By Gareth A Davies

Roach on Cotto:

Cotto is a dirty fighter when he does not get his own way.

Cotto uses his head, his elbows when he gets frustrated, and he gets dirty.

We know the danger of Cotto’s left hook. That’s his best weapon, left hook to the body, and we’ll be staying away

Freddie Roach told The Telegraph that if the fight plan for Manny Pacquiao against Miguel Cotto works, it is likely that the Puerto Rican will become frustrated during the contest.

Roach explained: “Cotto is a dirty fighter when he does not get his own way. When he gets frustrated in a fight, he then reverts to different tactics. He uses his head, his elbows when he gets frustrated, and he gets dirty. We saw that against Zab Judah because he had trouble with Judah’s speed.”

“I really meant it when I said I want the first low blow warning to come from the referee in the dressing room. We know the danger of Cotto’s left hook. That’s his best weapon, left hook to the body, and we’ll be staying away, staying in a style similar to the fight with Oscar De La Hoya, who also had a big left hook.  But it is also so easy to take that away from him by moving in the right direction.”

Roach’s comments were put to Cotto by journalists at the Puerto Ricans training camp.

Cotto was quick to riposte: “Freddie Roach has to understand that he is only Manny Pacquiao’s trainer, that he can train him the best that he can, but nothing that he might do is going to change the result in the fight.”

“On Nov 14, Miguel Cotto is going to do his usual job,” said the fighter, using that peculiar method of referring to himself in the third person singular. “Let’s hope Manny Pacquiao comes prepared, and Freddie Roach that he might learn the role he really has, which is a trainer. It doesnlt make any difference what pressure he applies, or what he might intend to do, we are going to carry on working and making our plan as we always do.”

Roach is renowned as inseparable from his Hollywood Wild Card Gym, Los Angeles, and has departed from the norm for this contest, working over half of the camp with Pacquiao in The Philippines. Has the training camp in the Philippines been refreshing for him ?

“Yes, in a way. We had the typhoon, a lot of people died…the thing was that Manny wanted to train for the first part of his camp over here. It’s a nice place to be, we are 5000 feet above sea level, it’s a quaint town, but I can’t wait to get back to the gym in LA and the last three weeks before the fight. I’ll be back there with Manny from October the 24th.”

Roach also talked of Amir Khan, and his impending contest with Dmitry Salita, against whom he will defend the WBA light-welterweight title in Newcastle on Dec 5. “Amir is at the Wild Card Gym right now, his sparring is all set up for him.”

And Salita ? “Salita is a good boxer, not a big puncher. But Amir is a better boxer, and getting better all the time. We will work on the gameplan, stick to the game plan, I won’t let him off the leash, he’s not going to make early mistakes again, and I’m expecting him to be better than ever when he defends his title.”

Source: blogs.telegraph.com Read more...

American boxing trainer Freddie Roach is happy what his prized fighter Manny Pacquiao is showing in the training camp.

Roach said Pacquiao shows improved speed and agility when he sparred with former world champion Hose Luis Castillo of Mexico.

he said Castillo actually had a difficult time trading gloves with the faster Pacquiao when the sparred in the Sap Up gym in Baguio.

Castillo is the latest sparmate to arrive in the country for Pacquiao's preparation in the November 14 fight with Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto.

Pacquiao's confitioning expert Alex Ariza said in a report by InsideSports.ph that the Filipino's latest sparring session was the best yet.

Ariza said Castillo, a former World Boxing Council (WBC) champion who has fought the likes of Diego Corrales, Joel Casamayor and Ricky Hatton, had a hard time figuring out Pacquiao during their 3-round session.

"[Manny is] so fast, so nimble. Castillo was trying to figure him out. He still has to get used to Manny," said Ariza.

Castillo went to Pacquiao's training camp in baguio City to help in the Filipino's preparation for the "Firepower" match with Cotto.

After sparring with the Mexican champ, Pacquiao went on for 4 rounds with American junior middleweight Shawn Porter.



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TAMPA, Fla. -- A banner high on a distant wall of The Fight Factory Gym depicts Miguel Cotto throwing a jab just above the head of Manny Pacquiao, a bull's-eye over his face.

"On Nov. 14, the world will witness who will be the new king of the ring," read the words on the large poster, beneath which the live version of Cotto is involved in a spirited sparring session with talented southpaw Fred Tukes of Atlanta, with trainer Joe Santiago also in the ring.

"We're a team and we're behind Miguel every single minute, thinking about the fight in Tampa. We have no distractions. Our focus is Manny Pacquiao and that's our target," Santiago said Wednesday.

Santiago said that the 28-year-old Cotto (34-1, 27 knockouts) has been "tirelessly" toiling in Florida for Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), against whom he'll defend his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"We did four weeks in [Cotto's native] Puerto Rico, and we'll accomplish eight weeks outside of Puerto Rico -- six in Tampa and two more in Las Vegas, starting on Nov. 1," said Santiago. "We wake up early in the morning to train in the morning workout, and we go to the gym because Manny Pacquiao is our No. 1 target."

In the ring, Cotto's eyes were fixed firmly upon Tukes, whom he pursued from behind a rapier-like jab during the first of three, three-minute rounds with 30 seconds rest in-between.

"I'm working on everything -- my distance, how to take the control of every round," said Cotto. "I have a plan A, plan B, and I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to have any problems the night of the fight."

Wearing blue head gear and white gloves, in contrast to Tukes' red head gear and red gloves, Cotto pursued his rival like an animal tracking prey.

"[Santiago] said that he needed for me to give Miguel a lot of movement, try to make him miss and to throw straight left hands at him. I was trying to emulate Pacquiao as much as possible. I think I did a pretty good job ," said Tukes, a muscular, 35-year-old southpaw with a professional record of 8-1-1 that includes five knockouts.

