SUPER-MANNY

Hey Dougie,
Wow! I never would have thought Manny Pacquio would be the bigger puncher and that he could take everything Miguel Cotto had. Un-freakin-believable. He's Superman!

Now Floyd Mayweather has an easy way to shut up all of his critics and make some money: beat Manny. If he KO's Manny will you cut off your ponytail? Barring a Floyd fight Manny could take on Yuri Foreman for another weight division belt. That would be nuts... -- Stephen, Montreal

There’s no interest in Pacquiao fighting Foreman. The fight to be made is Pacquiao-Mayweather. People who don’t even follow boxing know that.

I saw Pacquiao-Mayweather as an even fight before Manny dominated Cotto, now I slightly favor the Filipino Superman (or maybe we should just call him “Wapakman” the character and title of his super hero movie). Why? Because Pacquiao proved against he could take a real welterweight’s punch. He also showed patience in walking down the ever-moving Cotto, which is what he’ll have to do against Mayweather.

It’s still a very close fight. Mayweather will be much harder for Pac to nail clean and he’ll frustrate the southpaw warrior. Floyd has the ability to outbox Pacquiao, but knock him out? No way. I’ll shave my head if Mayweather KOs the Pac-monster.

STILL IN AWE

Hey Dougie,
Wow... That's all I can think to say right off. I'm sitting here the morning after the fight, which I had to stay up til 6 a.m. to watch here in Helsinki (I'm Irish, but here for a woman) and thinking of a better description but what else is there to say? So I'll keep it short and sweet. I had Cotto to win that fight because of his power but when Manny just shook off that huge uppercut early in the fight (not sure which round) I knew it was gonna be his night. Manny, for me, is now an all-time great and let’s just pray to the boxing gods that Floyd will get down from his high horse and give us the fight every fight fan wants to see.

All the best. Keep up the good work. -- Sean Doyle

“Wow” is what every boxing writer sitting in press row either said or thought midway through Saturday’s big fight. Pacquiao has now proven himself above 130 pounds to the degree that any further analysis or skepticism is just a waste of time. Now is the time to simply shrug our shoulders and say “Manny is the man.” Anyone who still thinks Mayweather is the man is kidding themselves. If Mayweather wants to be the man he has to beat the man. It’s as simple as that.

I think the uppercut you referenced was the left uppercut Cotto landed late in the third round after he got up from the earlier knockdown with guns blazing. I thought Pacquiao would beat Cotto, but I figured it would be a much tougher fight than it turned out. Like you, I know Pacquiao would outclass Cotto after he absorbed those big shots in the second and third round without ever being rocked.

MANNY CROSSES OVER

Hello,
I am a big fight fan & can't say I've been more impressed with a fighter then I am with Pac-Man right now. I honestly thought Cotto had the size and skill to make it very tough to the point where I even bet on Cotto (odds seemed too lopsided) but never again will I doubt him & Freddie Roach.

Also, working in the sports industry that I do I have already gotten tons of e-mails and tweets about the fight from hundreds of non-hardcore people who have Manny fever. He has crossed over to at LEAST PBF's level here in America & I will never forgive Floyd & Bob Arum if they don't make that fight next. I could show u dozen of e-mails already beating the drum for this fight. I don't want to see Floyd in with Mosley, I don't want to see Manny in with JMM. I want to see Floyd v Pac Man this May no matter what. It is a huge event for boxing and the fighters could make $50 million each if promoted properly. Anything less from these guys is robbing the fans of a type event that could spring boxing back onto network TV. -- Tyrone

I agree with everything you stated, Tyrone. It’s foolish to doubt Coach Freddie (when Pacquiao is concerned), the PacMan has indeed crossed over, and three years after the so-called ‘Fight to Save Boxing’ (De La Hoya-Mayweather) turned out to be a dud once the bell rang the sport could host a real fight that might rival the Super Bowl. Let’s hope Richard Schaefer and the good folks at HBO can talk some sense into Mayweather and Arum and the biggest fight that should happen gets done.

NO MORE EXCUSES

Whaddap Doug!
Maybe now the wins over Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya will garner a little more respect. While DLH wasn't in his prime, he repeatedly stated during his training that he felt great at the lower weight. As for Hatton, he's been the last man standing in numerous wars, and only lost to the two P4P champs. Saying he was overrated was a bit much.

