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One man gang

LAS VEGAS, NEV. (July 20, 2009) – BOB ARUM, CEO of Top Rank, announced today that the mega-fight between boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound king and the reigning Boxing Writers Association of America’s (BWAA) Fighter of the Year, MANNY “PacMan” PACQUIAO, and the pride of Puerto Rico and three-time world champion MIGUEL COTTO is official. “Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto have reached an agreement to fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 14,” said Arum. The fight will be seen live on HBO Pay-Per-View. Top Rank is working on a major media tour to start right after Labor Day. Further details will be announced as we get closer to kicking off the tour..”

Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, has won six world titles in as many different weight divisions ranging from 112 to 140 pounds. His performance in 2008 was described as “Henry Armstrongesque,” winning world titles at 130 and 135 pounds with victories over Juan Manuel Marquez and David Diaz, respectively, and knocking out and retiring Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds to finish the trifecta. This year, he picked up where he left off last year – winning another world title in a new weight division -- dealing defending junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton a one-punch second-round knockout on May 2.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, has sold more tickets at Madison Square Garden in this millennium than any other fighter. He has held a world title every year since 2004. Puerto Rico’s most exciting fighter, Cotto held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior welterweight crown from 2004-2006, successfully defending it six times before vacating it to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title at the end of 2006, a title he held for nearly as long. He won his second welterweight title in February this year, knocking out Michael Jennings in the fifth round at Madison Square Garden to become the WBO welterweight champion. Notable scalps on Cotto’s belt include Sugar Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey, Pauli Malinaggi, and Demarcus Corley.

This is good news, two of the best around face each other... this one ill be hard to call.

One man gang Wink

nosworthy · Posted: July 20 2009, 21:08 PM Post subject:

Step to far for Emanuel. Cotto will stop him.
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Sex attack victim fingers perpetrator.

Martin · Posted: July 20 2009, 21:28 PM Post subject:

I agree. Pacquiao is a brilliant fighter, but this is a step too far. Cotto is just too big and too strong.
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"First your legs go. Then you lose your reflexes. Then you lose your friends."
- Willie Pep

martinhazell@hotmail.com

gavpowell · Posted: July 20 2009, 21:32 PM Post subject:

Presumably Cotto still has to give weight and iot's not just Pacquiao going straight up to welter?

I think Pacquiao will give Cotto nightmares with the speed, but I hope I'm wrong and Cotto sparks the fucker.
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"Though I'd rather hear you cheer
When I delve into Shakespeare
"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse"
I haven't had a winner in six months. "

Jake LaMotta

chris75 · Posted: July 20 2009, 21:45 PM Post subject:

The fight will be at 145 catchweight. It's a great matchup and should be an exciting fight while it lasts. I don't expect it to go the distance and although i give Pacman a shot at beating Cotto, at this early stage i'm predicting Cotto to win and possibly stop Pacman.
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It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice.

gavpowell · Posted: July 20 2009, 23:36 PM Post subject:

Not exactly Armstrongesque after all, is he? Not that beatingf David Diaz could ever be considered Armstrongesque.
_________________
"Though I'd rather hear you cheer
When I delve into Shakespeare
"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse"
I haven't had a winner in six months. "

Jake LaMotta

knock-out-ned · Posted: July 21 2009, 7:48 AM Post subject:

cotto the 6/4 outsider, presumably because everyone thinks pacquiao is some kind of invincible superhero who'd probably beat the klitschko's. manny 1/2.

super_hoops1967 · Posted: July 21 2009, 7:59 AM Post subject:

i'm backing manny because he's a freak
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kerrminator · Posted: July 21 2009, 8:02 AM Post subject:

Im going with Manny on this one too, if its at 147 however Cotto eats him alive.
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nick_viking · Posted: July 21 2009, 8:04 AM Post subject:

kerrminator · Posted: July 21 2009, 8:05 AM Post subject:

A Minor Funk · Posted: July 21 2009, 8:23 AM Post subject:

He weighted in 146 for his last fight, can't possible see this as a problem. That one pound is just taking his underwear off and a few spits.

I want Cotto to win this, but I can see this being a tough fight for the both of them. Manny will def. get his combinations of and will land those uppercuts and for Cotto to win he has to be able to land, which was the deciding factor in the De la Hoya/Hatton fights. In both, they could've possible done much damage to Pacquaio but they never were able to figure him out.
But De la Hoya was shot and Hatton never was much of a boxer anyway. I honestly believe Cotto brings a lot more to the table in terms of boxing skill and counterpunching ability so, at least in theory, this fight will be a lot closer. But Pacquaio is really good at avoiding being trapped in a corner and is possibly the least stationary target in boxing and that skillset alone might be enough for him to win this fight.

knock-out-ned · Posted: July 21 2009, 10:10 AM Post subject:

Kimmy · Posted: July 21 2009, 11:08 AM Post subject:

norberto · Posted: July 21 2009, 11:49 AM Post subject:

if pacquiao win , this will be his 7th title,.. history will be unfold.. i hope he can beat cotto.
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Manny Pacquiao

6 Time World Champion

WBC Flyweight Champion
IBF Superbantamweight Champion
RING Featherweight Champion
WBC/RING Superfeatherweight Champion
WBC Lightweight Champion
IBO/RING Lightwelterweight Champion