Manny Pacquiao is down to 149 lb

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is down to 149 lb and in his morning workout yesterday sported a body that should be good enough to withstand anything Miguel Cotto could offer on Nov. 14.
“I’ve never seen him in better shape,” said conditioning coach Alex Ariza as Pacquiao, shirt off, was sprinting across the Rizal Memorial Stadium grounds, racing with his pet Terrier.
Pacquiao woke up a little late than usual and tipped the scales inside his hotel suite at 149 lb, just four pounds over the catchweight limit of 145 for his WBO welterweight title fight with Cotto.
Mediamen, including an HBO crew that crossed the Pacific to get a 24/7 glimpse of the Pinoy icon, had gathered at the parking lot outside the stadium as early as 6 a.m.
Pacquiao spent 20 minutes around the rubber-surfaced track with his sparring partner Urbano Antillon, the upcoming Rodolfo Sumabong of Cebu and “Pacman,” the three-year-old Jack Russell Terrier.
Pacquiao had to be restrained by his assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez from running another lap because chief trainer Freddie Roach, who was not around, had wanted no more than 20 minutes.
“That’s the problem with Manny. Once he breaks that sweat, he just won’t stop. He’s like that little thing that you turn on and it gets going and going and going – very difficult to stop him,” said Ariza.
Pacquiao then did his abdominal exercises as he lay on a mat and was shielded from heat of the sun by a towel held across by seconds, ex-world champ Dodie Boy Peñalosa and Jojo Sta. Terera.
He declared himself fit and ready for battle.
“So far, so good. I’m happy with my training,” said Pacquiao, even if he had to leave Baguio City in a huff before midnight of Sunday for fear that a new super typhoon might catch up with them up there.
“I’m faster that Cotto so I will use that speed the proper way,” said the 30-year-old champ, who had a brief rest back in his hotel before proceeding to the Gerry Peñalosa Gym in Mandaluyong for sparring.
Pacquiao is in his final days of workout in the Philippines, and by Saturday he would have done five weeks, and in the evening will push for Los Angeles where he’ll train two more weeks at the Wild Card Gym.
Ariza said the change of training venue will not stop Pacquiao from working hard.
“It doesn’t make a lot of difference to him. No difference. We don’t skip a beat here. Training is training. A few more days here then we take off and pick up from where we left off in LA,” he said.
In Baguio, the rains kept Pacquiao out of the road for a couple of days, but Ariza said that in a way it worked to their favor.
“Personally it did us some good because he got to rest a little bit more. On the day he skipped the run he sparred much better. Yesterday he did 15 rounds (with the mitts) and he wasn’t even breathing.
“He’s down to 149 but I want him to load up (with protein shakes) because I want him at around 151 by the time we leave for LA. He’s in the best shape I’ve ever seen him,” Ariza said.
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Manny would win over Mayweather

Let’s face it, the biggest match-up to be made in boxing today would be Manny Pacquiao v Floyd Mayweather – the reigning pound-for-pound king against his unbeaten predecessor, back from retirement!
Ricky Hatton, who fought them both, was in Johannesburg last month and I got a chance to interview him.
Hatton, stopped in 10 rounds by Mayweather and two rounds by Pacman, had this to say when I asked him who would win if Pacquiao and Mayweather were to ever get it on:
“I’d like to think Manny would win. I’d hope he’d win because he’s a gentleman, really nice guy, family man. Everything about him I really admire. But as much as I don’t like Mayweather, he’s one hell of a fighter. Mayweather would probably pip him.”
Of course, Pacquiao must first get past Miguel Cotto.
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Manny Pacquiao is still P4P

Despite Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s blazing return to the ring last week, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is still entrenched in his position atop the mythical pound for pound (P4P) throne based on the latest rating list of The Ring Magazine.

The reputable magazine, considered the “Bible of Boxing," named Pacquiao No. 1 in its ratings released Sept. 20, a day after Mayweather hacked out a one-sided unanimous decision over bloated lightweight Juan Manuel Marquez in his comeback fight.

