Pacman and Mayweather. I say inevitable because I firmly believe that Pacquiao's hand speed is two notches better than Miguel Cotto's, and that he will add to Miguel's tattoo collection with shots Cotto doesn't see coming on Nov. 14. Speed equals power equals another improbable win for Pacquiao, and the seventh title, in the seventh weight division since he turned pro in 1995. My certainty, though, seems slight in comparison to that of Roach, who on a Wednesday conference call with Manny and promoter Bob Arum, made his case for Pacman being an all-time, pound for pound great.

With the win over Cotto, who holds the WBO title, by virtue of a hair-thin decision victory in his first defense against Joshua Clottey in June, Freddie says Manny will join a select crew. I didn't get a chance to ask Coach Roach who he has installed at the top of his own P4P list, but whoever is on the short list, he says Manny should join 'em.

The win would elevate Manny, Roach said, to the "five best of all time in any era.

"He's getting better and better," Roach said of the Filipino, who he termed a "Henry Armstrong-type guy." That Hall of Famer, of course, held the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight titles at the same time, and is on everybody's all-time top 5 list. Manny's 7 at 7 feat, Freddie said, will be "one of the greatest achievements ever," and he lumped in Manny with other multi-title greats like Sugar Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns.

TSS U, let's bring you all into the mix. You on board with Roach's statement? Is Cotto enough of a test for you for Manny? You're not going to indulge in something that irks Roach to no end, and tear down Miguel after Manny has his way with him, are you? READ MORE

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Pacquiao remains on track for title quest

By Greg Heakes (AFP)

LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao denied that humanitarian work in typhoon-ravaged Philippines took away from his training sessions for an upcoming title fight with Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao donated money and took time out from his sparring sessions to help the victims in the wake of typhoons that killed hundreds of people and rendered tens of thousands of families homeless in his native Philippines.

"It was mentally draining for him to see the devastation because thousands passed away and that is sad but once we stepped in the gym he was fine," trainer Freddie Roach said.

About 1,000 people died due to the two storms and more than 162,000 people had to be moved into makeshift evacuation centres because of back-to-back typhoons Ketsana and Parma.

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 27 KOs) said he would have liked to do more but had to get back to training or risk not being fully prepared to face World Boxing Organization champ Cotto in their November 14 fight in Las Vegas.

"I wanted to help them but I am in the middle of heavy training," said Pacquiao. "It is difficult but I have to focus on my fight and nobody can help me in the ring." READ MORE

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Manny Pacquiao against Oscar de la Hoya

(Image is from http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/xsk_YKbnugI/Oscar+De+La+Hoya+v+Manny+Pacquiao/-fPwUx2bSuf/Manny+Pacquiao)

Hollywood stars to watch Pacquiao fight

By NICK GIONGCO, October 29, 2009, Manila Bulletin

A galaxy of stars from the world of entertainment and sports will be at ringside when Manny Pacquiao faces Miguel Cotto on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Every Hollywood celebrity who is Manny’s friend will be in the fight,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, who heads Top Rank Inc.

Well-known Pacquiao pals are Mark Wahlberg and Mickey Rourke but Arum guarantees there’d still be a lot in attendance.

Aside from showbiz people, the fight will also be graced by big names from baseball and football, making the card a star-studded affair, stressed the seventy-something Arum, who had promoted countless names in the fight game like Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, Erik Morales, Floyd Mayweather, and Oscar De La Hoya.

The Cotto fight will be Pacquiao’s 17th on US soil.

All in all, Pacquiao has won 14 bouts in America, lost once (to Morales in their first fight in 2005) and drew once (with the late Agapito Sanchez in 2001).

Pacquiao’s last fight—held last May 2 also at the MGM Grand—was against British Ricky Hatton, who the Filipino flattened in just two rounds.

(This article is originally posted at mb.com.ph)

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Couture calls for Hatton to join UFC

James Robson, Manchester Evening News, October 29, 2009

RICKY Hatton has been told to quit boxing and become a cage fighter in the UFC!

And one of the legends of the Ultimate Fighting Championship has even offered to train the Hitman to make him a star in the brutal mixed martial arts phenomenon.

Five-time world UFC champion Randy Couture believes Hatton, who hasn't boxed since losing to Manny Pacquiao in May, would be a sensation in the cage.

"I am a big fan of Ricky Hatton," said Couture. "He is a fantastic fighter. I could get him up to speed on the ground wrestling part of it, while he could take advantage of his boxing talent.

"He could make a big difference in the lighter categories."

Major figures from around the boxing world have urged Hatton to retire from boxing for his own safety - but he won't be rushed into a decision.

And although the 31-year-old is currently concentrating on his promoting career, he is known to be a big fan of UFC and suggested earlier this year that it could one day over take boxing in popularity.

"It is all action, proper fighting," he said. "They are going the right away about it to get people interested.

"There is a concern in boxing that UFC is taking its place. People seem to get more value for money.

"UFC would be right up my street, I used to kick box so maybe I would be all right."

Couture, who fights at what is set to be a sold-out MEN Arena on November 14, is convinced the UFC, which has a huge worldwide following, would be an ideal option for Hatton should he decide to continue his fight career.

He said: "A lot of boxers have trouble putting themselves in the situation where they are going to get choked and taken down. But if he can learn the ways of UFC then he could go a long way.

"He is a tremendous fighter and has a lot of heart. There is no doubt he could make a tremendous impact with his heart and determination in the ring."

COUTURE will be signing copies of his autobiography 'Becoming The Natural' on Sunday November 15 from 11am to 1pm at Hard Rock Cafe , Exchange Square, Manchester. For tickets call 0845 125 9627 or visit: www.fightersinc.net/experience.htm

Do you think Hatton would be able to succeed in UFC? Have your say.

