By Matt Stolow
Don’t quote me, but I believe the first round Saturday night will be as wild and frantic as the upcoming Examiner.com Annual Boxing Writers Christmas Party in Denver, Colorado.
Seriously, there will be the nationalism of two proud countries on display and as Larry Merchant once told me, “People …

By Martin Rogers
As Manny Pacquiao squeezed into a bright red padded spandex leotard, complete with a yellow belt and matching goggles, the symbolism was as fitting as the outfit was ridiculous.
Who knows whether Pacquiao fully appreciated the comical nature of the scene, played out on a movie set a few …

By SC
In preparation for this weekend’s super fight between WBO welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto and world junior welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, Bad Left Hook will look back on the major title fight histories of both men.
This morning, we looked at Miguel Cotto. Now, a glance at Manny Pacquiao.
We are …

Las Vegas, Nevada -"MANNY MANIA" — Six-time world champion pound-for-pound king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao(ctr),General Santos,Philippines is surrounded by hundreds of fans and media as he makes his ‘Grand’ arrival at the MGM Grand Tuesday for his upcoming "FIREPOWER" World Welterweight championship fight against three-time world champion and the pride of Puerto Rico Miguel Cotto, Caguas, Puerto Rico. Pacquiao vs Cotto is promoted by Top Rank, in association with MP Promotions,Cotto Promotions,MGM Grand and Tecate, will take place, Saturday,November 14 at the sold out MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be available live on HBO Pay Per View.

Photo Credits : Chris Farina/Top Rank

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By Colin Seymour
TIME magazine’s lengthy feature on Manny Pacquiao in this week’s issue begins by describing how Manny throws a baseball with “a balletic grace at odds with the savage power that the best pound-for-pound professional boxer on earth exhibits in the ring.”
That angle throws like a girl.
Balletic grace …

By Brett Okamoto
Manny Pacquiao made his grand arrival at the MGM Grand on Tuesday, marking the first time in the world champion’s career the Las Vegas ceremony didn’t take place at Mandalay Bay.
Although Pacquiao is known to be superstitious — he stays in the same hotel room at Mandalay Bay …

By David Tyler
David T. - Fred you have already predicted that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and your Ninja, Manny Pacquiao would win their next fights. Would you like to discuss a possible Mayweather/ Pacquiao super-mega fight?
Freddie Roach – Dave, everywhere I go that’s all that I am asked, …

By Doveed Linder
Boxing reaches the mainstream when the best fight the best and it doesn’t get much better than Manny Pacquiao vs Miguel Cotto. The Pacquiao-Cotto fight this Saturday night is without a doubt the most meaningful fight of the year, if not the past few years. …

Manny Pacquiao is not invincible, and will be beaten on Nov. 14. There, I said it.

I have been accused of “hating” Pac for my views, which is laughable because I’ve never met him. He is simply another sportsmen to me, a very good fighter in an era filled with them. His place in the history of boxing is neither assured nor agreed upon at present; how History judges him will undoubtedly be a result of the next five or so years..

There are, of course, certain things that the attentive observer cannot deny about Pac. He’s got a terrific left hand, and he has developed, under the guidance of trainer Freddie Roach, into a complete fighter that uses all the weapons at his disposal effectively. He has been outsized in a number of his fights in the past two years, and has come up on the winning end against fighters far more accustomed to the heavier classes. But does that mean that he can really move up to welterweight, and expect to win this Saturday?

The answer, in short, is no. Though very evenly matched, Pacquiao lost both fights to Marquez. He defeated David Diaz (who?), and then beat De La Hoya’s trembling ghost into submission. He also beat Ricky Hatton, and because I am not one that subscribes to the “Hatton is a club fighter” theory, Pac gets credit for this- he beat a very good fighter by dismantling him with hand speed and power. Fair enough.

Possible history is fast approaching and it’s nice that a modern fight promotion isn’t built on fighters who spend the majority of their time trading insults or down playing each others accomplishments. Cotto and Pacquiao appear to hold each other in genuine high regard. Regardless of all the predictions and ranting by fans each man will be facing the best fighter either has ever crossed paths with. You can argue it back and forth but there is so much proof to support that statement that I’m completely comfortable in making it. Aside from the ever increasing antagonist vocal range of Freddie Roach this has been a pretty respectful build up as far as the fighters are concerned..

It kind of dispels the old myth that a successful boxing promotion needs negative sound bites and boorish behavior to sell. As a fan base we’re proving to be more sophisticated than people generally give us credit for. This fight will sell because the fans know the caliber of each guy. And that’s all we need! A fight like this doesn’t need a build up for hard core fight fans because it’s our drug.