At one point, Cotto trapped Tukes in a neutral corner and fired away. Tukes acknowledged that he "felt every punch."

"If Miguel gets Pacquiao on the ropes, I think that Miguel's body shots are going to be significant," said Tukes. "That overhand left and his straight right hand and his hook that he throws off of the jab -- he's a lot faster than people think that he is."

His rotation complete, Tukes was replaced by a fresher, more youthful Kenny Abril, a gifted 25-year-old brawler-boxer from Rochester, N.Y.

"We both give different looks: Kenny has a lot of head movement, throws good combinations and has pretty fast hands," said Tukes. "And Kenny's a bit more in-your-face, straight up, one-two, spin around, that sort of thing."

As Abril came forward, Cotto again used his jab, only this time to blast his opponent from a distance. Cotto often sent volleys as he circled to the left or to the right.

"Cotto can be a boxer-puncher and switch up virtually at will. Shane Mosley, for example, when he trained for Cotto, he trained for a brawler moreso than a boxer," said Tukes, referring to Cotto's November, 2007, decision over the former world champion from Los Angeles.

"But when Miguel switched it up on him in the later rounds and went into boxing mode," said Tukes, "Shane was like, 'Oh, damn, I didn't train for this.' "

When his three-round session had run its course, Abril offered a similar impression, calling Cotto "just too strong."

"Today, Miguel caught me with a body shot and just recently, the other day, with a nice hook to the head when I went to spin off," said Abril. "Every time I move, his punches are right on point. I move to the left or move to the right, he's always there timing me beautifully."

Abril wore a white head gear and black gloves.

"But Pacquiao won't be wearing protective head gear, so if Miguel catches him like he did me on those days, he's a goner. Pacquiao will be going home early -- straight back to the Philippines. I mean, he'll be out of it," said Abril. "Miguel's really sharp and strong with the body shots -- an amazing fighter."

Abril was similarly effusive concerning Cotto's roadwork.

"He's an amazing runner, which I know because we wake up every morning with him and run with him," said Abril. "He's nonstop. I'm always gasping for air trying to keep up."

When he wasn't sparring, Cotto was being followed around by his promoter, Bob Arum, legendary trainer, Angelo Dundee, or the cameras of HBO's 24/7 series.

Also Watching the sparring from ringside was Miguel Sr., who is among his son's most ardent critics. Yet even the father had to give Miguel Jr. his props.

"I've been telling Miguel what kind of punches he needed to throw, what kind of movement we needed to do, and I was very happy with his progress today -- much better than the last session," said Miguel Sr., a short man with peppered hair.

"Mentally, Miguel's very strong. He's always been there. But that's why he's successful. But on Nov. 14, he'll be much more mentally strong than Pacquiao, and that will be the ultimate in giving my son the advantage."

Abril wore a white head gear and black gloves.

"But Pacquiao won't be wearing protective head gear, so if Miguel catches him like he did me on those days, he's a goner. Pacquiao will be going home early -- straight back to the Philippines. I mean, he'll be out of it," said Abril. "Miguel's really sharp and strong with the body shots -- an amazing fighter."

Abril was similarly effusive concerning Cotto's roadwork.

"He's an amazing runner, which I know because we wake up every morning with him and run with him," said Abril. "He's nonstop. I'm always gasping for air trying to keep up."

When he wasn't sparring, Cotto was being followed around by his promoter, Bob Arum, legendary trainer, Angelo Dundee, or the cameras of HBO's 24/7 series.

Also Watching the sparring from ringside was Miguel Sr., who is among his son's most ardent critics. Yet even the father had to give Miguel Jr. his props.

"I've been telling Miguel what kind of punches he needed to throw, what kind of movement we needed to do, and I was very happy with his progress today -- much better than the last session," said Miguel Sr., a short man with peppered hair.

"Mentally, Miguel's very strong. He's always been there. But that's why he's successful. But on Nov. 14, he'll be much more mentally strong than Pacquiao, and that will be the ultimate in giving my son the advantage."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
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At the age of 30, Manny is a 14-year pro—he made his debut at 16. He has been fighting at the top levels of competition and given some of the most sensational performances in the ring in recent years.

A certain future Hall of Famer, Manny was voted the "2008 Fighter of the Year" by the Boxing Writers Association of America. He also won the BWAA award in 2006, as well as The Ring's 2006 and 2008 "Fighter of the Year."

Manny is also recognized by most observers as the best fighter at any weight in the ring today—the best "Pound for Pound."

He is a national hero in his native Philippines—the entire country of over 96 million people comes to a virtual standstill to watch whenever he fights.

Manny is coming off of an electrifying second-round knockout win against former IBF jr. welterweight and WBA welterweight world champion Ricky Hatton in his last fight on May 2.

The Associated Press' Tim Dahlberg reported from ringside:

"He didn't just beat Hatton. Didn't just knock him out.

"He demolished a world class fighter who had never lost at his natural weight of 140 pounds, and he did it with such precision and ease that the talk afterward wasn't whether Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but whether he might be one of the best ever.


"A right hook—a punch most southpaws don't even have—started it all, dropping Hatton midway through the first round. A left cross that may be one of the greatest single punches ever thrown in a big fight ended it with a dramatic flourish.

"When it was over, Hatton was sprawled motionless on his back in the center of the ring. Pacquiao and his corner were celebrating and the sellout crowd was trying to digest what they had just seen.

"Boxing has a new king in an unassuming fighter so good that he won his last four fights in four different weight classes."

Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com:

"With one thunderous left hand, Manny Pacquiao smashed his way into boxing immortality.

"Anyone doubt his pound-for-pound No. 1 perch now? Shoot, anyone doubt his place as one of boxing's best ever?

"The Filipino icon destroyed Ricky Hatton in two crushing rounds to make boxing history before 16,262 at the sold out and electric MGM Grand Garden Arena....