(This article is originally posted at manchestereveningnews.co.uk)

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Miguel Cotto: Manny Pacquiao 'is just another boxer'

By Gareth Davies, telegraph.co.uk

Miguel Cotto is confident. Indeed, supremely confident of shocking Manny Pacquaio, who many consider to be the pound for pound No 1, when they meet in Las Vegas in 16 days’ time.

With the bookies, Cotto starts as the underdog, defending the WBO welterweight crown – albeit at 145lbs – against the Filipino fighting idol at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.

But does Cotto think he simply has too much firepower for Pacquiao ? The Puerto Rican has been very coy about his game plan, and like others before him, is looking to blow Pacquiao away. Several opponents have underestimated Pacquiao’s power at their peril.

Psychologically, because he has come up so many weight divisions, is it difficult for them to remove thoughts that they are fighting a smaller man. Yet, in reality, Pacquiao does not look that much smaller than Cotto.

It is worth recalling that when Pacquiao turned professional as a teenage boy in 1995, fighting for a dollar a fight, Pacquiao weighed seven stone 8lbs. On November 14, he fights Cotto for the WBO welterweight title, with the Puerto Rican champion most likely to be around 160lbs.

Cotto says: “He’s just another boxer who comes to my division and challenge me for my title. The night of November 14 I’m going to be prepared for him, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to beat Manny Pacquiao.”

“I know at the moment I have another opportunity to prove myself. I’m going to be the winner.”

Pacquiao insists that Cotto is the “hardest test” of his career, but Pacquiao’s speed, if he is on his game, could overwhelm Cotto. Not in the manner that Ricky Hatton was made to look a statue in their May contest.

“This is the toughest fight of my career and I won’t waste the opportunity,” said Pacquiao “I’m treating this fight with the seriousness it deserves. I won’t let myself get carried away with other people’s comments. Many are saying the punishment from Margarito and Clottey has affected him, but I won’t depend on that. Cotto is still a very strong fighter and bigger than me. I have to fight smartly and not underestimate him.”

“The intensity remains the same but maybe what has changed somewhat is the type of training, because we have to adjust to a particular style to fight Cotto,” said the 30-year-old. We need to apply certain techniques. I have spent many hours on studying with Freddie to identify Cotto’s weaknesses and strengths, to find his key points.”

“We are ready for what they bring. We have studied him very well. What I do is stand in the ring, box and put on the best fight possible. I’m not looking for a knockout but I’ll welcome it if it comes.” Wise words from the man of the Philippines.

(This article is originally posted at telegraph.co.uk)

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Ex-Mayweather sparring parter: Floyd would beat Pacquiao 'with one hand tied behind his back'

By Josh Slagter | The Grand Rapids Press | October 28, 2009

Lovemore Ndou was one of Floyd Mayweather's sparring partners when the Grand Rapids native was preparing for his December 2007 fight against Ricky Hatton.

Mayweather knocked out Hatton in the 10th round and then had a 22-month break before defeating Juan Manuel Marquez in September.

Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will fight Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, with the winner presumably in line to fight Mayweather.

If it's Pacquiao, Ndou said Mayweather won't have a problem.

“Mayweather will win with one hand behind his back," Ndou told David Isaacson of Times Live while training in east Johannesburg.

Ndou, who's preparing for a Nov. 13 fight against Matthew Hatton, also likes Cotto to beat Pacquiao.

“I fought Cotto (in 2004) -- he’s a strong, smart fighter," Ndou said. "I don’t think it will be easy, but if I had to bet, I’d put my money on Cotto.”

E-mail Josh Slagter at jslagter@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JoshSlagter

(This article is originally posted at mlive.com)

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SONSONA, MORALES LOOKING SHARP AT TRAINING CAMP

By Rene Bonsubre, Jr., PhilBoxing.com, Thu, 29 Oct 2009

Mandaue City - WBO superflyweight champ “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona continues his preparation for his first defense of his world title belt against Mexico’s Alejandro “Payasito” Hernandez (22W-7L-1D, 11KO's) on November 21 in Canada. He sparred for six rounds against Richard Betos of the Braveheart Boxing Club Tuesday and another eight rounds against Betos Wednesday afternoon.

The 19 year old southpaw is undefeated in 14 fights with 12 knockouts and is the second youngest Filipino boxing champion aside from being the second most famous left hander from Gen. Santos City.

His challenger Hernandez has never been knocked out. His ring name “Payasito” means little clown. But there is no clowning around as far as Donaire and Sonsona are concerned as they moved their training regimen up a notch. Team Sonsona moved to the IPI Gym in Mandaue City late last week.

Sonsona also hit the punch mitts with Donaire and shadow boxed after the session. Donaire is amazed with Sonsona’s power and said that the champion hits like a lightweight.

Sonsona’s morning roadwork consists of running up the hills of Busay together with the other boxers in the gym. News crews from the television stations here in Cebu have been visiting their training camp.

WBO Oriental superbantamweight titlist Ciso ‘Kid Terrible’ Morales also trains in the same gym. Morales spent Wednesday afternoon shadow boxing, hitting the punch mitts and heavy bag. He also had a defensive drill in which Donaire chased him around the ring and tried to hit him. He will fight in the undercard against Mexico’s Miguel Angel Gonzales Piedras (10W-1 L, 4 KO’s).

The fight card is billed as RUMBLE IN RAMA X and will be held in Orillia, Ontario, Canada.

(This article is originally posted at Philboxing.com)

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Pacquiao sleeps through workout

October 28, 2009, Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times

I tried to spend some time talking to Manny Pacquiao today at his trainer Freddie Roach's gym in Hollywood, but the world's top pound-for-pound fighter had fallen asleep after a conference call so a publicist friend kindly extended a lunch invitation.