P4P king Manny Pacquiao

Mayweather, the former top P4P fighter prior to his retirement in 2007, was rated No. 2, dislodging Marquez from his old spot behind the Pacman. Marquez, who fought Pacquiao in two close encounters, dropped three notches to No. 5.

Mayweather’s reentry into the prestigious ratings created changes from No. 2 down.

Sugar Shane Mosley, who had previously attempted to seal a fight with Pacquiao and even climbed up the ring to challenge Mayweather after the Marquez fight, went up to No. 3 from No. 4. Mosley switched places with previously third-ranked Bernard Hopkins.

After the fifth-ranked Marquez were Israel Vasquez at No. 6 (from No. 5) and Rafael Marquez at No. 7 (from No. 6).

Donaire at No. 8

The only other Filipino in the list, WBA interim super flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr., slipped one place to No. 8.

Pacquiao’s rival on Nov. 14, WBO welterweight king Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, occupied No. 9, a one-spot drop, while WBA and IBF junior featherweight champ Celestino Caballero completed the Top 10.

The dispute for the mythical P4P title is expected to be the main beef if and when a megafight is forged between Pacquiao and Mayweather Jr.

Exploratory talks have reportedly started for a possible big-money showdown between the two P4P superstars by next year.

But before that, the Pacman, who was impressed with Mayweather’s dismantling of an overmatched Marquez, would have to take care of his upcoming business against the tough Cotto first. - GMANews.TV
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What Happens to Pacquiao If He Can’t Stop Cotto?

By Manuel Perez: Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2. 37 KO’s) better hope that he can stop Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KO’s) as early as possible in this fight, because once Cotto gets his train started, Pacquiao is going to be in for a world of hurt on November 14th at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. What we’re looking at here is a fighter that has had it easy in his last seven fights (with the exception of Pacquiao’s fight against Juan Manuel Marquez), defeating most of his opponents early on without having to take very much punishment in the process.

Pacquiao has been able to move up in weight recently and still win without getting hit all that much because of his selective match making. Oscar De La Hoya was a light middleweight at the time that Pacquiao fought him and was forced to melt down to 147 to take the fight.

In effect, De La Hoya was a weight drained, older light middleweight. Instead of facing De La Hoya, Pacquiao – if he wanted to prove himself – should have fought either James Kirkland, Sergio Martinez, Paul Williams or Alfredo Angulo instead of a shot De La Hoya. All of these fighters would have been a better test for Pacquiao if he was interested in fighting a light middleweight.

Let’s face it; those guys would have knocked Pacquiao cold if they had fought him even with a weight draining catch weight because they are all in their prime, whereas De La Hoya clearly wasn’t. The same applies to Hatton.

If Pacquiao wanted to fight a light welterweight, why didn’t he fight Timothy Bradley, Kendall Holt or Marcos Maidana instead? All of them were in their prime at the time that Pacquiao fought Hatton and I considered all of them as better fighters than Hatton at this point. For some reason, Pacquiao chose not to fight them. I wonder why?

Now, Pacquiao is going to be fighting Cotto instead of Shane Mosley, Paul Williams and Andre Berto. Although Cotto is still in his prime, there are questions about whether he’s the same fighter he once was after losing to Antonio Margarito by an 11th round TKO last year. Why didn’t Pacquiao fight Mosley, Berto or Williams if he wanted to fight a welterweight?

Cotto may or may not be the same fighter he once was, but I think Pacquiao is in for big trouble if he can’t get Cotto out of there as quickly as possible. Cotto hits much harder than any opponent that Pacquiao has fought before and doesn’t have to load up with his shots to hit really hard. Pacquiao is going to be in for a shock if he can’t score a quick knockout because for once, he won’t be the stronger fighter.

I think Hatton was stronger than Pacquiao but he messed up by getting taken out so quickly and didn’t get much of a chance to show his power in that fight. Cotto has a better chin than Hatton, and will be able to take Pacquiao’s shots early in the fight without folding up. I think Cotto is going to rip Pacquiao apart as the rounds go on after he realizes how much bigger and stronger he is compared to the little Filipino.

