By CompuBox
If Mayweather-Marquez was the pay-per-view appetizer, Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao may be the main course because unlike the former one can’t easily predict the result of the latter. Pacquiao’s attempting to become just the fifth fighter in history to win five titles in five different weight classes. Oscar …

Kevin Iole, Yahoo Sports (Sports.Yahoo.com/Box)

“This is a great fight fan’s fight. They’re two action fighters with styles that will mesh well in the ring. Each has the ability to hurt the other and each likes to fight an offensive fight. I like Pacquiao, though I don’t discount Cotto at all. I’d actually pick Cotto if he hadn’t fought Margarito. That fight seemed to take so much out of Miguel. In his two fights since, he’s appeared to have slowed and has been hit more than I’ve ever seen him. I think Pacquiao’s speed and quickness will make a big difference. If the old Cotto reappears, that could change things big-time, but I’ll go with Manny by decision.”

By Jerry Izenberg/Columnist Emeritus
LAS VEGAS—The names are passed down generation to generation — from trainer to trainer in the steamy gyms, from fathers to sons in the barrios and all across the Island from San Juan to Ponce:
Sixto Escobar, the first Puerto Rican to win a title in …

By Bob Velin, USA TODAY
Manny Pacquiao will be looking to make history Saturday night when he takes on Miguel Cotto in a welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The 29-year-old Filipino superstar, who made a grand entrance along with his opponent at the scene of the fight …

American promoter Bob Arum predicts a brutal ending in the world welterweight bout between Filipino Manny Pacquiao and defending champion Miguel Cotto this weekend.

By FightFan News Wire (10-Nov-2009)
Big George Foreman leads the list of boxers, professional athletes, celebrities and the esteemed press core who all have opinions about the outcome of FIREPOWER: Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto this Saturday November 14 at MGM Grand Garden Arena! Read on to see which fighter the …

By John Nguyen
For whatever reason, fight fans have a hard time being objective about Manny Pacquiao.
For the most ardent fans of the Filipino phenom, he’s a demigod. His straight left vaporizes his foes, his smile calms crying babies, and his sweat cures the gout.
For …

By Tim Starks
So begins our marathon coverage of one of the biggest fights of 2009, Manny Pacquiao against Miguel Cotto, culminating in a live blog of the bout Saturday. Now — the importance of Pacquiao-Cotto. Later today — a look at the one major question facing each boxer coming into …

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

VIEW PHOTOS

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, …

Freddie Roach and conditioning expert Alex Ariza can’t seem to run out of superlatives to describe how Manny Pacquiao is doing in preparation for his “Fire Power” showdown with World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Nov. 14.

Pacquiao sparred 12 furious rounds at Roach’s Wild Card Gym on Friday (Manila Time), going five rounds with undefeated 22-year-old light middleweight Shawn Porter (10-0, 8 KOs), four rounds with former sparring partner Rashad Holloway, a welterweight with an 11-1-1, 5 KO record and three rounds with another former sparring partner, super featherweight Raymund Beltran (22-4, 14 KOs).

“When the 10th round came, Freddie just smiled at me and said ‘Look, it’s 10 rounds and Manny is not even breathing hard, despite the rigorous workout,’” said Ariza. “Manny was phenomenal today. We, Freddie and I are both excited about this. He makes us a feel good because that’s the Manny that we know and love to watch.”

Asked what was so spectacular about Pacquiao’s sparring, Ariza replied “he was just on point again. His timing is there. He knows when the punches are coming. He’s slipping, he’s moving and hitting the guy when he wants to hit him. He looked really good.”

Ariza disclosed it wasn’t a closed-door sparring session. “There was a bit of a crowd there, including an HBO TV crew that was reportedly impressed with what they saw. Pacquiao was smiling and felt good about his sparring. Freddie felt good and we are all happy.”

Earlier today, Floyd Mayweather Jr. got into an impromptu and heated debate about his boxing career with rapper R.A. the Rugged Man during an appearance on satellite radio station Shade 45. An avid follower of boxing, R.A., who recently signed a book deal that will be co-authored by Ring Magazine's Doug Fischer, wasted no time in calling out Mayweather's selection of opponents over the past few years and questioning the merits of Floyd's victories.
 
Boxing fans will no doubt appreciate The Rugged Man's line of questioning as he echoed the sentiments of many of the sport's faithful, lettting Floyd know that although his skills are great, his selection of opposition has left something to be desired. Applying the pressure outside the ropes, no punches were pulled by the Long Island emcee, who wasn't afraid to get loud with Mayweather, putting the flashy and flamboyant undefeated champion in his place. Check out an excerpt of their conversation: 

PHASE 1: Going into a big fight like this I always envision an epic battle between two gladiators, blood and guts warriors, grit, sweat, anger, and other adjectives that sound tough and manly! I blog about what an amazing ballsy, kick-butt fight it will be. I talk to whoever will listen to my expectations, scientific analysis, and true gut feelings. This is a great phase to be in.