"Better get an appetizer," chimed in another publicist on the telephone as we drove to lunch.

That was at 1:30 p.m. At 6:45 p.m., this just in: Manny's still asleep.

In a training camp that has been knocked off its routine by tax-liability issues that forced Pacquiao to train in his native Philippines for 30 days instead of spending the usual eight weeks of pre-fight activity in Hollywood, Wednesday passed without much work.

The wasted day follows other camp slips, including a fight between Pacquiao's business manager and a cornerman and Roach scolding the fighter for dismissing his scheduling directions.

Meanwhile, in footage aired on HBO's "24/7," Pacquiao's Nov. 14 foe, world welterweight champion Miguel Cotto has worked through more weeks of training, and appears more focused on the challenge at hand.

Roach, who was prepared to put Pacquiao through an intense workout after the boxer spent Wednesday morning running at UCLA, defused the significance of Wednesday's lengthy nap.

"I know he's sound asleep, and I've told the people with him to let him get the jet lag out of his system," Roach said, referring to their flight from the Philippines to Los Angeles this weekend. "A day off for a fighter sometimes is the best thing for him. I understand. I'm tired, too."

Roach discussed Pacquiao-Cotto and related matters in a video discussion I had with him today.



-- Lance Pugmire


(This article is originally posted at latimesblogs.latimes.com)

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IBF welterweight champ backs Manny Pacquiao

October 28th, 2009 | By David Isaacson | Times LIVE

Isaac Hlatshwayo, who owns a quarter of the world welterweight crown, believes Manny Pacquiao will beat Miguel Cotto on November 14 – but the bout will go the distance.

“I believe Pacquiao has the edge,” says Hlatshwayo, holder of the IBF welterweight title. Cotto is defending the WBO belt, although the stipulated weight for this super-bout in Las Vegas is two pounds below the welter limit.

“Cotto, if you’ve seen his last few fights, is open to uppercuts and Pacquiao throws the left uppercut very well. It’ll be a tough fight, and I think it will go the distance,” added ‘The Angel’, who started his own professional career at lightweight.

Hlatshwayo’s stablemate, former IBF junior-lightweight champion Cassius Baloyi, is tipping Cotto to win. “He’s bigger and he’s stronger than Pacman.”

It’s not surprising that Baloyi is backing the bigger guy – he moved up to lightweight to challenge Hlatshwayo in 2005 and was badly beaten in a one-sided fight over 12 rounds, even getting dropped early on.

Baloyi is in action on Friday night in an eliminator against Argentina’s Roberto Arrieta.

Hlatshwayo, who turned down the chance for a unification bout against WBC champion Andre Berto, is scheduled to make a voluntary defence on December 11, although the opponent has yet to be finalised.

(This article is originally posted at blogs.timeslive.co.za)

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Pacquiao seeking title in record seventh division

Posted Oct. 28, 2009, By Michael Rosenthal, The Ring

Manny Pacquiao has a chance to win a major title in a record seventh weight class when he faces welterweight titleholder Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, or 41 percent of the 17 weight divisions.

That probably doesn’t rival Henry Armstrong’s feat of holding the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight titles simultaneously but it certainly is remarkable.

Pacquiao has won titles as a flyweight (1998), junior featherweight (2001), featherweight (2003, THE RING), junior lightweight (2008), lightweight (2008) and welterweight (2009, THE RING), which equals Oscar De La Hoya’s six-division record.

And boxing historian Cliff Rold pointed out that Pacquiao is the only fighter in history to win four lineal titles (112 pounds, 126, 130 and 140), which descend directly from the original champions.

“It would be unbelievable,” Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, said on a conference call Wednesday. “Manny is a throwback, like a Henry Armstrong type of guy. You don’t have guys moving up to win championships in all these different weight divisions. He’s carried his punch, power and speed up with him. He’s getting better and better.

“This is one of the greatest achievements ever. … He’s in the elite category. He’s in the Top Five best fighters of all time of any era.”

Pacquiao was typically understated when asked about the prospect of a title in a seventh weight division.

“It’s a good honor for me and to my country, bringing history to my country,” he said.

Could he make it eight divisions one day? Probably not.

“I don’t think so,” Roach said when asked whether Pacquiao could fight above the welterweight division. “We’re close to our limit at 147. We have to feed him five times a day to keep weight on him. I think this will be his final stop.

“You never know, though. The right guy might come along at 154 and maybe we’ll go there.”

Revisionist history? A reporter suggested that Cotto might be the first true welterweight Pacquiao will have faced. That includs Oscar De La Hoya, who many believe was a shell of what he had been.

Roach bristled at that perception because of how it reflects on Pacquiao’s victory over De La Hoya.

“Before the fight, they said he’d kill Manny,” he said. “Manny would’ve beat him on his best day. Why do people say Oscar had a bad night? Why not look at it as Manny having a good night?

That begged the question: If Pacquiao destroys Cotto, who most observers believe is a legitimate threat to the Filipino icon, will the critics then say, “Well, he was damaged goods because of the beating he took from Antonio Margarito?”

“Of course you will,” said Roach, referring to the media. “… That’s the way the world is. I look at it in a different way. I look at Manny as the greatest fighter in the world today and I think he’s going to prove it again.”

Pacquiao wouldn’t get into the fray, saying simply, “It’s their right to think what they want.”

KO coming? Roach stuck by his prediction that Pacquiao will knock out Cotto.

“Working the mitts with Manny this week … he’s punching much harder than he has,” Roach said. “He’s getting used to the weight; he’s very used to it now. He’s just punching fast and hard. I think Miguel Cotto’s defense is not good enough; he’s hittable. And people Manny can hit he knocks out.