This is going to be fun to watch because it will show what would have likely happened had Pacquiao fought a fighter in his prime like Mosley, Williams, Berto, Kirkland, Maidana or Bradley instead of someone on the downside of their careers.

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Arum certifies it: Pacquiao-Cotto for WBO

Paymaster Bob Arum is so concerned about the continuing brouhaha over the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto super bout that he is sunning himself in the South of France.

I spoke to Arum Sunday night as he was visiting South African business mogul Sol Kerzner,
Earlier this past week, Arum did some hiking in Aspen.

While much of Pacland and Cottoland has been in turmoil about whether the Puerto Rican’s WBO welterweight title strap will be on the line and what the contractual weight agreement will be,
Arum says everyone should take a sip of a good French wine and maybe a chill pill.





According to Uncle Bob, negotiations, misunderstandings and controversy attendant to that the foregoing are all ancient history now.

Arum expects to have contracts signed by both challenger Pacman and champion Cotto by Tuesday which is Aug. 11.

Tickets for the mega bout at the MGM Grand will go on sale, Arum told me, on Aug, 17. The general public only has a shot at about 3,000 unspoken for tickets.

“Everything has been decided and agreed to,” Arum said. “Cotto is defending the title and the weight limit be 145 pounds,. There are no disagreements or problems. Now, everything is cleared up.”

Arum’s friend, Kerzner, is hoping that Pacquiao will choose to begin his training for the Cotto bout at his Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas.

Arum said that decision--Bahamas, Vancouver or Mexico--will be solely made by Pacquiao.

Coach Freddie Roach has suggested that his charge start training in the leafy, cool climes of Baguiao, Philippines, where the elevation goes up to 5,100 feet.

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Cotto can't have his cake and eat it too

If Miguel Cotto really wants a piece of the Pacquiao cake, he's either going to have to take it or let it be. What Cotto wants however is to take the cake and eat it as well. 
It's a simple dilemma really. Cotto wants to fight Pacquiao for the money a fight with Boxing's cash cow presents but doesn't want to stake his WBO welterweight crown in the process. 
Well, something's got to give. And if Cotto is truly as confident as he says in knocking Pacquiao out then I don't see why he has to be so stingy with his "ABC" belt. 
Is it a matter of principle?
Cotto has volunteered to relinquish his belt if the WBO insists that he put it on the line against the Pacman. In Cotto's opinion, belts should not be accorded to fights fought at a catch-weight. 



In reality however, such occurances have happened in the past. When Oscar De la Hoya fought Bernard Hopkins in 2004, they fought at a catch-weight of 158, two pounds below the middleweight limit with Hopkins' titles on the line as well as De la Hoya's. Sugar Ray Leonard won two titles against Donny Lalonde in 1988 at a catch-weight. The list goes on.
I am not saying Cotto is wrong in his stand but if he truly feels so all he has to do is "just say no".
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Hall of Fame trainer: Cotto can KO Pacquiao

MANILA - Hall of fame trainer Emmanuel Steward said he is willing to help Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto in his November fight against Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao.
Steward, who has trained Thomas Hearns, Oscar de la Hoya, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, was reacting to rumors that Cotto is looking to hire him and work in his corner.
He believes that with his help, Cotto can knock Pacquiao out.
"Up until now, nobody [from Cotto's camp] has communicated with me, but I would love to be able to have the opportunity to work with Miguel. If we reach an agreement, I don't have any doubts that Miguel would knock Pacquiao out," Steward told Primera Hora.
Cotto began his training early this week at the Abner “Pin” Cotto Boxing Gym in Aguas Buenas, Puerto Rico.
He will train thrice a week to “establish a pre-training condition” before plunging to full training sessions beginning August 24.
Cotto and Pacquiao have agreed to fight at 145 pounds. The match will take place on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, said that Top Rank Promotions boss Bob Arum has assured them it will be a title fight.

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