"It's something those of us who saw it shouldn't soon forget because it may be a long time until we see something like this again.

"In stunningly disposing of Hatton in ruthless fashion, Pacquiao matched Oscar De La Hoya's record of winning titles in six weight divisions. But more important, by adding Hatton's lineal junior welterweight championship to his growing collection, Pacquiao added a fourth lineal title, the first fighter to do that in boxing history. (Granted, there are more divisions now than there were back in the era of fighters such as Sugar Ray Robinson.)

"In plain terms, PacMan has been 'the man' in four divisions, the clear champion in a morass of titleholders at flyweight, featherweight, junior lightweight and now junior welterweight. Toss in belts at junior featherweight and lightweight—and wins against elite opponents—and you have a great fighter.

"It was almost laughable how easy it was for Pacquiao, who was fighting at junior welterweight for the first time in his career after dropping down from welterweight, where he fought in December and destroyed and retired De La Hoya.

"It also happened to be Pacquiao's fourth consecutive win in a fourth different division. It seems as though there is nothing he can't do."

In his previous fight on December 6, 2008, Manny scored the biggest win of his career—a dominant eighth-round TKO against former jr. lightweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, two-time super welterweight, and middleweight world champion Oscar De La Hoya—the biggest name in the sport over the last two decades and a certain future Hall of Famer himself.

Against De La Hoya, Manny was considered a huge underdog by most observers—and the fight a mismatch—because of their extreme difference in size. Boxing's conventional wisdom says that "A good big man beats a good small man."

After the fight, Dan Rafael wrote:

"Pacquiao stunningly administered a beat down of epic proportions. De La Hoya...was never in the fight for a moment.

"Pacquiao...won his third fight of the year in his third weight division, including winning two titles. The victory makes Pacquiao something of a modern-day Henry Armstrong, the all-time great pound-for-pound legend who over the course of 10 months from October, 1937, to August, 1938, claimed, in order, the world featherweight, welterweight and lightweight championships—when there were only eight divisions."

Manny had made his mark in boxing history, however, even before beating De La Hoya.

He has held world titles in four weight divisions—he won the WBC flyweight world title two weeks before his 20 birthday in December, 1998, the IBF jr. featherweight world title at 22 in 2001.

Manny won the WBC super featherweight world title in March, 2008, with a 12 round decision victory in the rematch against defending champion Juan Manuel Marquez. It was one of the most highly-anticipated fights of the year, and one of the most exciting.

He won the WBC lightweight world title in June, 2008, with a ninth-round TKO against defending champion David Diaz.

Source: HBO.com
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At the age of 28, Miguel is an eight-year pro. The WBO welterweight world champion, he won the title in February, 2009, and has made one successful defense.

He is Puerto Rico's brightest star and biggest draw in the ring, has fought and beaten some of the sport's biggest names, and already had a Hall of Fame career.

Miguel is coming off a 12 round decision win against former IBF welterweight world champion Joshua Clottey in his last fight in June, 2009.

After the fight, Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com [excerpts]: "There's nothing quite like the atmosphere and excitement of a Cotto fight at hallowed Madison Square Garden on the eve of the annual National Puerto Rican Day parade. It's always a festive scene, and for the fourth time in the past five years, Cotto headlined on the weekend and gave his fans something to cheer about. Most of the heavily Puerto Rican crowd of 17,734 was staunchly in Cotto's corner, cheering wildly for him as he made the first defense of the vacant welterweight belt he picked up with a dominant fifth-round knockout of England's Michael Jennings at the Garden in February.

"But this time, Cotto was facing Clottey, a far more dangerous, durable and quality opponent. Clottey is world-class and had given up his own version of the 147-pound crown to make the fight possible rather than face a mandatory challenger. The result was an excellent, high-level fight between two of the best in the star-studded weight class.

"Cotto, two fights removed from his 11-round knockout loss to Antonio Margarito (whom many believe faced Cotto with loaded hand wraps and cheated his way to victory) last summer, overcame a scenario similar to the one he faced in that fight. Like Margarito, Clottey is a rough, physical fighter. The fight played out in a similar fashion to Margarito-Cotto in that Cotto was a bit dominant early until Clottey got rolling in the middle rounds and began imposing himself on Cotto, who was cut and fading slightly. But this time, Cotto hung in like a champ.

"Cotto overcame a brutal gash in his left eyebrow from an accidental head butt in the third round. The blood flowed freely from the cut for most of the rest of the fight and certainly had an impact on Cotto's ability to see Clottey's right hand coming. After the fight, Cotto needed six stitches in a cut below his eye and 14 in the bad one above his eye.

"Clottey can complain that he was robbed all he wants, and some contrary fans and writers can join the chorus, but the reason he didn't win is because of his own shortcomings, not poor judging. Cotto fought all three minutes of the rounds and fought smart. Can't say the same for Clottey, and it cost him dearly."

Fightwriter.com's Graham Houston reported [excerpts]: "A split decision was to be expected after such a well-contested bout, but to me there was no doubt that Cotto deserved the win.

"It is true that Clottey was moving forward in the later rounds, and he looked the stronger man—but walking in with gloves up, following an opponent around the ring and not throwing punches, doesn't win rounds.

"The fight was there for the taking, but Clottey didn't drive himself forward with the extra effort that was needed.

"Cotto won with superior tactics. He moved, stopped to punch and moved again. Clottey, after looking so good at numerous stages of the fight, just seemed to lose the plot.

"Cotto's movement in the later rounds wasn't allowing Clottey to get set to punch. Although Clottey blocked many blows on his high guard, he wasn't firing off his own shots. Cotto was outsmarting him and outpointing him.