Roach said he believes Cotto has bounced back nicely from his knockout loss to Antonio Margarito in July of last year, building confidence in victories over Michael Jennings and Joshua Clottey in his subsequent two fights.

He doesn’t want to allow Cotto to build any more confidence against Pacquiao.

“The fight with Margarito, he did take a beating in that fight,” he said. “In his first comeback fight, he fought an average guy and didn’t look great. Being knocked out for the first time takes confidence away, though. He looked better in the Clottey fight. … That gave him more confidence back.

“We want to take that away from him right away. That’s why we’re going to start quick.”

That might also be why Roach has boldly predicted a first-round knockout, although he didn’t state a round in the conference call.

Pleasantly surprised: Roach had been leery of training in the Philippines because of distractions but was satisfied with the work he and Pacquiao did over a month in Baguio in spite of typhoons. That wasn’t the case when they moved camp to Manila, where distractions abounded.

However, Roach liked what he saw from Pacquiao in his first sparring sesson in the U.S. on Tuesday.

“There’s still a little bit of jet lag,” he said. “I didn’t expect a great day (from Pacquiao) with the jet lag. He gave me 10 great rounds yesterday, though. He’s back on track. He’s very close to being ready for the fight.”

Pacquiao agreed.

“I feel I’m in 100 percent condition,” he said. “I can’t wait until Nov. 14.”

Roach has dismissed sparring partners Jose Luis Castillo and Urbano Antillion but will continue to use Shawn Porter. He also brought in once-beaten welterweight Rashad Hollway and junior middleweight Ray Beltran.

“I think Manny was getting a little bit too used to the sparring partners he had, Castillo and Antillon,” Roach said. “They went home. We got some fresh guys to liven it up a bit, to keep Manny focused.”

Pacquiao vs. Ali and De La Hoya: Arum was asked how Pacquiao’s popularity compares to that of Muhammad Ali and Oscar De La Hoya, both of whom he also promoted.

“Ali was a proponent of a political position and also … became a spokesman for the civil rights movement at a time when it was really emerging into everyone’s vision,” he said. “So Ali had tremendous political impact, particularly his stance on the Vietnam War. He was able to come back and fight. People idolized him.

“Manny Pacquaio doesn’t have that major political statement; he’s not controversial. But he’s engaged in politics in the Philippines. And everything that he does is very pro-humanity. So he’s really loved by the people of the Philippines and the U.S. and all over the world. To that extent, he’s really crossed over into the American public. People know who Manny Pacquiao is and he’s genuinely admired. I’ve never, ever seen anything like the adulation, the way he’s treated by Filipinos in the Phillipines and all over the world. That’s something Ali never really had, that type of frenzy, with 90 million people in the Philippines and 11 million Filipino people around the world.

“As far as Oscar goes, he was popular in the U.S. He was good looking, charismatic, a good fighter. His popularity was pretty much limited to the U.S. That made him an awful lot of money. But he around the world, he didn’t’ have the recognition of either Ali or Pacquiao.”

Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com

(Reposted with permission from the author.)


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Cotto to Pay Pacquiao $1 million per Pound for Excess Weight

By Leo Reyes, Oct. 29, Digital Journal

If Miguel Cotto weighs more than 145 pounds when he climbs the ring on November 14, he will have to pay his opponent Manny Pacquiao $1 million for every pound of excess weight. Coach Roach said he will call off the fight if Cotto weighs more than 147 lbs.

Miguel Cotto should not weigh more than 147 pounds when he faces Manny Pacquiao on November 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada. If he goes beyond the maximum limit set by Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, the Puerto Rican boxer will have to pay Pacquiao $1 million per pound of excess weight.

The two fighters agreed to fight at 145 pounds but in a recent statement by the famous boxing coach, he made it clear that he will call off the fight if Cotto weighs more than 147.

In a report by GMA news, he said he will let the fight happen if Cotto is just two pounds heavier than he original agreed weight of 145 pounds.

“That’s the highest we could go (147 pounds). I would call the fight off if he comes in weighing more than that," said Roach, now back in the comforts of his Wild Card gym in Los Angeles, California after a month-long stay in the Philippines for the first part of Pacquiao’s training camp for his Nov. 14 slugfest with the 28-year old Cotto.

Cotto's camp led by Joe Santiago could take the two pounds allowable excess as earlier set by Roach and pay $2 million penalty. In doing so, Cotto will be comfortable with his fighting weight being a natural welterweight boxer.

Pacquiao will be fighting as a welterweight for the second time. He first did so when he fought Oscar de la Hoya in their famous 'Dream Match' that Pacquiao won by KO.

Both boxers are winding up their training in preparation for the November 14 boxing event. Pacquiao who flew in Saturday from his training camp in Baguio City has now resumed his training at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach in Hollywood.

Cotto on the other hand is still holed up in Tampa Florida with coach Joe Santiago and his team. Team Cotto earlier announced that the Puerto Rican boxer is now in top shape and ready to face the current pound-for-pound king.

Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will collide in their 'Firepower' match on November 14 at the MGM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

(This article is originally posted at digitaljournal.com)

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Pacquiao set to deliver Cotto knockout, says trainer

By Mark Lamport-Stokes, Reuters

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. READ MORE

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Manny Pacquiao & Freddie Roach

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Will Manny Pacquiao's political aspirations hurt his boxing?

October 28, 2009, Los Angeles Times

As a child, Manny Pacquiao slept on the dirt floor of a hut in the Philippines. The mythical painful story of his father eating the boy's own dog still haunts.

