Sports Eye
Pacquiao will win
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
ASIDE from politics, the talk of the town now is the fight between our very own Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Puerto Rican slugger Miguel Cotto for the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt. They will clash in a catch weight of 145 pounds, not 147 pounds, which is the limit for the division. Barbers, jeepney and tricycle drivers, taho and other different ambulant vendors, office employees, executives, well practically everyone is talking about this mega fight slated November 15 (RP time) at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Unlike Pacman’s previous battles, particularly against Mexicans, I observed that this time, nobody seems to be betting for Cotto. I’m one of them. We all believe that Pacman will win convincingly. Some of Pacman’s avid fans agree that their boxing hero, born in Kibawe, Bukidnon, will win via knockout in the early rounds as Pacman’s trainer Freddie Roach predicts. I, too, am very confident that Pacman will be victorious, either by knockout or by a clear decision. Only a lucky punch could put the boxer down.
If (or must I say, when) Pacman wins, he will be the first boxer in the world to bag seven world titles. Pacman, a resident of General Santos City in South Cotabato, has an impressive record of 49 wins, 37 of them through knockouts, three losses and two draws. His opponent Cotto also has a remarkable mark of 34 victories with 27 stoppages and a single loss. His lone defeat was at the hands of Mexican brawler Antonio Margarito. Cotto, 29, born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, is a three-time world champion in two different divisions, WBO junior welterweight and welterweight titlist and WBA welterweight in different years.
Pacman will receive 65% of the purse being the number one pound-for-pound king in boxing while Cotto will get the 35%. The organizers did not say the exact amount and maybe because of taxes involved.
But despite the overwhelming favor and support for Pacman, let’s watch the encounter closely and use the match to assess if he got a chance to demolish the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., his probable next opponent after Cotto. And if that happens, I’m sure it will be the richest world title fight since the birth of boxing. The only problem that will have to be threshed out is who gets the bigger share of the purse. Ego is at stake and this poses a big problem for the organizers. I hope the fight will materialize.
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My thanks to some generous and sports fanatic people who want to sponsor some ‘summit sprints’ during the “Jun Ebdane Cup Pangasinan Day Cycling Classic” slated on November 13. To Dagupan City Mayor Al Fernandez Jr.; Bonuan Gueset barangay captain Angel Gumarang; Engr. Rodolfo “Boy” Dion of Calasiao; Dr. Randy Oriel of Binalonan and Cerritos, California; Gerald Valdez of Sual and San Diego, California; and Blandino Caguioa of San Carlos City and Houston, Texas, Mabuhay po kayong lahat.
