General Admission
Pacquiao’s speed will send Cotto to dreamland
By Al S. Mendoza
IT’S prediction time again.
It’s a difficult job. But I need to do it.
Most expect us, so-called sports analysts, to predict the outcome of fights. Goes with the territory.
And so, here we go again: Will Manny Pacquiao defeat Miguel Cotto today?
Yes, he will.
And I’ll even be more daring: Pacquiao will knock Cotto out in three, if not six rounds.
At 30, Pacquiao has reached the point where he has virtually become invincible.
The only time he will lose is when he has not trained properly. But he did.
OK, there’s a second factor.
If he isn’t thoroughly focused to win.
God, forbid.
Cotto is bigger, heavier and hungrier?
Yes, but Pacquiao is faster, wiser and angrier.
Cotto wants Pacquiao’s fame and the fortune that goes with it.
His strength will do it?
But I say Pacquiao’s dream of becoming the first boxer to win 7 world titles in 7 weight divisions will propel him to victory.
It is speed versus strength.
Pacquiao’s speed is like the Bicol Express ready to derail Cotto’s strength.
Cotto is too slow and he will be mowed down by the machinegun punches of Pacquiao.
Although Cotto boasts of a 34-1 record, with 27 knockouts, he is knockable.
His only loss was by knockout – to Antonio Margarito last year.
He was so devastated by that knockout that Cotto could be in for the second knockout of his career.
I can’t imagine Pacquiao losing to Cotto.
It would be an upset of gigantic proportions should Cotto proceeds to defeat Pacquiao.
Since 2001 when Pacquiao shacked up with Freddie Roach as his trainer, their win-loss-draw record is 17-1-2.
The only loss is that one against Erik Morales in 2005, a sorry defeat that Pacquiao quickly avenged with two successive knockout wins against Morales in 2006.
The two draws were against Agapito Sanchez and Juan Manuel Marquez (in their first match in 2003).
Of those 17 wins since 2001, Pacquiao (49-3-2) scored 14 knockouts.
Only Marco Antonio Barrera (rematch), Oscar Larios and Marquez (rematch) lasted the distance against Pacman.
Pacquiao has never predicted the outcome of his fights.
“I will just do my best, and hope to win,” is his usual reply when asked about his chances.
His devotion to God is legend.
“I always ask God to help me, protect me, when I fight,” he says time and again. “And I also pray that my opponents won’t get hurt with my punches.”
Pacquiao is destined for boxing greatness and his absolute greatness will be validated with Pacman’s victory today in Las Vegas.
If I falter this time, I’ll punish myself by not kissing, or hugging, my grandchild for a week.
That’d be torture.
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