"With a number of close rounds, divergent scores were understandable. Cotto's 10-8 opening round, when his stiff left jab sat down an off-balance Clottey, in the end didn't prove to be his margin of victory—he would have won even without scoring the fight's sole knockdown.

"Clottey did some excellent scoring with the left hook to the body and left uppercut through the middle, and he also enjoyed success with the jab and straight right hand.

"Cotto overall was the busier man, though, and his combinations to the body and use of the jab enabled him to snatch rounds when Clottey fell into his move-in-without-punching pattern.

"After 11 gruelling rounds it was Cotto who provided the eye-catching finish."

Miguel is also a former WBA welterweight world champion—he won that title in December, 2006, and made four successful title defenses.

He won the WBO junior welterweight world title at the age of 23 in September, 2004, and made six successful title defenses before vacating the title to move up in weight.

He is experienced against top opposition and has fought current or former world champions Joshua Clottey (W12), Antonio Margarito (TKOby11), Shane Mosley (W12), Zab Judah (TKO11), Carlos Quintana (TKO5), Paulie Malignaggi (W12), Ricardo Torres (KO7), DeMarcus Corley (TKO5), Randall Bailey (TKO6), Carlos Maussa (TKO8), and Cesar Bazan (TKO11). He has also beaten previously undefeated contender Kelson Pinto (TKO6), as well as veteran contenders Muhammad Abdulaev (TKO9), Victoriano Sosa (TKO4) and Lovemore Ndou (W12).

Source: HBO.com Read more...

Bob Arum has been in Tampa taking Miguel I’m No Angel Cotto’s temperature the past two days.

The Top Rank honcho will turn up when Cotto trains Wednesday at the Fight Factory Gym for the benefit of the HBO 24/7 video team which will be taping material.

Everything is copacetic, Arum tells Examiner.com and Boxingconfidential, with the Puerto Rican puncher and his crew in Florida.

“He trains hard,” Arum said of Cotto. “He’s in terrific shape and he’s very confident. He says Manny Pacquiao is a great fighter but that he is better, that he will handle Manny. There’s no animosity here, it’s mutual respect, but Cotto thinks he’s better. I think these two guys actually like each other.

“When Cotto gets in the gym and he trains hard for two solid hours.


“He trains as hard as any fighter you can name. But the guy he is fighting trains for four days without stopping. In 45 years of being around the best fighters, including Marvin Hagler, I’ve never seen a guy train like Manny does. Manny trains for four hours without stopping and, when he does stop, he is not even tired.”

While some in Pacland fret about Pacman being distracted by his outside activities, whether it’s sabong, shooting hoops or planning his post fight victory concert, Arum said there is no reason to be concerned.

Arum said he’s seen this Manny movie before.

“This guy has an excess of energy, that’s who he is,” Arum said. “Manny’s motor just never stops. So what some call distractions, or even possible distractions, to me it’s just standard operating procedure for Manny.

“I mean, he trains, he eats, then he is playing darts or with a musical instrument or basketball. He just never stops.”

There have been whispers about an uptight atmosphere in the Cotto camp and some media types being rejected when they sought access to their workouts.

Arum said there is no conspiracy to bar the media from the Cotto camp but agreed it’s not as loosey-goosey as the Pacman operation can be.

“We had some media guys there today,” Arum said. “But the Cotto guys are not as flexible as Freddie (Roach) and the other guys with Manny. They prefer hard and fast rules about when the press can come in.

“Miguel has an open media day here Oct. 29. With Freddie, well he’s the consummate professional and, when he is working on something with Manny, they close up. But Freddie knows we have to sell tickets also.

“I must say Miguel and his team are speaking very positively.”

Arum noted that the sun is shining in Baguio and that former world champion Jose Luis Castillo seems to be settling in as a useful sparmate for Pacman.

The promoter said Team Pacquiao will fly to Manila, stay overnight and then fly to Los Angeles so they can return to the Wild Card Gym on Oct. 26.

“Everything is beautiful in Baguio.”

Not to mention terrific in Tampa.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: Examiner.com Read more...

MANILA (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach will demand referees impose automatic disqualification for any deliberate low blow landed during the Filipino's challenge for Miguel Cotto's WBO welterweight title.

Puerto Rican Cotto was docked a point for low blows in his successful defence against Zab Judah in 2007, but maintained the blows had been accidental.

"Cotto stops his opponents' momentum with that kind of blow," American Roach told Monday's Philippine Daily Inquirer.


"In that Judah fight he had five low blows."


Roach said he would raise the issue at a rules meeting before the November 14 showdown in Las Vegas.

The highly anticipated bout pits Pacquiao, widely regarded the world's best pound-for-pound fighter, against Cotto, who retained his WBO title in June with a split decision over Ghana's Joshua Clottey.

Source: Reuters, UK
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By DEXTER A. SEE

BAGUIO CITY — Filipino boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao will now enter the most difficult part of his five-week training camp in this mountain resort city as he starts holding sparring sessions with four foreign boxers chosen by three-time trainer of the year Freddie Roach.

Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao’s assistant trainer, said the sparring mates of the Filipino world champion have moves similar to that of Puerto Rican welterweight champion Miguel Cotto to help Manny prepare necessary techniques to outwit and outbox the much bigger and powerful boxer.


Pacquiao and Cotto will be mixing it up inside the ring for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown held by the Puerto Rican on November 14, 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The four sparring mates of Pacquiao include David Rodela; Shawn Porter, an African-American who was a former member of the US Olympic team; Urbano Antillon, WBO super featherweight champion who knocked down Manny’s brother, Bobby Pacquiao in a title bout early this year, and Raymond Tito Serrano, a Puerto Rican champion who could match the moves of Cotto.

Fernandez said the sparring sessions with the foreign boxers will be done in a staggered manner so as not to overwork the champion and to allow him to reach his peak form during the fight.