For fans that prefer action over technical prowess this is the one! Or at least should be the one. As I said in previous articles I think this will be more controlled chaos than absolute chaos. But, regardless you know a fight between these two guys practically guarantees something electric is going to happen at some point. It has to. read more

By Gareth A Davies
Could Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto recreate 8 minutes of ring mayhem as Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns did 24 years ago ?
Promoter Bob Arum thinks it is possible.
Hagler v Hearns, at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, in April 1985, is regarded by many as the most …

By Scott Levinson
Manny Pacquiao has claims to six world championships, but how many are legit?
Manny Pacquiao has won titles in six different weight classes (some incorrectly say five), but which ones are legitimate? Who can really sort through the muddled alphabet-soup mess? Well actually, even in the murky confusion, …

By Doug Fischer
Being a fulltime boxing writer is, for the most part, a great gig.
The athletes I write about for RingTV.com are fascinating — often inspirational — personalities, and some of the events I get to cover are right out of a hardcore fight fan’s dream.
The welterweight showdown between Manny …

While Floyd Mayweather and his minions may disagree, right now, Pacquiao is not only the biggest name in boxing, but also it’s most important figure. Mayweather gets some free gear from Reebok, Pacquiao gets to be a part of a world-wide campaign. And because of it, ’Firepower’ is gaining steam.

” I’ve never seen such a response, forget about the normal boxing sites, I’m talking about outside the general public- Time Magazine, New York Times with a huge Sunday blowout piece. New York Times!!!” exclaimed Bob Arum, who promotes the Filipino icon. ” It’s significant because its reached out- not only to the sports people, but to the general public. People are fascinated by the fight because they’re fascinated with Pacquiao and they know that Cotto is a tremendous obstacle.”

The New York Times covers boxing about as often as the Haley Comet comes around. Time Magazine, not only did a five-page spread, the Asian edition has him on the cover. Arum, has been around superstars for as long as he’s been involved in this business, from Ali, to De La Hoya and now Pacquiao. ’the Golden Boy’, who Pacquiao bludgeoned last December to exponentially increase his popularity, was the last fighter to have any transcendent appeal.

In contrasting the two figures, Arum explained,” De La Hoya, had going for him- in addition to good looks, obviously, and a certain type of charisma- he was an American kid of Hispanic heritage and therefore you could exploit all of that in promoting him. Manny, has been much more difficult because he’s a foreigner, he comes from half-way across the world and he’s not an athlete that the American public would generally seem to cotton to and adopt. But through his body of work and through what people have seen and because he is the kind of kid he is, people are fascinated by him. And that is something that was more of a stretch than it was for Oscar.”

By Ben Thompson
“Manny takes every shot pretty well. Manny's a tough guy. Manny's very tough. People don't understand that. For Manny to come from flyweight and to come up to welterweight and be able to take the kind of punches he takes and deliver the kind of power that he …

By Ben Thompson
“I think Pacman is by far the number one pound-for-pound boxer. I've watched other guys over the last few years and he seems to have that exciting style that basically is untouchable right now…Manny is definitely ready. I think this is his time and I think you guys …

By Jeff Haney
Boxing trainer a master of getting under the other guy’s skin, says he’ll take any advantage he can get
Los Angeles — Freddie Roach has earned a reputation as boxing’s finest trainer. More than this, in recent years Roach has become a master of psychological gamesmanship.
Roach has developed a …

By Jay Hova
HBO’s Pacquiao/Cotto 24/7 Episode 3 Recap.
In this episode we learn how Miguel Cotto met his best friend Brian Perez as well as how Manny Pacquiao met his assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez.
In HBO’s award winning reality series Pacquiao/Cotto 24/7 Episode 3 actor Jeremy Piven who is best known as …

By Jake Emen
Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto 24/7 Series Recap of Episode 3!
The third episode of Pacquiao vs. Cotto 24/7 aired on Saturday, November 7 as a part of HBO’s big evening of action including the Dawson vs. Johnson fight. Here’s a recap of Cotto/Pacquiao 24/7 episode 3.The episode …

Chris Arreola (Heavyweight Contender)
I have to go with Pacquiao. Cotto is a great exciting fighter and all that and it has nothing to do with the Margarito fight and people say that took a lot out of him. Pacquiao is the faster fighter and I’m sure he will find a way to win the fight. Nothing against Cotto, I think he is a great fighter, but styles make fights and I think with Pacquiao’s style, he’s going to beat Cotto.

James Bone-Crusher Smith (Former WBA Heavyweight Champion, Fought Tyson & Ruddock)
I like Pacquiao. He’s busy and he can punch and I like his style.

Michael Dokes (Former WBA Heavyweight Champion, fought Bowe, Holyfield & Ruddock)
If I have to take a shot at, I’ll take Pacquiao. I’m going with Pacquiao.

Lloyd Price (American Musician who Introduced Don King to Ali & the Boxing Buisiness)
Pacquiao, he’s a better fighter.

Hear from the boxing training experts themselves as they break down and predict the outcome of this tremendous fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto.

ANGELO DUNDEE: Trainer of Muhammad Ali, George Foreman & Sugar Ray Leonard.

