Miguel Ready to Put Out his Fire Power
 
This Saturday Nov. 14 Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2 with 37 KOs) is facing his toughest test to date. He is going to face WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (43-1 with 27 KOs). Now from all the talk you would think that Miguel is facing his toughest test to this date being that he is actually the underdog in this situation. A fighter who has passed every single test against fighters like Zab Judah, Shane Mosley and Joshua Clottey just  to name a few.

His only discrepancy was against Antonio Margarito in which he took a brutal beating causing his uncle Evangelista Cotto to throw in the towel. Margarito looked like Godzilla beating an undefeated tough warrior in Miguel Cotto making him quit in exchange. Something that no one had done to him until then. In Margarito next fight he faced Shane Mosley and opponent that Cotto had a win against. It was learned in that fight that Margarito's trainer had tried to spike his gloves with a substance called “Plaster of Paris”, a substance that hardens when wet.  Margarito went on to lose the fight by a stunning knockout and then him and his trainer Cepetillo had their license revoked for 2 years. The truth had been exposed and Margarito no longer looked like the monster that had beaten Cotto.
 
Going back to the Cotto fight one can see how something like that could have actually taken place. Cotto face looked like it had been hit by a truck. Something reminiscent to the Louie Resto/ Billy Collins fight. A fight in which padding was taken out of the gloves prior to the bout. What's ironic is that like Cotto, Billy Collins was also undefeated.
 
Since then Cotto has been going through a healing process. First against Michael Jennings (5th round KO) and then against the always tough Joshua Clottey. In the Clottey fight after starting off good by scoring a first round knock down he again was faced with adversity suffering a huge cut in third round. Despite not being able to see from his left eye Cotto continued to fight on to win a split decision win. Not too many people looked at how bravely Cotto fought on despite being vulnerable. Many fighters would have quit or tried to go to have the fight stopped so they can go the score cards and try to win a decision that way.
 
Manny Pacquiao a quick southpaw who's fast on his hands and feet and throws punches from all angles. Is believed by most experts to good for his opponent Miguel Cotto. After having a tough fight with Juan Manuel Marquez at 130lbs, Manny has gone up in weight with much success. Knocking out all three opponents David Diaz (135lbs), Oscar De La Hoya (147lbs), Ricky Hatton (140lbs) in spectacular fashion. With those wins he has gained a huge following. Manny looks unbeatable even though he has suffered two knockout losses early in his career, a third and last loss to El Terrible Eric Morales in their first fight. A fight he went on to avenge with two knockout victories over Morales. Pacquiao two fights with Marquez the first being a draw and a split decision win over Marquez were his toughest bouts to date. Some felt that Manny actually lost that fight. If you took away the knockdowns in both fights Marquez would have won both fights.
 
Cotto stated that in the New York press conference that he not Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and he is right.  Cotto may not possess the hand speed that Pacquiao has but he brings a lot more to the table. Cotto is still in his prime, a very durable opponent with the ability to adjust when faced with adversity.  Freddie Roach and the Pacquiao team are banking that the Margarito fight took something out of Cotto but in his fight against Clottey he showed the desire and will to win. Cotto has experienced victories against bigger tougher opponents. Cotto a converted southpaw leads with his strong arm, with a powerful left jab left jab that put Clottey and Alfonso Gomez down. Cotto ability to box and brawl was also on display when he faced Sugar Shane Mosley.
 
There is a reason why there is a catch weight 145lbs. Roach knows that his pupil is probably to small too face some of the bigger welterweights at the elite level. They would rather try to give Manny the advantage point by fighting at weight that’s comfortable for Manny, while making his opponent sacrifice weight in exchange. If Roach were truly confident he would not have took this fight at a catch weight. They would have challenged Miguel at the welterweight limit. Pacquiao is also given the chance to fight WBO welterweight title despite the catch weight. If he wins he would be considered the WBO welterweight champ and would have broken the record with 7 world titles without touching the welterweight division. That would be like David Haye who won this past Saturday night against Nikolai Valuev, winning the heavyweight title of the world and fighting at a catch weight 198lbs under the heavyweight limit. Should he be considered heavyweight champion.
 
 
I believe that the choice to train at the Philippines may hurt Manny going against his trainer’s decision. Roach original choice of training in Mexico was scrapped, a choice that may hurt Manny because of all of the distractions of training at the Fillipines with all the rain from the typhoons and Politicians stopping by to talk to the Filipino superstar. I've also noticed a lot of guest appearances. Another factor is Miguel early start showing how serious Cotto is about this fight and may also have contributed to making weight.

Miguel not being viewed as a viable opponent is a disrespect. Arum has blatantly expressed who he wants to win in this fight. There have also been talks of Manny and Floyd sometime in 2010. Roach has expressed knockout either in the first or in the later rounds. It’s a bold prediction because Cotto may have tasted the canvas at 140lbs but since moving the welterweight division he has not been dropped, Except for quitting under the pressure from the beating at the hands of Margarito. Miguel has had to except certain things swayed to appease Pacquiao and Freddie Roach. Winning is probably the only thing on Cotto mind, ready shut the critics and prove why he should never be counted out despite a loss.