Manny Pacquiao broke down a prime Miguel Cotto. I wonder what excuses some bloggers will come up with now. I respect Cotto to the fullest as a fighter. For Manny to take all his best shots like that and still hunt him down is just plain SICK! Against his opponents, the trend is there. He attacks to the point that his opponents no longer know what to do or how to run away. Cotto and DLH decided to survive. David Diaz and Hatton decided to go down throwing and we all know what happened there. Manny is on another level. Like he said in the post-fight conference, he wanted to prove his strength to Cotto mano y mano. Laying on the ropes, he basically told Cotto forget strategy, I'll go toe to toe with you right here right now so give me your best shot. It goes back to the most basic aspect of fighting: Standing your ground. What surprises the hell outta me though is how Pacquiao not only stood his ground against the hard hitting Cotto, he walked through a lot of his shots!

Btw, that undercard was whack! It almost killed the party I was hosting. I do see what Bob Arum is doing though. Another site stated that if Floyd dodges Manny, Arum could have Manny fight the feather-fisted Yuri Foreman for an 8th weight-class title! It's definitely not the fight I want to watch, but I'll see it! -- Chris from Austin, TX

I care nothing for Pacquiao-Foreman. And I cared close to nothing for Arum’s doo-doo PPV undercard on Saturday. Ironically, the most interesting fight on the undercard, in my opinion, was Santos-Foreman. Gomez-Soto-Karass was an ugly, bloody foul-filled mess. Chavez-Rowland was the mind-numbingly boring bout most thought Santos-Foreman would be. However, I liked what I saw from Yuri against Santos. I’d like to see him in against the better 154 pounders, not the P4P King.

If Mayweather doesn’t want a piece of Pacquiao I want to see Manny take on the Mosley-Berto winner. He proved vs. Cotto that he’s a beast at welterweight. I don’t want to see him fight JM Marquez at 140 or Foreman at 154 pounds. I want to see him in with the best 147 pounders.

There will always be fans and members of the media who make excuses for the loser of a fight or downplay the significance of a victory, and there certainly was a lot of that after Pac’s De La Hoya and Hatton beatdowns -- and I don’t think that skepticism was out of line, either -- but I’m not hearing too much of that following the Cotto stoppage.

I think Pacquiao has made believers out of most boxing fans (and writers and bloggers).

WOW

Now I know what Larry Merchant meant when he said he was humbled during Gatti-Ward; last night's fight was beautiful and truly awe inspiring; I can't pinpoint it, but that fight leaves no doubt why I LOVE boxing. -- Eric V.

I know the feeling. I had it after Corrales-Castillo I and Vazquez-Marquez III.

I wasn’t left with it after Saturday’s fight because it evolved into a rout after the fifth round but I was definitely feelin’ it during the first four rounds.

BEAUTIFUL COTTO ARTICLE

This is one of those fights I wished could have two winners. I have tons of respect for both men and love to watch both fight. Mayweather, massively talented though he is, isn't half the mensch either of these guys are. You're article caught what makes Cotto a fan favorite. Thanks. -- C

Cotto has long been one of my favorite fighters, not just for the skill and will he exhibits in the ring, but also because of the dignified manner in which he’s always carried himself outside of the ring and immediately after his fights. Because of this admiration the final rounds of Saturday’s fight were hard for me to witness. The post-fight column on his professionalism was easy. All I did was tell the truth. Thanks for the kind words on the article.

PACTACULAR

Hi Dougie,
Tremendous fight, my brain was with Pacquiao and my heart with Cotto. Being from PR, I can tell you that PR fans reacted with pride and respect towards Cotto's effort, warrior mentality, and professionalism. He's a great champion!

I think Pacquiao has completely peaked and I feel honored to have watched his career development and all his major fights after the first Barrera fight. It's the feeling you get watching an athlete make history, like watching Michael Jordan play basketball in the 90's.

In any case, I think Manny made the Floyd vs Pacquiao too huge for Floyd to duck him. The fans are demanding it and the money will be too huge for Floyd to pass up. Unfortunately, I think Floyd has the perfect style to beat Pacquiao, even if he stinks out the joint, he will find a way to beat the Filipino Monster. In that fight, my heart will be with Manny, but my brain with Floyd. I hope it does not end like it ended last night for Cotto.

By the way, I think Cotto is still game and has 2-3 fights left in him. -- Formby

I know Cotto is still game but I wonder how much is left physically. There are big fights out there for him, the Mosley-Berto winner in particular, but I hope he takes his time coming back. He needs some time to heal and one or two “gimme” fights before taking on a top welterweight.