ANALYSIS
“It’s gonna be a great, great fight. I have seen Cotto train twice now, and he’s a stone cold professional fighter. He was oblivious to the outside world when I saw him training. He’s very focused.

“You have a perfect blending of style in this fight. If I ever had a fighter fighting Pacquiao, I would implement the things that Cotto brings to the table. Certain ingredients that spell Cotto, will give Pacquiao trouble.

“Cotto is a pressure fighter and he’s going to be on Pacquiao from the get go. He’s got a great left hook, he’s a good body puncher and he’s very aggressive. I see a very tough distance fight. There is going to be blood.

Pacquiao takes it to you all the time but in this fight is going to have to back up. He’s a smart, slick, and great hand speed. Cotto counters those things.”

ON THE CORNERS
“Cotto is his own man. He’s a complete and solid pro. Him and his trainer, they look like they get along just fine. Cotto looks like a man possessed. If something goes wrong, yes, the corner has to step in. But as a trainer, you’re only as good as the fighter.

“When the bell rings, Freddie will be in one corner, the two guys will be in the ring. He won’t be able to fight for Manny. If an emergency happens, he’ll be there. The better one will be Freddie in case of an emergency. You’re talking about a guy who has a wealth of experience. You can’t make a comparison.

PREDICTION
“But if you’re looking for an edge, I don’t think the corners will play into the fight. The best guy will win.”

On the heels of his first primetime television appearance on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live and his recognition as a 2009 Gusi Peace Prize laureate, boxing phenom Manny Pacquiao now finds himself on the cover of TIME Magazine Asia edition (see below) as part of a five page feature story on the boxing Champion that will be included in all editions (global and US market) of the magazine hitting newsstands this weekend. With the population of Asia being the largest in the world, Pacquiao is overwhelmed with the idea of so many people seeing his face on the cover of such a prestigious magazine.

“I absolutely had no idea that when I started my career in boxing, to provide a better life for myself and my family, that I would now be where I am today and on the cover of TIME Magazine,” said Pacquiao. “A fighter’s dream is to win a world title and gain financial stability. But what is happening to me now is the most humbling experience of my life. It is a great honor for me to be the face of my people and to let everyone know we are a small but mighty country. I have great pride for all of the Filipinos living throughout the world and it is these people that I fight for each and every time I step into the ring.”

“I think it's the biggest fight of the year. Pacquiao has achieved a status that transcends boxing. Within boxing, I think people started to recognize that he became a modern version of Henry Armstrong, who is one of the great icons of the boxing world. Pacquiao is a phenomenon so anytime he fights, it's big. I don't believe there has been anything this year that has been this anticipated,” stated HBO color commentator Larry Merchant as he shared his thoughts on the much anticipated showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto next Saturday Nov.14th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

RC: Larry, can you give us your thoughts on the big fight between Manny and Miguel? 

LM: Well, I hear that Pacquiao is about a 2 to1 favorite at this point. To me, it's a virtually even fight because Cotto is probably the best fighter he's ever fought in terms of size and being a natural welterweight who's in his prime. Also, being a high quality fighter at the same time. Pacquiao has not been confronted with that. Cotto is also very versatile in the ring; can fight aggressively or a pure boxer's fight. So I think Cotto has a serious chance in this fight, but Pacquiao is Pacquiao and his left-handed sudden power is not like anything else in the game of boxing. Fighters never see it coming, which is always the most dangerous punch. It's conceivable that either the punch or the fear of the punch landing could work in his favor in some fashion. I think it will be more of a tactical fight early on and let's see what happens when they start hitting each other.

RC: On a personal level, is this the most anticipated fight of the year for you?

LM: Oh, I think it's the biggest fight of the year. Pacquiao has achieved a status that transcends boxing. Within boxing, I think people started to recognize that he became a modern version of Henry Armstrong, who is one of the great icons of the boxing world. Pacquiao is a phenomenon so anytime he fights, it's big. I don't believe there has been anything this year that has been this anticipated.

After so many press conferences, there‘s not much left to say. All the good questions have been asked and answered. And asked again and answered again.

So what else is there? It’s late - just over a week until fight night - and if there’s a good question out there that still needs to be asked, no one has heard it. And it might be too late for second chances.

Besides, it’s not like Miguel Cotto is running for office, trying to sway undecided voters to his side just before the midnight hour. You have to figure by now, all the important questions have been asked and sides picked. Most have been asked a dozen times or more, stuff like, “How are you going to deal with Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao’s speed,?” Or, “What have you been working on in the gym?” Or, “How is your weight situation?”

Good questions, but tired questions.

Cotto is not going to convince anyone to come over to his side, not now, not when it’s this close to the Big Night. He must be tired of repeating himself. But that’s part of the fight game and Cotto will play his role in it, quietly and politely answering even the most foolish questions, the ones that have been asked a dozen times already.