Great eras in
sports are defined by the athletes that compete in them. On
the eve of the U.S. Open golf championship, we are reminded of
golf's "Big Three" --
Arnold Palmer,
Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player -- who
ushered in the sport's television era contributing to its
popularity explosion. Boxing's "Big Three" --
MIGUEL
COTTO, MANNY
PACQUIAO and KELLY PAVLIK –
is attracting the same excitement and international attention
from media and fans alike. Together, Cotto, Pacquiao and
Pavlik own “Majors” -- world titles -- in seven different
weight divisions, with a combined record of
112-3-2 (90
KOs) – a winning percentage
of 95.7%
and a victory by knockout ratio of
80%!
“Their “go-for-broke” style of fighting, reminiscent of
Palmer’s style of play during his heyday, has sold out major
arenas and attracted millions of pay-per-view buys.” said
promoter Bob Arum. “They are the new
generation of boxing and best of all they are all under 30 with
their peak years ahead of them!”
Pacquiao (46-3-2, 34 KOs), from General Santos
City, The Philippines, may be the smallest of the trio
physically, but fiscally, he takes a back seat to no one. His
memorable trilogy against Mexican icon Erik Morales attracted
over one million pay-per-view buys alone – a record for the
lower weight divisions. So revered by his country he was
declared a “National Treasure” by the government, Pacquiao’s
exciting style has helped fill his trophy case with the WBC
flyweight, the IBF junior featherweight, The Ring magazine
featherweight and the WBC super featherweight world
championship belts with victories over Morales (2), Marco
Antonio Barrera (2) and Juan Manuel Marquez . On
June
28 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in
Las Vegas, Pacquiao will attempt to become the first Asian
fighter to win sanctioned world titles in four different weight
divisions when he challenges WBC lightweight champion
David Diaz. Their fight will be broadcast live on
HBO Pay-Per-View.
Cotto (32-0, 26 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, one
of boxing’s most feared and avoided champions, held the WBO
junior welterweight title for two years, successfully defending
it six times before moving up and capturing the WBA
welterweight title in December 2006 where he has reigned
supreme through four title defenses. He has single-handily
restored boxing glory to Madison Square Garden where he has
been a headliner three of the last four years. His knockout
victory over Zab Judah last year produced the first boxing
sellout at “The Mecca of Boxing” since the Lennox Lewis-Evander
Holyfield world heavyweight title unification fight in 1999.
Victories over former and current world champions, including
Judah, Shane Mosley, Paulie Malinaggi and Ricardo Torres have
solidified his position as one of Puerto Rico’s greatest world
champions. On July 26, Cotto will defend his
welterweight title against two-time world champion
Antonio Margarito in the year’s most anticipated
fight. HBO Pay-Per-View will broadcast it
live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pavlik (34-0, 30 KOs), from Youngstown, Ohio, captured the
public’s imagination when he survived a second-round knockdown
to come roaring back five rounds later
to dethrone the undefeated defending middleweight champion
Jermain Taylor last year. Since then, America has embraced
“The Ghost” and his self-deprecating sense of humor, community
pride and small town sensibilities. One of the hardest
punchers in the sport, Pavlik commands a loyal following from
his economically-strapped hometown that follows him by the
thousands to every fight. He’s already being compared to
Arturo Gatti as a great ticket seller in Atlantic City where
thousands of fans show up just for his weigh-in! Since winning
the world title, Pavlik beat Taylor in their rematch followed
by his first successful title defense, a third-round TKO of No.
1 contender Gary Lockett. Pavlik, boxing's version of folklore
hero John Henry, is scheduled to fight two more times this
year.
6-11-2008