Pacquiao, now considered the world's top boxer, has earned tens of millions of dollars because of his athletic gifts. His U.S. business manager said Pacquiao recently purchased a $2.4-million home in Hancock Park with five bedrooms.

As his countrymen still navigate extreme poverty with flawed political leadership making things worse, Pacquiao feels their pain and wants to help. He plans to run for a congressional seat in his native country, where he is adored as "The People's Champion." He will decide which seat he'll pursue by the end of November, his business manager Michael Koncz said this week, and the election is in May.

Those closest to Pacquiao's boxing activities, chiefly trainer Freddie Roach, understand the boxer's mission to assist his country's poorest -- he often hands out dollars to the needy outside his home -- but they would rather have him chase a politician's seat when his fighting career is over.

"Manny thinks differently, but I believe he cannot do both," Roach told The Times this week as he and Pacquiao resume training in Hollywood this week after 31 days of conditioning and fight-planning in the Philippines in advance of Pacquiao's Nov. 14 world welterweight title fight in Las Vegas against Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto.

On HBO's "24/7" reality series documenting the Pacquiao-Cotto fight, it was notable that Cotto has spent more weeks training than Pacquiao and seems to be more focused on the task at hand. At one point in the show, Pacquiao blew off a strong Roach request to leave the Philippines earlier than planned because of another oncoming typhoon, forcing Roach to interrupt the boxer's meeting with a politician the next day to insist it was time to go -- with an expletive tossed in.

I was talking with Roach on Tuesday about how his relationship with Pacquiao is beginning to rank among the most successful trainer-fighter relationships in the sport's history, along with Angelo Dundee and Muhammad Ali, Eddie Futch and Joe Frazier and a few others, when Roach admitted the most significant divide is their disagreement over the boxer's political future.

Roach worked to shield the sympathetic Pacquiao from the devastation of the typhoons that ravaged the Philippines while they trained. Although Pacquiao once made a long trek to visit survivors near Manila, Roach urged him to stay back at training camp as the trainer and a Pacquiao friend later visited La Trinidad-Biguit, where 325 died in a typhoon.

"It was a farming area that was completely wiped out," Roach said. "I spoke to the kids there and told them Manny wished he could be there. We saw a lot of people and tried to make them happy, but there's only so much you can do. All the men were out digging through the mud, because three people were still missing."

Roach's party came to the area with truckloads of wood needed to build caskets for the dead. At one point, he was taken into a funeral home and saw corpses "stacked 10 high. ... That's why I went. I didn't want Manny to see that. He'd get too upset.

"He has this fight to think about. We want to keep him focused on that."

That's the ultimate test now as Pacquiao challenges the naturally bigger world champion. --Lance Pugmire

(This article is originally posted at latimesblogs.latimes.com)

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Manny Pacquiao

(Image is from http://anitokid.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html)

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Arum says Pacquiao is more popular than Ali and De la Hoya

By Ben Thompson, October 28, 2009, FightHype.com

"I have never ever seen anything like the adulation that's he's treated by Filipinos in the Philippines and all over the world. That's something that even Ali never really had, that type of frenzy with 90 million people in the Philippines and 11 million Filipinos around the world. As far as Oscar's concerned, Oscar was popular in the United States," stated promoter Bob Arum... READ MORE

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Manny Pacquiao: I won't co-sign Coach Roach's KO 1 prediction

October 28, NY Boxing Examiner, Michael Marley, Examiner.com

MANNY PACQUIAO ASKED TO ASSESS MIGUEL COTTO: "He is a big guy, he is a strong guy, he is a champion...he is a good fighter and (a good opponent for me) for this fight."

PACMAN ON ROACH'S KO 1 VICTORY PREDICTION: "That is a prediction by my coach. I just want to focus on the fight. If KO comes,. it comes."

ROACH ON CRITICS KNOCKING COTTO IF HE LOSES: "Of course you will...no one likes to give credit where it is due. I feel I have the greatest fighter in boxing in boxing today now but that is the way the world is. He's proved in his last few fights and he will prove that again against Miguel Cotto."

ON THE 'THAI STICK' THAT BUBOY FERNANDEZ WHACKS PACMAN ON THE SHINS WITH (Roach speaking on training technique): "We use it during situps, Manny gets whacked with it on the shins. We've been using it for five years and Manny likes it. It's not like getting hit with a baseball bat. I don't know if I buy it 100 percent. It deadens the pain on the shins. If someone hits me with a stick...it better be a big one."

ROACH ON MANNY'S RELIEF EFFORTS AS TO TYPHOONS: "It left him mentally drained and very sad, naturally. But, once we got in the gym,. he put it aside. Manny is able to put that side of real life aside when he gets into the gym."

ROACH ON SAYING MANNY IS 98 PERCENT BETTER THAN HE WAS WHEN THEY BEGAN WORKING TOGETHER: "I would still say that and he is still today improving. He is always learning and always striving to learn...all the time...We study the habits of the opponents, the good and bad habits and then we come up with a game plan and we stick to it."

BOB ARUM ON A POSSIBLE PACMAN FOE FOR MARCH 13: "We're not going to discuss that until Nov. 15. There is plenty of time for that and plenty of time to pick someone out, to see who is available and see what the lay of the land is. To do so now, with this tough, tough fight head, is just counterproductive."

Source: International media conference call of Oct. 28, 2009.