Team Pacquiao is confident their ward will be able to adjust to Cotto’s style with the help of his sparring mates to emerge victorious.

source: mb.com.ph
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Source: pacquiaovideo.com

Manny Pacquio visits Baguio City Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. at Baguio City Hall for a courtesy call. The mayor is thankful that Manny choose their city as a training location. Baguio is celebrating its 100 years centennial. Pacquiao receives a symbolic key of Baguio City.

Hundreds of city hall employees left their work to meet and cheer the champion. Many of them tried to break into the security, wishing to get an autograph or pictures with him.

During the courtesy call, Pacquiao said his decision to run for congress is certain, that he will be announcing his candidacy, that retirement from boxing is near.

Freddie Roach is happy for Pacquiao, but he has one wish for his star pupil before the curtains closes: defeat Mayweather.









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This is a very cool video. It zooms into the fighter's chest and reveals an xray vision of the chest, the nerves and the heart. It showcase both the fighters previous fights whom they knockdown their respective oponents.

It is called Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto Teaser Trailer. When heroes colide, a legend is born...



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By NICK GIONGCO

Manny Pacquiao is surprisingly ahead of his training schedule, which is four days old, that he is now ready for sparring, the boxer’s American trainer said on Friday.

“This is our best start ever,” trainer Freddie Roach told The Bulletin on Friday after presiding over Pacquiao’s training at the Shape Up Boxing Gym at the Cooyeesan Hotel in Baguio City.

Roach is convinced that the Filipino is fit enough that he can start sparring sessions on Tuesday...

“Manny is going to be ready (to spar),” said Roach, who, in the past had to wait until 10 days or two weeks after the start of training camp before letting Pacquiao do some sparring.

Two sparmates -- unbeaten welterweight prospect Shawn Porter and lightweight star Urbano Antillon -- are arriving in the country tomorrow morning from Los Angeles and motor direct to Baguio from the airport.

While there is still seven-and-a-half weeks to go before Pacquiao faces Miguel Cotto on November 14 in Las Vegas, Roach believes they are not only right on track but a little bit ahead of schedule.

For the third straight day, Roach let Pacquiao hit the mitts for ten rounds after doing nine rounds on Tuesday, just hours after Roach landed in Manila from a 15-hour flight from Los Angeles and less than an hour after arriving in Baguio.

Pacquiao and Roach are camping out in the City of Pines possibly until the third week of October.

Meanwhile, over in Tampa, Florida, site of Cotto’s training camp, top trainer Joe Santiago expressed the belief that on fight night at the MGM Grand, the sheer size advantage of Cotto as well as his natural strength will prove to be very tough for Pacquiao to overcome.

“We have great respect for his speed and we take our hats off to what he’s done for boxing, but on the day of the fight, Miguel is going to be the stronger man in the ring,” Cotto taskmaster Joe Santiago told the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Dia.

Source: www.mb.com.ph

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By Frank Lotierzo

Recently Golden Boy Promotions honcho Richard Schaefer said that the big fight in boxing is now Shane Mosley vs. Floyd Mayweather? As most know GBP has promotional ties with Shane and has worked with Floyd. Before Mayweather took apart the seemingly diminutive Juan Manuel Marquez last Saturday night, the thought of getting Mosley and Mayweather together was a pipe-dream. It's no secret that Mayweather has been smartly waiting for Shane to age and decline before taking a chance fighting him. And please, anyone who thinks Mosley ducked Mayweather is blinded with bias. Is there any boxing fan/writer out there who really believes Mayweather would've gone through with a fight between them circa 2000-2007? Based on the history of both fighters - Mayweather hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt in this case...

For those needing a brief history lesson - it was in late June of 2005 and Mayweather had just looked sensational in stopping the late Arturo Gatti. Shortly after fighting Gatti, Mayweather issued a challenge to Winky Wright who defeated Felix Trinidad a month earlier after beating Shane Mosley in their rematch in November of 2004. At that time I wrote for another entity and said Mayweather was just trying to get attention and had no intention of ever fighting Wright. None whatsoever. Stating that Floyd would get out of the fight by making outrageous demands that Wright would never accept. Only Mayweather was wrong and Wright did accept his terms knowing he'd do exactly to Mayweather what Floyd just did to Marquez. Winky knew his size and strength would neutralize Mayweather's speed and skill set. Once Wright agreed to accept the ridiculous deal, surprise, Mayweather turned a deaf ear and went another direction and fought Sharmba Mitchell.

The point is - just by looking at the record and resumes of both Mosley and Mayweather, any objective/insightful boxing fan can see which fighter has avoided the toughest fights and biggest challenges and which one looks to make them, something that may not have always been the greatest for Mosley's career monetarily and strategically. As mentioned before, Mayweather hasn't defeated a single fighter that Mosley wouldn't have defeated easier.

Back to the current scene. Look for the rumors and talk of a Mosley-Mayweather bout to escalate before Pacquiao-Cotto meet this coming November 14th. The only problem with that is it's just subterfuge. Mosley's name will be thrown out as an opponent for Mayweather by GBP because Shane wants a big fight, and it serves them both well. And the Mayweather faction will do it trying to gain some of the leverage Floyd failed to reel in with his fight against Marquez for a proposed fight with Manny Pacquiao.

Mosley's scripted theatrics in the ring after Mayweather's fight with Marquez has helped and benefited Mayweather. The idea that some were insulted and thought Mosley's behavior was classless must be kidding. In other words the fighter who came to the ring with a wrestler named triple-H, and also learned his own form of outlandish behavior from the WWE, is too dignified to be challenged by another fighter in the ring? Please! Mosley did himself and Mayweather a huge favor. Shane's so-called classless act gave Mayweather and even more viable opponent to face than Pacquiao. On the other hand Mosley put a little heat on Floyd to possibly fight him.