Jordan in the ‘90s is a good comparison to late-decade version of Pacquiao. Fans and trainers once said that of Mayweather, who might find a way to outpoint Pacquiao if they fight but there’s no way Money “beats” the PacMan or does what the southpaw buzzsaw did to Cotto.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR COTO?

Hey Doug,
Hope I make the mailbag. Just writing to make a few points on the big fight.

Pacquiao-Cotto was an extremely competitive fight early on, but the mistakes Roach knew Cotto would make with such an inexperienced trainer meant it was only a matter of time before the sensational whirlwind Pac-man ground Cotto down. Really, Cotto should not have been allowed to fight the tenth round and the referee and Cotto's corner should be questioned about this as it was a very dangerous thing to do to a fighter who was taking such a beating.

Looking forward, the Pac-man Mayweather fight will not just decide the best fighter of this decade and will also define both fighter's legacies. If the fight doesn't get made, it could be devastating for boxing as a mainstream sport.

I wanted to ask you where does Cotto go from here? like Ricky Hatton and Jermain Taylor, when you lose so devastatingly, it takes something out of you but is it too premature for him to consider his future in the fight game?

P.S., I saw this happen on Friday - simultaneous knockdowns - have you ever seen anything like it? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHPMZAga0k -- Thanks, Simon, Hull, UK

I heard about this double knockdown on the Ndou-Hatton undercard. Thanks for the link. Yes, I have seen it before at club shows with preliminary ham-and-eggers and on TV once with the Sechew Powell-Cornelius Bundrage fight in 2005.

I think it is premature for Cotto to consider his future but he told his trainer that he wanted to continue fighting not long after Saturday’s fight. Part of me would like to see him walk away from the sport because I don’t want to see go on a downward slide, but if he continues I hope he takes steps getting back to the top of the sport.

I think he needs at least six months of rest -- not even training unless it’s just roadwork and really light floor work in the gym. Before he returns to the gym in earnest, I think he needs to bring in a more experienced trainer to his team to help him regain his form. I’m not saying he’s got to dump Joe Santiago but I think a veteran coach can help sharpen up his technique.

When he comes back I think he should definitely fight a second-tier guy. I’d say Top Rank should find him a third-tier guy but I know Cotto is too proud to accept a really inferior opponent. I think Jesus Soto-Karass or even old foe Ricardo Torres fit the bill. There are story lines in those fights (Karass being part of Margarito’s old team and the threat of Torres’ power) that will create some interest among fans. Then I’d have him fight a bigger name, like Ricky Hatton or Carlos Baldomir, before I’d let him loose on the 147-pound elite like the Mosley-Berto winner.

I agree that Saturday’s fight could have been and probably should have been stopped earlier than it was. I think after the ninth round, which could have been scored a 10-8 round for Pacquiao, was the perfect time to end it.

MANNY WALKS THE WALK

Hey Doug,
What an event! I envy you being there. The atmosphere must have been electric to say the least. Manny did what was expected. He turned in a performance that made it impossible for Mayweather to ignore, although he was probably making excuses why not to fight Manny before the first bell rang. I loved Dan Rafael's comments on ESPN afterward that while other fighters TALK about why they are the greatest, Manny proves it by going out and beating the best fighters. My wife was saying as the fight progressed, "Poor guy!" as Cotto continued to take more and more punishment. I like Cotto, but I think he is damaged goods now and should retire and spend time with his family and enjoy his money.

My only negative was the undercard. It was dreadful to say the least. A total waste of time. I would just as soon pay the PPV price and see the main event than sit through 2 hours of BS fights trying to stay awake. $65 for the HD broadcast IS pretty steep and is why I don't do many PPVs (I just couldn't miss this one though.) Boxing could take a cue from MMA as they are successful in the PPV arena because the cards are stacked with good matchups.

Finally, I can see that dream match with Manny & Floyd on the horizon (as Rugged Man's rant plays over and over in my head... DAMN that was good BTW). I just want to be there when Manny stuffs a 12 oz. Everlast gloves in PBF's face. End of rant. Take care Bro'. -- David, Nashville

If Pacquiao-Mayweather happens, and it should, I’m also going to look forward to that moment in the fight when Floyd can no longer avoid PacMan’s patient pressure and dynamic offense.

As for the Saturday’s undercard, I agree that it was waste of time for most fight fans who ordered the PPV. I think Bob Arum is the best active promoter in the game but he’s got a few flaws to go with his strengths and one of them is the inability to resist taking advantage of a dedicated audience.