(This article is originally posted at examiner.com)

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(Source: YouTube.com)

Cotto’s Career Path and the Suspension of Reality

By P.H. Burbridge, EastSideBoxing.com

Last year Miguel Cotto was a healthy favorite to beat Antonio Margarito for many of the same reasons that Manny Pacquiao is favored to defeat him on November 14th. Cotto was viewed as the faster and more accomplished boxer with excellent power and an undefeated record. He was floating in the upper regions of everyone’s P4P list and there was a kind of silence before a deafening roar that prevailed amongst analysts and aficionados alike. Cotto was one fight away from superstardom. In taking that fight he was also viewed as a fighter who didn’t shy away from a challenge and who wanted to prove to HIMSELF that he was the best.. We as a fan base tend to admire a fighter who takes that stance and we respected Miguel Cotto. It’s a staple of a confident and determined champion and its becoming exceedingly rare as the years go by due largely to the financial agenda of modern fighters. You’ll hear many an old timer gripe about today’s “world” champions compared to those of an era gone by asserting that “their” guys were keenly focused on “cleaning out” their division. Well, as we all know that assessment is only partially true. But we certainly can’t dispute the fact that it happened more in past generations than it does now. In today’s world too many champions are defending their belt without ever trying to unify the championship and aside from the Super Six tourney we’re unlikely to know who the TRUE champion is in any given division. Instead we get a lot of posturing in the press and fighters avoiding the question. We’ll, the Miguel Cotto - Antonio Margarito fight wasn’t going to eliminate that argument but it was the closest thing to a response that we were going to get and we WANTED it. Badly! It was a reminder that modern champions sometimes DO want to prove to themselves that they’re actually #1. They sometimes DO want to prove to their public that they will take the most “dangerous” fights available. At the time it was the best fight that could be made at welterweight and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It was GREAT! READ MORE

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Audio: Manny is punching so much harder than he ever has - Roach

BoxingNewsWorld.blogspot.com

Freddie Roach

(Image is from http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/4064/fight-night-wild-card/)

(Source: YouTube.com)

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Manny Pacquiao Expects Miguel Cotto to 'Bring His Best' for Showdown

Oct 28, 2009, By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse.com

FanHouse caught up to the six-division world champion on Wednesday to discuss his upcoming clash with WBO welterweight champ, Miguel Cotto, his humanitarian efforts during a typhoon in his native Philippines, his political aspirations and his photo in ESPN Magazine's 'Body Issue.'

See what Pacquiao had to say after the jump.

FanHouse: How do you feel about recently being named an honoree for the Gusi Peace Prize, the only athlete among the recepients?

Manny Pacquiao: I'm so humbled and honored to receive an award of recognition like that, especially being the only fighter. I'm very, very happy.
FH: Obviously, the award comes as a result of your efforts in disaster relief and your breaking training to deliver food during the typhoons in the Philippines?

Pacquiao: I was excited that I was able to help. Even during training camp, we went down to Manila to deliver food through my foundation.

I'm comfortable that the people will be taken care of through my foundation, and that they will take care of the details while I'm gone.

FH: What did you think of the most recent episode of the 24/7 series regarding its coverage of your training camp?

Pacquiao: It was well done. The problem, I think, with the 24/7, was that their crew was not with us because of the storm as much as they wanted to be, and as much as I wanted them to be.

The storm was a problem for their crew, but it was a good show. I expect it to get better.

FH: Did the series accurately depict what happened during the disagreement between yourself and your trainer, Freddie Roach, about when and when not to break camp in Baguio City as a result of the storms?

Pacquiao: You know, Freddie and I talked. You saw when he came over and spoke to me during that one scene. He wanted to leave earlier than I did, but I was not as worried as he was because I'm used to typhoons and I'm used to rain. It's something that I grew up with.

So, I guess I wasn't as concerned as Freddie was because I don't think that he is used to that type of weather. I actually ended up leaving before Freddie because he stayed overnight and I left in the middle of the night for Manila.

FH: Can you describe your relationship with Freddie Roach?

Pacquiao: Freddie and I, he's like my dad. He's like my brother. We never have any major problems, only minor discussions.

FH: Can you discuss what each of your sparring partners bring to the table in former world champion Jose Luis Castillo, Shawn Porter (10-0, eight knockouts) and Urbano Antillon (26-1, 19 KOs)?

Pacquiao: Shawn Porter is a very big guy, probably weighing 165 pounds right now. And he's a young guy and he's energetic and gives me good work.

I like Castillo also because he's been around. He's a veteran. He knows the moves that help me to stay on my guard. He's got the veteran moves that I need.

The other guy who has helped me the last four fights is Urbano Antillon. He's a good fighter. Tough, very tough. He stands in front of you, likes to go to the body and gives me good work -- the same way Cotto comes forward. He tries to bully me.

FH: Do all three of them bring different things to the table and, together, make a Miguel Cotto?

Pacquiao: Like you said, it's the combination of their skills. I spar two or three rounds with each one to work on different things so that, No. 1, I'm not ever bored.

I'm forced to learn and to try different things so that I'm ready for Miguel Cotto.

FH: Are observers accurate when they say that this is the biggest, strongest guy that you will have faced in Miguel Cotto?

Pacquiao: You know, I think so. Oscar was a big guy, also -- maybe much bigger than Cotto and I. But Miguel Cotto is a tough guy, and I expect him to bring his best, and I expect to have fun in the ring for this fight.

FH: Do you anticipate being the quicker guy in the ring for this fight?

Pacquiao: Of course. I think that my speed and my quickness is my No. 1 asset and will be for all of my fights.

FH: Do you find that you are a better boxer now that you've moved up?

Pacquiao: I've been lucky. God's been good to me, and I'm working hard. Coach Freddie and I try different things so that we're always improving my skills.

FH: Can you discuss why you want to run for congress?

Pacquiao: The reason I want to run for congress is to have change in my country. There is just so much corruption. It's been that way for years, and for centuries. I just want to see a difference.

I don't need the money, I don't need anything from the public officials. I just want to give back to the people where I came from. I know how they live, how they act, and what their needs are.