This will no doubt irritate and outrage the Mayweather apologist, but while Shane and Floyd were standing face to face in the ring, it sure looked like Mayweather had more reservation about Mosley than the opposite. Then again maybe I'm wrong and Mosley is the one who harbors trepidation about a potential fight between them. All I know is that it's doubtful we'll see the fight. Although it would be great to see Mayweather in there with a real fighter his size despite him crowding 40 years old, and the thought of Mosley not going after Floyd because he fears getting hit by Mayweather's lead left-hook doesn't exist.

When all is said and done, Mosley-Mayweather is a better fight than Pacquiao-Mayweather. It's been said in this space since Pacquiao knocked out Ricky Hatton that Mayweather has the perfect style along with speed and strength to handle Pacquiao. Actually, Floyd may work Manny over more than he did Marquez due to the fact that Marquez never believed he could hurt Mayweather and for that reason never pressed him. Pacquiao has a punchers mindset and would believe he was never more than a punch away from putting Mayweather to sleep. And it would be that mindset that would induce him to take more chances and jump in, which Mayweather lives for his opponents to do.

Now that Mayweather-Marquez is history, the focus will be on Pacquiao-Cotto. So look for GBP and Mayweather to try and steal some of the limelight from Pacquiao-Cotto by speculating that Mayweather doesn't need Pacquiao and is considering a fight with Mosley. It makes perfect business sense for all parties involved with the exception of Mosley, who stands a good chance of missing out on fighting both Mayweather and Pacquiao.

Here's why. If Pacquiao beats Cotto, the obvious big fight is with Mayweather. However, if Cotto beats Pacquiao then Mayweather is in the driver’s seat. Knowing how Mayweather thinks, it's easy to see how it will unfold. If given the choice between fighting Cotto and Mosley, it's Cotto. For starters it would be for more money and with Cotto holding a win over Mosley, why would Mayweather fight a guy Cotto already beat? Secondly, Mayweather matches up better with Cotto than he does Mosley. In a bout with Cotto, Mayweather would force Miguel to lead and push the fight and would be open to get busted up on the way in. Maybe Cotto could hurt Mayweather if he could get inside, but he'd pay a price in doing it. Whereas Mosley could adjust better and has more weapons to deal with and handle Mayweather than Cotto does, especially with the way he's looks to have improved under new trainer Nazeem Richardson.

Regardless of what's floated out there teasing boxing fans about a potential Mosley-Mayweather showdown, it's not gonna happen in the foreseeable future if ever. Conventional wisdom says Mayweather will just sit back and hope for Pacquiao to beat Cotto. And if he doesn't, he'll make the smarter business decision and fight Cotto. Which for Mayweather is definitely the prudent thing to do.

So don't believe the Mosley-Mayweather hype if it starts.

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com Read more...

By Mark Vester

During a recent interview, trainer Freddie Roach voiced his concern about the possibility of Miguel Cotto not making the contract weight of 145-pounds for the November 14 clash with Manny Pacquiao. Roach is not taking any chances. He wants to make sure Cotto doesn't pull a Floyd Mayweather Jr, who weighed 146-pounds for last Saturday's fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. The fight was contracted for 144. As punishment, Mayweather had to pay Marquez $600,000.

“We will make sure that Cotto cannot use his weight to his advantage,” Roach told The Philippine Star.

Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago says Roach, or anyone else for that matter, should worry about Cotto's weight. They don't plan on having to pay Pacquiao any weight penalties. He guarantees that Cotto will weigh 145-pounds.

"There is no doubt, Cotto will weigh 145-pounds," Santiago told El Nuevo Dia.

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com

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Source: doghouseboxing.com

Teddy Atlas, boxing trainer, fight commentator, and humanitarian, visits Doghouse Boxing for another round of Questions and Answers.

David Tyler – Hi Teddy, thanks for the call. You must be the busiest man on earth?

Teddy Atlas – Yeah Dave, sometimes I feel that way.

DT – Let’s start with Floyd Mayweather’s impressive victory over Juan Manuel Marquez.

TA – Not a complete surprise. Of course the question going in was how would Mayweather deal with the long layoff, how would that affect him and the other question how would the smaller Marquez deal with a bigger man, who was not only bigger, but one of the rarities in this sport or any sport is what took place there in that fight with that match-up. You had a smaller guy moving up in weight and the advantages that he usually enjoys and the advantages that they usually enjoy he didn’t enjoy. Because the fighters that have moved up like Mickey Ward, Pernell Whitaker, Roberto Duran, Mickey Walker, or the great Sam Langford, these guys had superior hand speed and solid chins. The smaller guys moving up were smarter, they were faster; they were slicker, than the big men they fought. So when the smaller man who enjoyed these advantages moved up... they had all the advantages even though they were smaller. You had Marquez the smaller guy who moves up in weight to face the bigger Mayweather but Mayweather was faster. You could argue that Mayweather was smarter. Mayweather was more muscled. So one of the paradoxes in this fight and the reason I said we couldn’t be shocked with the outcome was that Mayweather had all those advantages as well as being the bigger guy. Again, the question of how would Marquez deal with that step up in weight class and how would Mayweather be affected by the time off because of the pace of the fight, because of the ability of Mayweather to control range, and I don’t know if many people realize how well he controls range. He draws a line in the sand so to speak but in the canvas. He controlled the business of where things started and where things ended. When you can do that you can control pace and you can control the rest of the bout. Because of that he controlled when something could be thrown, when something could not be thrown. Because of all this control the many months layoff never came into play. He could go to a place where maybe he had endurance because of the rest but he did such a great job of controlling range, controlling distance, which helps him control all the other elements of the fight. All the advantages of Marquez being shorter and moving up in weight never showed up.