Cotto might be damaged goods but if he wants to continue fighting I wish him luck. He’s earned the right to give it one more shot and I think he’s smart enough to get out of the game if he finds out that he can no longer compete at the world-class level.

MORE M&Ms (MANNY, MIGUEL & MAYWEATHER)

Hey Doug,
Pacman proved me wrong and answered all the questions I had about him fighting a real welterweight. He can take a punch and he can damn sure punch like a welterweight or should I say jr middleweight. I thought Cotto looked good early on till he got caught with that second knockdown.

Manny to me at this point is an official Legend! I personally would like to see him fight Mayweather. How big would that fight be? I’m not trying to be funny here but I have a vision of 3 million PPV buy's LOL. The funny thing is now it seems Manny does not really have to fight Floyd (he should of course). It seems like Floyd NEEDS to fight Manny. Think about it. Who is Mayweather going to fight next? (I am still trying to figure that out myself.) Anybody got a problem seeing Manny fight Marquez again. Not me! I think Floyd is a phenomenal fighter but if he does not try to make this fight and tries to fight these other names I don’t even want to mention (Salita, Alvarez) I think he tarnishes his legacy forever. By the way how big of a factor will Arum and Haymon play in this fight not getting made? Thanks. -- Rio

If it was only up to Arum and Haymon to make the fight Pacquiao-Mayweather wouldn’t happen, but they (thankfully) aren’t the only people involved in making the showdown a reality, there’s Richard Schaefer, Todd duBoef, Ross Greenburg and company at HBO, and others.

If Pacquiao-Cotto does the numbers that are being projected for that PPV and the mainstream media continues to write-up and talk-up Manny I think there’s going to be too much potential money to be made for the fight not to happen. I don’t think 3 million PPV buys for Pacquiao-Mayweather is unrealistic.

I think Mayweather needs Pacquiao if he wants to be considered the best in the sport and if he wishes to be remembered as a “great” fighter. If not, he doesn’t need Pacquiao, and as far as I’m concerned he can fight any non-contender he wants as long as I’m not forced to cover those bouts.

However, I think Pacquiao needs Mayweather to a degree. He’s grown too big (and formidable) for a third fight with Marquez to prove anything. I don’t want to see that fight because I don’t want to see JMM get brutally knocked out. If he doesn’t fight Mayweather, he’s got to take on the Mosley-Berto winner, which would be a damn good fight but not as big an event as the Mayweather showdown (especially if it’s against Berto). Who else is out there for Manny? At 140 pounds there’s Timothy Bradley but the junior welterweight standout is hardly known among hardcore fans.

Unless Pacquiao wants to take an easy bout next spring his next bout should be Mayweather.

PRETTY BOY-COTT

Dear Dougie,
The PPV public should boycott Mayweather's next fight if it is anyone other than Pacquaio. What say you to this? -- Rob, UK

I think Floyd has the right to fight whoever he wants but if the powers that be try to make Mayweather vs. Saul Alvarez or Dmitriy Salita into a “PPV event” I think fans should definitely do the right thing and ignore it.

THE GREAT PACMAN & EL TERRIBLE

Doug,
We know Erik Morales is a surefire Hall of Famer, but I just wonder if Pacman's performances after his loss to El terrible would have sort of contribute to Morales' legacy since he was the "only" fighter to officially beat a Prime Manny Pacquiao, not a dehydrated greenhorn version beaten by Rustico Torrecampo and Medgeon Singsurat.

I'm just curious, has there been any fighter in his prime in any era whose legacy was already talked about even though he's still light years away from retirement? If there are, are their legacy talks comparable to the same degree being attributed to Pacquiao? Thank you and God Bless. -- Adrian the Ace, Philippines

I recall the same things being said now about Pacquiao were said about Julio Cesar Chavez and Roy Jones Jr. when those two former P4P kings were still in their primed. Henry Armstrong and Sugar Ray Robinson were considered great when they were still in their prime. There have been others, but it doesn’t happen often.

Of course El Terrible’s unanimous decision over Pacquiao enhances his legacy. It was his last great victory and Pacquiao’s done nothing but kick ass ever since. However, while I agree the version of the PacMan that Morales beat was not the “dehydrated greenhorn version beaten by Rustico Torrecampo and Medgeon Singsurat” I don’t believe Pacquiao was as complete a fighter that he evolved to this year and last.

PAC DON'T NEED MONEY

Hi Doug,
You've probably got about a million Pac-related emails by now, so I'll keep this short.

