Does Pacquiao Deserve to Call the Shots?
Manny Pacquiao being on top of the boxing world today, is in the position to chose who is going to be his opponent and impose his conditions upon them. But a lot of skeptics would ask if he really deserves to be in the driver’s seat.
Among Pacquiao’s list of contenders, Miguel Cotto is the leading candidate. Manny Pacquiao demands that Miguel Cotto should come in at a catch weight between 144lbs to 145lbs and that he gets the 65% of the purse split. Would that be a reasonable offer in Cotto’s part?
If we take a look at the credentials of both fighters, we could say that Miguel Cotto has a more stellar career compared to Pacquiao’s. Miguel Cotto had beaten Zab Judah and Shane Mosley in 2007, Alfonso Gomez and just recently Joshua Clottey. Manny Pacquiao on the other hand, skeptics would say, that he had beaten a weight drained Oscar De La Hoya and just recently a soft-chinned Ricky Hatton. And even before those fights, Manny had a hard time against the Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez.
Many people would say, that Cotto has better credentials than Pacquiao. But every fight of Pacquiao is full of excitement and drama. In his previous fights, he was always considered the underdog. Critics had predicted that he would lose against Barrera, Morales, Marquez (which was really a controversial split decision), De La Hoya and Hatton, but he was still able to pull through. He gives the fans exactly what they come to see in each of his fights.
If we would look at Pacquiao’s credentials without making any biased excuses that may underrate his performance, then we would be able to see what he really had accomplished in his career.
Pacquiao deserves to be in the driver’s seat because everyone is calling out for him. They want to fight him because of the massive earnings that he attracts. It is safe to say that the sport of boxing is not always about the credentials, but it is also about the pay day. If a fighter fights Pacquiao, a 65/35 or a 60/40 purse split is worth more than a 50/50 purse split with somebody that nobody really knows.
But if Pacquiao really wants to silence his critics and prove himself to them, then this fight should have to happen at 147lbs. If he fights Cotto at a catch weight, he would not be fighting the real Cotto and prove nothing. A fight at 147lbs with Cotto would cement his place as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
by ichatmedia on June 24th, 2009 Tags: Boxing, Boxing News, Cotto, Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, pacquiao, Pacquiao vs Cotto, Sports
Posted in Boxers, Boxing, Boxing News, Manny Pacquiao, Pacquiao vs Cotto | 2 Comments »
Joshua Clottey, a Ghana native, has the capabilities to establish himself as an elite welterweight with a victory in this fight. He had achieved eminence after emerging victorious in his first twenty fights and coveted his first welterweight title by defeating former undisputed cham Zab Judah last year. He is often a feared competitor in the division and is often avoided, as he brings up his A-game in every bout. Honored to be able to fight for the first time at the Garden, Clottey is sure to bring heat in this highly anticipated clash of powerhouse welterweights.
On the other hand, Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, returns to the Garden expecting to win another victory at the world’s most famous arena. His career as a boxer has been very superb, as he had experienced impressive victories against Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Paul Malignaggi, Mohamad Abdulaev and recently against top-rated boxer Michael Jennings. .jpg)