DT – Did this fight change your opinion of the upcoming Manny Pacquiao/ Miguel Cotto bout?

TA – No, because Cotto is a smaller fighter who is not as good defensively as Mayweather. I don’t know how much patience had to do with it, but I do know one thing, Mayweather’s patience kept Marquez from getting back into the fight, it never allowed Marquez any hope, never allowed him any place to try and get a foothold because he was climbing a hill and he knew he was climbing that hill. He was never given a place to put his hands on where he could make that climb. That was because of the defense of Mayweather who just never allowed him to get back into the fight. You know Cotto is a different fighter; he is not as good defensively, not as quick. But he is a good body puncher which I think that he will have to bring to the plate to have a chance, so to speak, when he fights Pacquiao trying to take away some of his speed advantage. He doesn’t have the advantages of a bigger man; he is a bigger man in a smaller man’s body. Unlike the fight where Mayweather had such big advantages against a smaller man, that’s not going to be the case with Cotto. The smaller man Pacquiao will have all those advantages we were talking about earlier. Pacquiao will also have the advantage of being very confident where Coto’s confidence has been badly shaken since the Margarito fight.

DT – So, you’re still predicting Pacquiao in an early round kayo?

TA – I don’t know if it will be the early rounds but I think Pacquiao will win the early rounds and depending on how Cotto handles himself, can he make the necessary adjustments. If he doesn’t like he did in the Clottey fight, he will not make it to the late rounds but maybe Cotto needed that Clottey fight in order purge himself of those moments in a fight where he loses focus. Maybe he has learned more about himself because of the Clottey fight. Maybe he needed those moments to sort of suffer a little bit. Maybe the Clottey and Margarito fights toughen him up and we will see a classic fight. I’m not so sure we will but if he is back psychologically and mentally then maybe we will get the fight everyone wants to see.

DT – Teddy, Pacquiao has just started training in the Philippines and Cotto has been training hard for over a month. Will the short training time hurt Pacquiao’s chances in this fight?

TA – Well, you never know, but then again Pacquiao did not fight that long ago and the guy keeps himself in shape. His normal weight is around 145 or so and that relieves him of the burden of having to lose weight quickly. There’s not that much difference in two months training as opposed to three months of training for a guy like Pacquiao. It’s still early and it will not take Pacquiao that long to get back in shape to go the distance if he has to in this fight. You know, Pacquiao is a big star in the Philippines and he makes movies, does endorsements, but he has always done this and it doesn’t appear to have affected him mentally or psychologically in his preparation for a fight.

DT – Now that Mayweather has shown that the long layoff seems to have no affect on his skill level how would Manny Pacquiao matchup against him?

TA – Interesting matchup, Pacquiao is able to bring things in a better way than Marquez was able to bring. Pacquiao is a lot faster than Marquez and will probably match Mayweather with speed. He is obviously very confident right now and I think the stage will be different than that for Marquez. Pacquiao is busier than Marquez and does a lot more than just put his hands together. I just think that Pacquiao does more things than Marquez does as a smaller guy going up in weight. Pacquiao will present a speed advantage which Mayweather will not have as he did against Marquez. I think a lot will have to do with how he gets through the Cotto fight, if he gets through the Cotto well, then I think all systems will be going perfect and I think all systems must be working perfect for him to go into the biggest fight of his life against Mayweather.

DT – Teddy, Mayweather looked almost unbeatable to me and I would point to his superb defensive skills as his top asset. What kind of fighter can beat him?

TA – Well, Marquez for all his attributes doesn’t have good defensive skills. Somewhere along the line a fighter with these skills, and also blessed with good body punching skills to cause Mayweather to lower his hands, will present problems. You need that kind of thinking and Pacquiao may have these skills. Also Mayweather is a bit of a magician in there, a bit of a trickster, a little like David Copperfield. When he works the magic tricks he diverts you attention everywhere and keeps you from looking at the spectacle. Mayweather keeps you looking at his head movements and diverts your attention from the body. If Pacquiao looks at the bottom half or the body of Mayweather and starts unloading he will begin to control the action. Pacquiao brings great speed and if used in the proper way he will be successful. I’m sure Freddie Roach will have him prepared because he has studied many of Mayweather’s fights as he prepared Oscar De La Hoya for his bout with Mayweather.

DT- I have interviewed Freddie Roach many times and he seems extremely confident that Pacquiao will destroy Mayweather.

TA – David, again, I am hesitant to make a prediction until he gets past Cotto. However, if he looks good and gets past Cotto with relative ease, then the fight with Mayweather will be very physical, much more physical than the Mayweather and Marquez fight turned out to be.

DT – Teddy I kept a promise to you and wrote an article for our doghouseboxing.com website about your foundation started in the name of your Father, Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation. I ask our readers to simply mail one dollar to the foundation. Yesterday I ask your Director, Kathy Zito, if anyone had sent a dollar. NOT ONE SINGLE DOLLAR WAS SENT BY OUR READERS. That made me extremely sad for several days. Why?

TA – David, I can’t tell you why, so all I talk about is people like you who do contribute and I feel good about that and I’m satisfied with that and I feel good about that. I understand that some people don’t understand the importance of giving something or helping others and have trouble with that maybe these people simply don’t want to deal with the issues of helping those less fortunate because it takes them to a place that’ out of their comfort zone and that’s okay. I am not disheartened with the ones that don’t come through I am very pleased and happy with those that do come through and contribute their time, efforts, and money to help those less fortunate. Those that don’t contribute have not been to a time or place where they have experienced the need of help from others. They haven’t seen the good that their help can be for others who would not be able to survive without help. These are life changing experiences and maybe some people have to go through these type experiences and then they start to help others and understand the importance of helping in a spiritual sense. I am very happy with those that do contribute and want them to understand how important even the smallest contribution can provide a way and means for those less fortunate.