Manny Pacquiao doesn't need Floyd Mayweather, he's already a Great. Mayweather needs him. And if Mayweather won't fight him, he's an even bigger little b_tch than many of us thought.

Stay good. -- Tom, Oxford, England

OK. I think the fans have spoken.

Former Nevada boxing judge Chuck Giampa, now a consultant who advises fighters, provides occasional analyses of officials and scorecards when he's not directly involved in an event. Here is his take on two rounds in the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight on Saturday in Las Vegas.

As one-sided as the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight was, there were two interesting rounds that call for an analysis.

Pacquiao scored a knock down in the third round. The HBO commentators and Harold Lederman scored that round 10-8 for Pacquiao because "Pacquiao knocked down Cotto." Most fans and TV commentators automatically score a round 10-8 in favor of the fighter who scores the knockdown.

However, Judges Dave Moretti and Adalaide Byrd scored that round 10-9 for Pacquiao while Duane Ford scored it 10-8 for Pacquiao. Each of the judges' explanation of their score is what is important. Bear in mind that judging is very subjective and each judge's scores are based on that judge's philosophy.

Although two judges differed with the third judge in that third round, each was correct based on their philosophy and judgment.

The criteria for scoring a knock down is not based on the premise that the fighter who scores the knockdown automatically is awarded a 10-8. The correct criteria that is taught by Duane Ford in his ABC certification classes for boxing judges is:

If Fighter A is winning the round and scores a knockdown and continues to win the round after the knockdown, then Fighter A is awarded the round 10-8. However, if Fighter A is winning the round and gets knocked down by Fighter B, then Fighter B is awarded the round 10-9. The key is: Which fighter won the round without the knockdown? Thus, most fans and TV commentators are incorrect in automatically scoring a 10-8 round for a fighter who scores a knock down without taking into consideration who won the round without the knock down.

It may seem like a contradiction but all three official judges were correct in their scores for that round based on their philosophy. Moretti and Byrd felt that Cotto won the round without the knock down; hence their 10-9 score for Pacquiao. Ford stated that he thought that Pacquiao won the round without the knock down; hence his score of 10-8 for Pacquiao. It's important to understand that Ford's score was not 10-8 automatically because of the knock down. Each of these experienced judges scored that round based on which fighter won the round and then took into account the knock down.

The 10th round was also interesting. Moretti and Ford scored it 10-9 in favor of Cotto even though Cotto was losing 89-81 twice and 89-80 after nine rounds. Experienced judges are careful not to be lulled into scoring automatically. Moretti and Ford felt that Cotto out boxed Pacquiao in the 10th round and awarded Cotto the round.

The official scores after 11 rounds were: Byrd 109-99, Ford 108-99 and Moretti 108-100, all in favor of Pacquiao.

Just as each baseball umpire has his own "strike zone," Class A judges have their philosophy based on training, education and experience.

Chuck Giampa can be contacted at chuckgiampa@aol.com

Miguel Cotto landed on all fours when he was knocked down by Manny Pacquiao in the fourth round, which was the beginning of the end for the Puerto Rican. Photo / Chris Cozzone-FightWireImages.com


BIGGEST WINNER

Manny Pacquiao: The Filipino marvel has drawn more comparisons to the greatest fighters who ever lived after another spectacular performance against Miguel Cotto on Saturday in Las Vegas. And deservedly so. He is dominating his era as few fighters ever have. The fact he has been a force in seven divisions is ridiculous. I still have trouble comparing him to the likes of Henry Armstrong, Sugar Ray Leonard or Muhammad Ali. That’s probably because he remains active, which doesn’t provide us with the proper perspective on his career. I also believe he must meet a monumental challenge before we sign off on his all-time status: He must meet and beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. Then it would be very difficult to say he’s not on the level of an Armstrong, Leonard or Ali.


BIGGEST LOSER

Miguel Cotto: Cotto looked fantastic for two-plus rounds but it was all downhill after Pacquiao put him down in the third and fourth rounds, the second time hurting him badly. He didn’t absorb the kind of beating he took from Antonio Margarito because he backpedaled for most of the fight but his face looked much as it did post-Margarito in the end, bruised, swollen and bloodied. He has nothing to be ashamed of, particularly after showing the courage to continue fighting even when his cornermen – including his father – suggested he call it quits. Cotto is nothing if he’s not a warrior. I say the Cotto who stood toe to toe with Pacquiao in an amazing second round can still beat almost any fighter in or near his weight class. The question is whether he can still be that fighter after a second beating.