I believe that I can help them -- at least I can be an example to them. I want to make a difference in their lives like they have made a difference in mine.

FH: What do you make of the comparisons of your popularity to that of Muhammad Ali as a boxer, with your worldwide acceptance?

Pacquiao: I'm honored. I'm happy that people seem to be happy with the way that I fight.

My No. 1 goal is not only to win the fight, but to give the fans a very exciting fight.

Especially with this present economy today, and with people paying their hard-earned money to watch me fight. You just hope that it's worth it for them to pay the $50, or, $60 for pay per view, or thousands of dollars for ringside tickets.

You just want to make sure that people are satisfied and happy that they spent their money on a good fight.

FH: Did we see all of the photos that were taken of you in ESPN Magazine's "Body Issue," or did they make you get totally nude?

Pacquiao: [Laughs.] I think I'm the only one with clothes on in the magazine. They didn't try to make me get nude, no, no, no, no. I hadn't even started training then, so my body was not where I wanted it to be.

Next time, though, at the weigh-in for this fight, you'll see what my body will look like.

FH: Anything you would like to add that we didn't cover?

Pacquiao: Just thank you for your time. I thank all of the media for their coverage. I hope that you all will be there for Miguel Cotto, and that we have a great fight on Nov. 14.

(This article is originally posted at boxing.fanhouse.com)

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Video: Freddie Roach talks about his life, career

BoxingNewsWorld.blogspot.com

One of the top trainers in boxing Freddie Roach talks about his life, how he got into boxing and his boxing career, Manny Pacquiao, the celebrities and the other boxers he trained, fighting Parkinson’s disease, etc.





(Source: YouTube.com)

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Pacquiao-Roach Conference Call Highlights

by Joe Roche on 10.28.2009, 411mania.com

Freddie Roach, Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao talk November 14th.

This afternoon the media was treated to the wonders of a Freddie Roach, Bob Arum, Manny Pacquiao conference call. After listening to the hour long conference call I can say that those of you without the capacity to attend such an event missed almost nothing. There were a few points of interest, not the least of which was that Freddie spent a significant amount of time telling us all how great Baguio was to the point where it became a bit desperate. Manny for his part added almost nothing to the conversation except for a pretty fantastic "yes and…" to a certain well known Worldwide Leader scribe which led to some awkwardness. The highlights of the conference call can be found below:

* The MGM Grand has sold out of tickets for the event. They are also hearing that the closed circuit locations are doing big numbers for tickets so if you expect to watch the event on closed circuit you might want to get your tickets now.

* Bob Arum: more attention, more interest then any fight he can remember in the last five or ten years.

* Freddie Roach says that Manny is 95% ready right now for the fight on Nov. 14th. READ MORE

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Roach claims Pacquiao is one of the greatest ever

28 October 2009, stv.tv

Trainer Freddie Roach is confident his charge Manny Pacquiao can knock out Miguel Cotto on November 14 and in doing so cement his name as one of the greatest in the sports history.

The three-time Trainer of the Year, who correctly predicted Pacquiao would knock out Ricky Hatton within three rounds, reckons his boxer ranks in the top five greatest fighters of all time as he searches for his seventh world title.

“Beating Miguel Cotto for a seventh world title is going to be unbelievable. Manny is a throwback. He’s carrying his power and punch up with him and his speed,” said Roach.

“This is one of the greatest achievements ever because he is surpassing guys like Sugar Ray Leonard. He is in the elite category of the best five fighters of all time in any era.”

Pacquiao is on the verge of making it into the history books with a seventh title in as many divisions.

“It’s a great honour to me and to my country,” said Pac-Man. “That is why I’m very hungry to win this fight because it is the first time in history.”

Standing between Pacquiao and his historic ambitions is Miguel Cotto, but Roach is confident his man can send the Puerto Rican to the canvas.

“[Cotto] is a very good fighter. We are moving into a bigger weight class, but we fought Oscar [de la Hoya] at this weight too. I feel that Manny, the way he’s punching right now, he’s going to knock Cotto out.”

Roach maintained that as Pacquiao’s weight increases, so too does his strength which has convinced the trainer that it will be a short night for the fighter.

“[Pacquiao] is punching so much harder than he ever has. He’s just punching fast and hard and I just think Miguel Cotto’s defence isn’t good enough. He’s hittable and people that Manny can hit, he knocks out.”

(This article is originally posted at sports.stv.tv)

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V8: Pacquiao/Cotto, Roach, Bradley/Peterson, and More!

Vivek Wallace, 28th October, 8CountNews.com

HBO's Pacquiao/Cotto 24/7 series: (Far From) Reality TV!!!

HBO's recent 24/7 series on the pending Pacquiao/Cotto showdown gave the world a glimpse of a few things that some wish they probably hadn't seen. SHOWTIME's '360 Fight Camp' showed fight fans a pretty neutral image of the fighters involved, but HBO's 24/7 continues to lean towards the whole good guy versus bad guy plot. The oddity so far in the latest series is that it focused on LITERALLY EVERYTHING going wrong in the camp of Filipino Manny Pacquiao. While I do believe that the info reported was all accurate and non-scripted, HBO failed miserably to strike a balance between the two men, ultimately making the normally humble Manny Pacquiao look like a villain in the company of a man well known for his fair share of deliberate low-blows and elbows. Considering the radicals that follow Pacquiao, it'll be hard to turn their love and admiration in another direction, but with Mayweather home watching like the rest of us, I guess the writers of the show had to cast someone on the dark side, and apparently, Pacquiao's the man! Trouble is, that totally blows the concept of REALITY television, because anyone who knows him knows better. What television rating would I give the HBO series? VIEWERS DISCRETION ADVISED.