DT – Teddy, my late Mother was a person much like your Father, who went out of her way to help others less fortunate. She contributed money, volunteered her help, joined support groups, and was very active in Church affairs. I never appreciated her efforts for others when I was young. Almost 11 years ago she died from breast cancer. I made her the promise that I would try to live my life more like she lived hers and help others. It is impossible to describe the feeling of helping others. The spiritual and psychological benefits are enormous. The very human feelings of self-worth, confidence, self-esteem, all benefit from these actions of helping others.

TA – That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You have been to that time and place where you understand why you must, why you need, to help others.

DT – Teddy Atlas, thank you for your time. The previous two part interview was a great success. You views about our sport are somewhat controversial but that’s okay, don’t change. Boxing needs more people like you. As for your humanitarian efforts, may God continue to heap his blessings on people just like you!

TA – Thank you David. That really means a lot to me. Let’s stay in touch.
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By David Berry

Mayweather vs. Mosley? Mayweather vs. Pacquiao? Who knows? The return of Floyd Mayweather Jr. to the world of boxing has once again shaken up an already volatile welterweight division. Mayweather didn’t even make it out of his post-fight interview without the suddenly desperate Shane Mosley challenging him yet again to make him his next opponent. Of course, having Mosley as Mayweather’s next opponent has merit to it, but it also comes as an affront to those clamoring for a match-up between Mayweather and the fighter who inherited his pound-for-pound throne, Manny Pacquiao...

In light of Mayweather’s destruction of Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night, pundits now seem bent on deciding which candidate is most suitable as “Money’s” next opponent. In this case, though, the candidate that might be most suitable for Mayweather isn’t even being mentioned in the conversation. That candidate, of course, is WBO Welterweight Champion, Miguel Cotto. The same Miguel Cotto that Manny Pacquiao must overcome before he can even consider a fight with Mayweather.

The foregone conclusion that Cotto is simply Pacquiao’s stepping stone to a mega fight with Mayweather is flat out foolish. And to take nothing from Manny Pacquiao, who has looked absolutely brilliant in his last three fights, Miguel Cotto represents a challenge that Pacquiao simply has yet to encounter. On fight night, he will be the heaviest, hardest hitting opponent that Pacquiao has ever faced. And as a result, the Pacquiao vs. Cotto clash in November represents a formidable blockade to at least one of the potential mega fights on the horizon. Until the dust settles on November 14, any negotiations for a bout with Pacquiao are simply premature.

And what of Shane Mosley? Completely written off just a year ago, Mosley, in the eyes of many, is now the king of the welterweights, and justifiably so. After destroying Antonio Margarito in their January 2009 clash, Mosley looked nothing like an aging 37 year old on his last fighting legs. On the contrary, he made Margarito look like an overmatched amateur, a label that seemed absurd in July 2008 after Margarito beat Cotto into submission in the 11th round of their epic bout. Of course, anyone who picked Mosley to beat Margarito looked foolish, especially considering that the Miguel Cotto who outclassed Mosley in December 2007 was the same Miguel Cotto who was given a gruesome beating at the hands of Margarito.

So the question must be asked – exactly what kind of fighter is Shane Mosley? Is he the aging boxer who was out-boxed by Cotto, or is he the world beater who knocked out Margarito? The answer likely lies somewhere in between. Let’s not forget that in between his bouts with Cotto and Margarito, Mosley went tooth and nail with a washed-up Ricardo Mayorga, even losing on one judge’s score card before knocking his opponent out in the final second of the last round.

In his bout with Margarito, Mosley controlled the action from the start, with Margarito having difficulty getting his shots off against his noticeably quicker opponent. But isn’t that something that we already knew about Margarito? The Tijuana Tornado has and always will be vulnerable to a fighter with the hand speed necessary to drag him into a boxing match instead of a brawl. In fact, an argument can be made that if Cotto had stuck to his strategy of boxing and moving against Margarito, the outcome would’ve been different.

What I’m implying, of course, is that perhaps Mosley’s victory over Margarito is being held in much higher esteem than it should be. In the context of his last three fights, only against a flat footed Margarito did Mosley look like someone who could handle the elite fighters of the welterweight division. And as a result, it is my suspicion that against a defensive juggernaut like Mayweather, Mosley would look every single one of his 38 years. Not to mention that Mayweather has the hand speed to land shot after shot on Mosley who, with his hands at waist level, has always relied more on his speed than his defensive prowess to protect him.

Is that a knock on Sugar Shane? Absolutely not. His longevity as a fighter is truly a sight to behold. If he is unable to land another super fight before his retirement, it will do nothing to diminish his hall of fame career. At this current juncture, though, only two fighters are worthy of a bout with Mayweather. Don’t worry; they shouldn’t be hard to find. They’ll be in the same ring in Las Vegas on November 14.

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Source: boxingscene.com

Trainer Freddie Roach sees a flaw in Miguel Cotto. He doesn't think the Puerto Rican star can take body punches. Manny Pacquiao challenges Cotto for his WBO welterweight title on November 14 in Las Vegas. Roach has studied some of Cotto's fights and saw that he doesn't like to get hit to the body. After his TKO loss to Antonio Margarito, Cotto said he was badly hurt by combinations to the body, and not the head.

“He’s not strong to the body," Roach told GMA News. “I think we have to break him down... in the earlier rounds and work at the body a lot."

Cotto's advantage in size and strength is a big worry for Roach. He won't allow Pacquiao to engage Cotto in a fire fight but at some point the two fighters will trade some heavy punches. Cotto's money-punch is the left hook to the body. Roach's strategy may set the stage for a battle of body punches.

“It’s going to be a tough fight for us," said Roach. “He (Cotto) is a very strong fighter and puncher. We have to pay attention to that. That is my biggest worry."
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