PHASE 2: Honey roasted Peanuts are set out, Bud Lights are cold, my scorecards are ready, and my girlfriend is patiently waiting until fight night is over(because she’s been listening to me for a month, she knows THIS one is important). I then proceed to suffer through two or three horrid under-card fights, that if I’m lucky are complete mismatches and will at the very least end quickly. If I’m not lucky it’s a Zab Judah mismatch that should have ended early, but he once again doesn’t live up to expectation and drags me through the miserable fight for ten or twelve rounds. This is phase filled with anxiousness and a little aggravation..

PHASE 2.1: The under-cards were terrible, but that’s OK, the main event will be so amazing it will make up for everything! I refill my peanut jar, double check the fridge to make sure I have enough BL’s (because the main event will have me on the edge of my seat for at least ten rounds). I answer a few text messages driving home my prediction, letting everyone on the planet know what an amazing boxing mind I have. THE FIGHT: The main event ends as soon as it starts or is a patty cake match for twelve rounds, where on top of everything the decision is a debacle!(obviously there is the diamond in the rough, but so many do end in disappointment).

by eric dimzon
Immediately after Manny Pacquiao’s spectacular win against a much bigger opponent in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather Sr. accused the Filipino boxer of using steroids.
Manny, obviously caught by surprise by the accusation, immediately told Philippines media that he does not know what steroids are - much less what …

HBO Boxing has released a series of preview videos on youtube with interviews and insight from boxing analysts, the fighters, and the coaches of Pacquiao and Cotto. HBO 24/7 Pacquiao/Cotto continues Saturday, Oct. 31 (Halloween) with episode 2 of the 4 part series. The fight takes place on Nov. 14th at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

HBO Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Cotto – Fight Preview (HBO)

HBO Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Cotto – Heart, Courage & Determination (HBO)

HBO Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Cotto – Size Up The Opponent (HBO)

HBO Boxing: Pacquiao vs. Cotto – Fighter Strategies (HBO)

LOS ANGELES — Manny Pacquiao believes the biggest potential fight in boxing will never happen because Floyd Mayweather Jr. wants no part of him.
Pacquiao is training in Hollywood for his meeting with Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas, but the pound-for-pound champion spared a moment on Thursday to evaluate his chances of fighting Mayweather, the unbeaten pay-per-view king. Although the matchup almost certainly would be a financial bonanza for both fighters, Pacquiao thinks fans shouldn’t hold their breath.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Pacquiao said. “I’m sure he doesn’t want to fight.”

Mayweather has been circumspect about his plans for his next bout, saying only that he has never ducked anybody and would consider any opponent. In his comeback bout from a 21-month layoff, Mayweather demolished Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19 in a fight that generated more than 1 million pay-per-view buys.

Mayweather’s advisers claim they haven’t ruled out a bout with Pacquiao, likely among the world’s few fighters who could match the American’s speed. But the Filipino champion has surprisingly strong opinions about why it won’t happen.

“Boxing for him is like a business,” Pacquiao said. “He doesn’t care about the people around him watching. He doesn’t care if the fight is boring, as long as the fight is finished and he gets (plenty of) money. … I want people to be happy. You have a big responsibility as a boxer.”

You don’t need to hear Rob Peters bellowing out,” IT’S PACQUIAO TIME!!!’, in mid-day at the Wild Card Boxing Club to figure out that Manny Pacquiao has made his way back to his familiar haunts in Hollywood to finish out his final preparations for his November 14Th date against Miguel Cotto. Hours before he steps through those doors, you see the congested gym in the morning hours replete with various fighters( who hope to get their days work in before the facility is shut down for ’the Pac Man’) and the usual array of on-lookers and stragglers who stick around hoping to catch a glimpse of the Filipino icon.

When Pacquiao arrives in Los Angeles for his fights, parking spots at the Wild Card becomes harder to find than on the streets of New York, clients of the gym line up for occupied heavy bags as if they were waiting for their ham-on-rye at a famous deli( the only thing missing it seems, is that they don’t issue you tickets with a number on it), photographers roam the premises as if they were the paparazzi and you have HBO’s ever-expanding crew and their high priced equipment setting up to cover every step that Pacquiao takes inside the gym. Then there are the various stars, celebrities and VIP’s that drop by to see boxing’s biggest international superstar.