Pacquiao/Cotto: No 'Beef' In This 32oz 'Stake'

The closer November 14th draws near, the more and more Filipino Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto become accutely aware of how high the stakes are for a fight of this magnitude. Recently, trainer Freddie Roach informed a member of the media that Team Pacquiao is OK with the stakes being high, as long as the 'steak' (count) for Miguel Cotto is low. Translation.....Team Pacquiao is more than fine with earning an extra $1M for ever pound Cotto goes over the proposed weight of 145lbs, but under no circumstances will they go forward if the Puerto Rican crosses the line. In Roach's exact words, at 147lbs, "we'll let that fight happen"; but anything above, "I would call that fight off". So, if there are any questions, let them officially be laid to rest. This game of high stakes will all come down to Cotto's consumption (or should I say over-consumption) of his beloved steak. That being said, my message to Junito, keep the wifey in your life.....lose the steak and Pincho's!

Freddie Roach to Manny Pacquiao: The Truth Hurts....

Have you ever sat and actually listened to the things that Freddie Roach has to say? Some listen, some opt out, but if you don't, try it, and later on revisit those thoughts to see precisely how accurate they are at times. All along, Roach has disagreed with certain elements of the Pacquiao camp. We've seen a certain level of chaos following the non-adherence to each one of those request. Of all the things Roach mentioned, there's one that could reverberate quite loudly the morning after the big showdown. That statement was when he spoke to his charge about what he viewed as a lazy approach to his training on his last sparring session before leaving the Philippines en route to Los Angeles last Saturday. His words to Pacquiao was that if he does that laying on the ropes stuff against Cotto, "he'll lose". To create a change a pace and develop more chemistry, the team added new sparring partners in place of Porter and Castillo. Not quite sure if that will work, but what I do know is that if Pacquiao isn't conditioned or decides to lay on the ropes for any length of time at all, the breather he'll try to get will definitely be replaced with a set of sore ribs and perhaps even a loss. Not listening in this case for Pacquiao could yet again prove the truth hurts.....in more ways than one!

Marquez/Pacquiao: 3rd Time The Charm?

Juan Manuel Marquez has long desired a third and decisive shot at Filipino Manny Pacquiao. Like anything in life, the rugged Mexican warrior is learning that prayer changes things, and according to Freddie Roach, his wish could very well come true. Roach recently spoke about pairing the two fighters together again in March of 2010 at the jr.welterweight limit of 140lbs. Many felt that Marquez won the initial two fights, although he never got credit, with one being a draw, and the other being awarded to Pacquiao. It'll be nice to see these men settle the score, but if Marquez wins, we'd have to see a fourth fight because both men will have won one, with the third fight being a draw. Looks like these two will have their horns locked for quite some time. Although that could all change if the 'Money' is right. And you know exactly who I'm referring to.....Stay tuned.

Bradley/Peterson: One "O" Must Go

Timothy Bradley (24-0, 11KO's) is clearly a perennial force in the jr. welterweight division, but depending on who you listen to, his reign could be a very short one. His next opponent, Lamont Peterson (27-0, 13KO's) is pretty dangerous, and has made it very clear that he isn't coming to lay down. Initially, it was believed that Bradley wanted nothing to do with the fight after a bizarre negotiating period, but the talented champ, known as 'Desert Storm', would later clarify that it only appeared that way because he didn't want the fight based on there not being any "big money involved" (clearing my throat). Whatever the case may be, these two talented jr. welterweights are set to hop in the ring December 12th, and when the headlines are printed on the morning of Sunday, December 13th, only one man will have an "O", while the others will be forced to go. Should be a great fight. Stay tuned...

Andrew Golota: Next Time, Just Listen To The Lady...

The old adage has it that 'Mothers know best', but if we can add a quick addendum, perhaps that statement should include wifes as well. After asking her husband repeatedly to put the gloves on the shelf for good, the hard-headed Golota apparently wasn't hard-headed enough, as a few flush blows to the dome sent the Polish fighter (and his career) down the drain, perhaps for good. Mariola, Golota's wife, told a local radio station that she was basically dead set against him taking the fight with Adamek, and in the end, her logic appeared to be spot on. With no more convincing left to do, it appears we've seen the last of Andrew, and despite all of the "I told you so's" he's probably hearing at home, to rub it in one more time for good measure, he'll have her to thank!

Lennox Lewis On David Haye: Small Chance Against Big Man....

Former Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis has continued to express concerns regarding David Haye's ability to defeat the giant (literally) Nikolai Valuev. Among the reasons Lewis cited was that the size differential of "nearly a foot and 100lbs" will be a "massive amount" to overcome. And just to think, Haye stands at roughly 6'3", so where would that leave some of the heavyweights of the past? Once again, I revert to my old argument that the sport desperately needs a Super-heavyweight division. Who in their right mind will think that the average man has the same chance as Chagaev, and almost Holyfield, too, (had it not been for an unpopular decision) against a giant this size?

Winky Wright Returns...

Perhaps one of the best defensive wizards of this era will return to the ring on the evening of Friday, December 11th, in Puerto Rico. After a turbulent career that has seen many lows and several highs, Wright will attempt once again to find his place among a new era of stars. His last few outings haven't exactly been what the doctor ordered, but with the proper motivation and economics in place, it would be foolish to rule out something grand for the talented southpaw. His opponent, Alex Sanchez, isn't the biggest challenge in the world, but by the end of the night, we'll all be able to gauge the worth of Wright much better than we can now. Stay tuned.

(Vivek Wallace can be reached at vivexemail@yahoo.com, YouTube (VIVEK1251), Twitter (VIVEK747), www.vivekwallace.com, Facebook, and Myspace).

(Reposted with permission from the author)

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