Archive for the ‘Pacquiao vs Hatton’ Category

Pacquiao-Cotto is Possible

The potential match between Cotto and Manny is not far from happening. Manny’s promoter Bob Arum has informed the media on Wednesday that he had met with Cotto’s management representatives just recently, and is looking forward to get things ironed out. He is hoping to have the two fighters be paired on November 28 for a fight.

However, there would only be a few setbacks that might get in the way of arranging the fight. Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao wants the bout to take place at a catch weight. Cotto would also have to bring back his former self, because he does not seem to be the same fighter that he was, before his loss against Antonio Margarito. Besides that, Cotto is still nursing a bad cut over his left eye. Cotto’s cut would have to heal before the fight, and it would probably take a miracle for it to hold up in training camp for a bout against Manny Pacquiao in just five months.

Cotto will be in great trouble if his cut reopens in a fight against Pacquiao. He might as well surrender, because the blood might cover fifty percent of his vision. If Cotto will not give up, he might only take a beating from the quicker Filipino fighter. This will probably be Pacquiao’s greatest advantage against Cotto.

Right now, the weight could be the biggest issue. But the hero of the Philippines has not been intimidated by size lately, since he fought Oscar de la Hoya at 147 and Ricky Hatton at 140. He simply used his superior speed and punching ability to overcome any size advantages those two might have had. Roach believes that Pacquiao is unbeatable at 140 lb, and dragging the bigger boxers down should be to the advantage of the Filipino pound-for-pound champion.

Some critics are saying that Pacquiao’s sudden interest in Cotto is due to the fact that Manny can get a good payday fighting Cotto without the high risk of being beaten as he would against Mosley or Mayweather. They are saying that Pacquiao vs Cotto, because he is fresh from a fight and is still nursing some battle scars that he had acquired from Clottey and even from Margarito.

For sure this fight will still be a memorable one if it will come to reality. But for now, we will just have to wait for the decision of both camps.

Chavez Jr. vs. De La Hoya first before Pacquiao

In the ring after Chavez Jr. win over Luciano Cuello, The promoter Bob Arum mentioned three possible next opponents for Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr., namely Oscar De La Hoya, John Duddy and Manny Pacquiao. And Chavez Jr. does not mind who he fights next as long as the opponent has established a name in boxing.

Arum said that “There is John Duddy, There is Oscar De La Hoya if he continues to fight and there is third one which is a little different because of the size difference but it would be the biggest fight of the year, with Julio Cesar Chavez vs. Manny Pacquiao -  Mexico vs. Philippines,”

De La Hoya has long been hyped as one of the possible opponent of Chavez Jr. due to his father’s fight Chavez Sr., The much-awaited tussle will serve as a vengeance of the son on the boxer who defeated his father twice.

Although Chavez Jr. won unanimously over Cuello, only one of the three judges scored for the Mexican in a convincing fashion at 98-92, while the other two were more realistic of the outcome by having it 96-94 and 96-95. However Chavez Jr. remains undefeated while Cuello suffered the first loss of his pro career. The Tijuana crowd were expecting a knockout and boos were heard when the result of the fight was announced.

The crowd expected a better performance from the son of a boxing legend and a future Hall of Famer. Chavez Jr. has now a record of 39-0-1 with 29 KOs. He threw several punches to the head and body of Cuello who dropped to 23-1 with 9 KOs, who bled from his nose since the third round.

For the fans of the father and the son, they want the younger Chavez to do what Golden Boy had done to the elder Chavez (107-6-2, 86 KOs), beat him in his fading career. Payback is the name of the game.

But the Golden Boy is not an ordinary fighter and he is out to retire with a very convincing win to erase the trauma of the “Dream Match.” And a victory over the younger Chavez could very well be an exciting conclusion to de la Hoya’s golden boxing career.

It will be a great tune up fight for the Chavez Jr. and with him bringing the legendary name of his father plus de la Hoya’s marketing magnet, though it was diminished by his loss to Pacquiao, the “payback” could rake in enough pay-per-view sales.

Granting Chavez Jr, could successfully extract revenge on de la Hoya, he has to fight more quality opponents first before reaching an agreement to face the number one fighter pound-for-pound. Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Chavez Jr. considers the marketability of the fight and is a must before Pacquiao hangs up his gloves for good.

The East vs West

“My dream was to come here to England and it has come true,” Pacquiao told the British newspaper The Sunday Telegraph. “I also have the desire to take the light welterweight title, and it’s a big honor to be in another fight which the fans want to see.”

Manny Pacquiao will be after Hatton’s International Boxing Crown on the May 2 – “The East vs the West” slugfest. Having the winner of the said match the chance of being the light welterweight kingpin of the Ring Magazine.

“Every time I fight, I have to win because millions of Filipinos are hoping for victory,” said Pacquiao, who wore a suit. “Millions of people look to me to win. I have to go out and give everything.”

Hatton was more optimistic in front of his countrymen who naturally made up majority of the estimated 6,000 fans.

“On May 2, I’ll be the new pound-for-pound king,” Hatton vowed. “I’ve never been beaten at 10 stone (140 lb). This is my weight. This is where I do best. I promise all my fans I’ll win for Manchester!”