MOST-OBVIOUS MATCHUP

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: The fight probably will happen for one reason: The enormous amount of money both fighters would make. And the fight should be made. This is an unusual opportunity to pit the two best fighters in the world against one another, which would leave no doubt as to whom is No. 1. It would be Leonard-Hearns or De La Hoya-Trinidad, a fight that would generate tremendous interest even among casual fans. The downside is that it might be a boring fight. Mayweather will try to do to Pacquiao what he did to Juan Manuel Marquez, outbox him without taking many risks. The result could be a dud, which would be bad for the sport after monumental hype.


BEST-POSSIBLE MATCHUP

Pacquiao-Shane Mosley: This matchup wouldn’t generate the kind of money Pacquiao-Mayweather would but it probably would be a much more-entertaining fight. Mosley would match Pacquiao’s speed, power and energy, which could make for unbelievable drama. Of course, the timing isn’t perfect now because Mosley is scheduled to fight Andre Berto on Jan. 30. Pacquiao will fight either in March or May, depending on how his political aspirations play out. March probably would be too early for Mosley; May would be doable. I think Pacquiao will opt for Mayweather if they can come to terms. Mosley would be a nice backup option.


WORST-POSSIBLE MATCHUP

Pacquiao-Marquez: “Worst” might not be the most-appropriate word here; we all would be pleased to see a third fight between the little warriors. Promoter Bob Arum is talking about staging Pacquiao-Marquez at the new Cowboys stadium, which is a reasonably exciting prospect. At the same time, Marquez is the least intriguing of Pacquiao’s three best options – Mayweather, Mosley and Marquez. The drubbing Marquez took against Mayweather put an end to the Mexican’s considerable momentum entering the fight, even with the size difference in mind. I, for one, am not quite as interested in seeing him fight as I was before he met Mayweather.


BIGGEST LOSER II

Puerto Rico: I always call the proud Caribbean nation the pound-for-pound king of boxing because of the inordinate number of quality fighters it produces. Things haven’t gone well lately, though. Some background, as related by reader Enrique Fernandez Roberts: The country has it’s share of problems, from devastating hurricanes to economic woes to rampant corruption. It depends on its boxers to uplift the people. Thus, when its top fighter is beaten down like Cotto was, it hurts. And another Puerto Rican, Daniel Santos, once deemed a can’t-miss, also lost his title on the card. Even up-and-comer Juan Manuel Lopez struggled in his most-recent bout. To be sure, though, the island fighters will bounce back. They always do.


MOST HISTORIC

Yuri Foreman: Pacquiao wasn’t the only fighter to make history on Saturday night. Foreman became the first Israeli to win a major title when he took Daniel Santos’ junior middleweight belt by a one-sided decision. Israel, a country of only about 7.5 million, is focused primarily on survival in a hostile region but does love its sports. Soccer and basketball are huge there. So something like this, one of its own winning a world title and then wrapping himself in the Israeli flag, must’ve been a source of tremendous pride there. And this might just be the start for Foreman. He’s a very good boxer and tougher than people realize. He doesn’t have an exciting style but it’s one that might allow him to remain a titleholder for some time.


BIGGEST LOSER III

Daniel Santos: Some observers once believed that the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist from Puerto Rico would turn out to be better than countryman Felix Trinidad. It didn’t turn out that way. Santos had a fine professional career, winning three major titles. However, the once blazing-quick, explosive puncher never quite realized his vast potential because he apparently wasn’t as dedicated to the sport as he should’ve been. RingTV.com co-editor Doug Fischer pointed out that Santos was never the same after Kofi Jantuah scored an upset by stopping him in five rounds in 1999. He remained good enough to win his titles but never approached stardom. He’ll probably be remembered as an underachiever.


MOST BORING

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.: Chavez’s coming out party in front of a large international audience fell flat. He easily outpointed Troy Rowland but the fight was painfully dull and he probably should’ve been able to put a fighter as mediocre as Rowland away. No one was impressed. Arum wants Chavez to fight John Duddy next, possibly on the undercard of Pacquiao’s next fight. I think he’d lose to the Irishman, which could mean he would go back to being an attraction only among Mexicans. That’s probably where Chavez belongs.


BEST QUOTE

Freddie Roach: “You’re not ordinary,” Roach said after profoundly modest Pacquiao used that word to describe himself. Amen, Freddie.


Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com

Manny Pacquiao acknowledges the crowd after his spectacular knockout victory over Miguel Cotton on Saturday night in Las Vegas. Photo / Chris Farina-Top Rank


LAS VEGAS -- Manny Pacquiao might or might not be among the greatest fighters who ever lived. That judgment will be best made years after he retires.

One thing is certain, though: The roll he is on at the moment is as gripping as any in recent history. And the little Filipino might’ve proved more in his knockout victory over Miguel Cotto on Saturday night than in any other fight in his remarkable career.

Some people might try to diminish his accomplishment at the MGM Grand, suggesting that Cotto was damaged goods after the beating he took from Antonio Margarito last year. Don’t listen to them; it’s not true. Cotto demonstrated clearly that he remains one of the best fighters in the world.

Pacquiao is simply at a different level from everyone else, the only possible exception being Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Two rounds went by before that became clear in front of a buzzing crowd of 16,200. That includes a second round that was as scintillating as any you’ll ever see, the fighters standing toe to toe exchanging hard, fast punches much of the three minutes. For a moment, Cotto was Pacquiao’s equal.

And then Pacquiao put the Puerto Rican star down in the both third and fourth rounds, the second time with a short, vicious left that sent him to all fours and hurt him badly toward the end of the round.

Pacquiao’s greatness had taken hold.

From then on, he landed the fastest combinations I’ve seen in 20 years of covering boxing. They were hard, punishing shots meant to end the fight instantly. And, typically, they came from so many unpredictable angles that Cotto was as much baffled as beaten.

Pacquiao dished out so much punishment that Cotto – supposedly the bigger, stronger man – had no choice but to backpedal away the remainder of the fight to survive. Still, Pacquaio was able to chase down his helpless prey and stop him in the end.

Referee Kenny Bayless’ decision to stop the fight 55 seconds into the 12th round was questionable because Cotto was defending himself. But what was the point of continuing? Cotto, his face bloodied and beaten, had no chance at that point. Pacquiao had won nearly every round.

And remember: This was Miguel Cotto, one of the best fighters of his time, who was reduced to nothing more than a mobile punching bag with savage efficiency rarely seen in the history of a savage sport. It was breathtaking to watch.

How do we put this in perspective?

Pacquiao took Cotto’s welterweight belt, giving him major titles in seven weight divisions. No one else in the history of boxing has done that, making it a remarkable achievement. And even if we dismiss this because of the proliferation of titles, the fact he has been dominating in seven divisions is worthy of awe.

This was his 12th victory over a major titleholder. Again, remarkable.

Over the past few years, he has beaten Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton and now Miguel Cotto – all but one by knockout. They all are likely future hall of famers. Simply mind-boggling.

That evidence would seem to suggest that, yes, Pacquiao might be the best of his time and one of the best ever. Is he in the class of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, as trainer Freddie Roach suggested? I have difficulty saying that, at least now. Again, that might change in a few years.

And some will suggest with justification that he must beat Mayweather before he can be considered even the best of his era.

Howevever, while it’s fun to speculate where Pacquiao will land on the all-time list, I choose to think of him from a different perspective. I’ve learned over about 40 years of following sports that greatness is fleeting. It comes ever so rarely and then is gone before we know it. We should recognize it when we see it, revel in it while it’s happening and then cherish the memory of it when it fades away.

Pacquiao is truly great. We should enjoy this while it lasts because one day soon he will be gone.


Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com

Ever gracious in defeat, Miguel Cotto congratulates Manny Pacquiao while the Filipino icon prays in a corner following his dominant victory Saturday night. Cotto lost his welterweight title to Pacquiao but remains the consummate boxing professional. Photo / Chris Cozzone-Fightwireimages.com


LAS VEGAS -- Miguel Cotto is no longer a welterweight titleholder.

Following the dominant fashion in which he was beaten by Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night, he may have also lost his status as one of the best fighters, pound for pound, in the sport.

However, the classy boxer-slugger from Caguas, Puerto Rico remains one of the true professionals of the sport.

Cotto’s professionalism was evident during the thrilling early rounds of the fight when he out-jabbed and counter punched Pacquiao better than any fighter since Juan Manuel Marquez.

It showed during the middle portion of the fight when Cotto switched to stick-and-move tactics in order to survive Pacquiao’s power after being dropped and badly hurt in the fourth round.

His professionalism was in his desire to continue fighting when it was clear, particularly after he barely made it out of a brutally one-sided ninth round, that he could not beat his stalking antagonist.

But it was never more evident than immediately after the fight, when Cotto respectfully acknowledged that he had been beaten by the better fighter.

“Miguel Cotto always fights the world’s best fighters and Manny is one of the world’s best,” Cotto told HBO’s Larry Merchant during his in-the-ring post-fight interview.

That’s Cotto. He’s as gracious in defeat as he was humble after his 34 pro victories. In the time he compiled what is arguably a hall-of-fame resume, Cotto proved to be the best Puerto Rican fighter of the decade.

He defeated 11 fighters who held world titles, including future hall of famer Shane Mosley, on his way to developing into one of the best welterweights in recent years.

He was the underdog in Saturday’s fight, but many trainers and elite fighters believed that Cotto had the ability to score the upset.

And why not? Cotto, the naturally bigger man, is a heavy handed, versatile boxer with underrated technique and counter-punching ability.

People who know boxing know that Cotto is a very good fighter. On Saturday night he lost to a great one, but only after electrifying the sellout crowd in the MGM Grand’s Garden Arena with his aggressively effective boxing in the early rounds.

Cotto had a brilliant first round, one of accurate jabs and body-head combinations that kept Pacquiao honest.

The second round is arguably the round of the year. The two welterweights traded hard, pin-point combinations for three blistering minutes.

Round three was another thrilling round. Cotto was dropped but two of the official judges scored it 10-9 for Pacquiao because the proud Puerto Rican dominated the rest of the round.

Three rounds into the fight, members of the ringside press wondered if they were witnessing a “great” fight.

After the fourth, when Cotto was floored by a monstrous left cross after working Pacquiao over for much of the round, members of the media were sure they were watching one for the ages.

However, Pacquiao took his foot off the gas pedal in the fifth round, stemming the momentum of the bout. And when the Filipino icon resumed his attack in the sixth, walking Cotto down and buckling the bigger man’s legs before the bell, the “fight” basically ended.

It became a rout as Pacquiao, confident in his ability to take Cotto’s best shots, found a home for his right hook and continued to rock the game titleholder, who got on his toes to avoid getting knocked out.

Cotto didn’t run. He was still able to score sporadically with his jab and with occasional single counter punches, but there was an ironic role reversal as Cotto assumed Pacquiao’s early rounds gameplan of moving to his left and avoiding getting caught along the ropes.

It wasn’t the most entertaining choice of tactics. Many fans and more than a few in the media would have liked to see Cotto make an all-or-nothing rush in the middle rounds of the fight and either blast out Pacquiao or go out on his shield trying.

But Cotto made the most-professional choice. He tried to create distance with his footwork, clear his head and hope that a frustrated Pacquiao would get sloppy in pursuit. The same tactics worked against Mosley when the dangerous veteran pressed him in the final rounds of their bout.

It didn’t work against Pacquiao, who kept his head and continued to punish Cotto. By the ninth round Cotto’s face looked almost as battered as it did at the same point of his fight with Antonio Margarito.

Cotto boxed as well as he could in the 10th and 11th rounds, losing those stanzas as referee Kenny Bayless watched closely.

Bayless stepped in and ended the fight 55 seconds into the 12th round, making for an anti-climatic ending to what started out as the fight of the year, but the referee did what Cotto’s corner probably should have done after the ninth round.

“Miguel looked good early on,” Cotto’s trainer Joe Santiago said after the fight. “Pacquiao took some good shots, which was a surprise.

“He hit a lot harder than we expected and he was a lot stronger than we thought.”

Cotto didn’t make any excuses.

“I always try to bring all I can to my fights,” he said. “It didn’t go my way tonight. The jabs I threw landed, but I didn’t not protect myself.”

The truth is that he couldn’t protect himself.

After two brutally late-round stoppage losses and a series of tough fights against the likes of Mosley, Joshua Clottey and Zab Judah, many question whether Cotto should continue to risk his health in this punishing sport.

Fans aren’t asking what’s next with Cotto; they’re asking what’s left.

They won’t find out the answer to that question any time soon. Cotto, who was admitted to the trauma unit of UMC hospital for a complete body scan immediately after the fight, will be taking a long and well deserved break from the sport.

He told Santiago that he wanted to “continue fighting.”

If Cotto returns, it’s doubtful he will be able to recapture the form he exhibited in his victories over Carlos Quintana, Judah and Mosley -- or in the early rounds of his losses to Margarito and Pacquiao -- but fans can be certain of two things when he steps into the ring:

He will give his all and he will conduct himself as a professional.


Doug Fischer can be reached at dougiefischer@yahoo.com