TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE FOR MOSLEY AS PACQUIAO AGREES TO FACE COTTO
By Ben Thompson | July 20, 2009
Unfortunately for welterweight champion Shane Mosley, his recent offer to face jr. welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao at 140 pounds may have come too late. According to Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin, Pacquiao has agreed to face WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto at a catch-weight of 145 pounds. Apparently, the Filipino superstar gave his verbal commitment during a long-distance phone conversation with his promoter, Bob Arum, over the weekend.
"Adjustments were made," stated Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz. What exactly those adjustments were remains to be seen, but obviously they had nothing to do with the weight as Koncz informed Giongco that the fight is a go for November 14th athe MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. "Bob is expected to make an announcement within the week," he continued.
Pacquiao, who weighed in at 138 pounds for his last fight against Ricky Hatton, originally wanted Cotto, who weighed in at 146 pounds for his own last fight against Joshua Clottey, to meet him at a catch-weight of 143 pounds. When Cotto insisted that he could fight no lower than 145 pounds, Pacquiao's lawyer, Franklin Gacal, made the comment that perhaps they would reconsider a clash with Shane Mosley. "We will not agree to 145 pounds. And if Cotto insists, we'll go for Mosley," he stated. Upon hearing this, Mosley jumped at the opportunity to get his name back in the mix, coming on record to express his desire to face Pacquiao at his own weight, 140 pounds, in hopes of capturing a title in a division he skipped over nearly ten years ago when he himself made the move from lightweight to welterweight.
Evidently, Cotto's weight wasn't really that big of an issue for Pacquiao as he has now decided to face Cotto at 145 pounds as opposed to putting his Ring Magazine jr. welterweight title on the line against Mosley. If Mosley would have offered to face Pacquiao at 140 pounds immediately after his annihilation of Ricky Hatton, one has to wonder if Cotto would have even been an option for the pound-for-pound champion.
WOW you guys think he is going to KO Cotto???? I honestly think Pac is too small for legit welterweights which is why he only wants these catchweight fights. I think its the other way around. I think Pac will get KO'd.
^^ The thing is Pac has got seriously power for his size is the reason we think a KO will happen. Couple that with his speed I think it's safe to say that Cotto has a good chance of getting KO'd.
^^ The thing is Pac has got seriously power for his size is the reason we think a KO will happen. Couple that with his speed I think it's safe to say that Cotto has a good chance of getting KO'd.
Cotto is much too conventional to lose to a prepared fighter like Pacquiao. And, yes, the power he possesses is quite impressive.
Now, if Mayweather were fighting him then I'd actually be unsure of Pacman KO'ing his opponent. Cotto isn't that crafty and we all saw what happened against Margarito (hand wraps notwithstanding). In other words, pressure and power will take Cotto down.
Cotto will win plenty of fights, but not against Pacquiao.
Yes Pac has power but I don't think that power will translate to a KO of a legit welterweight. I do not think you can compare the power of Pac to Margarito at all. Even though I believe Margarito probably cheated in the Cotto fight as well. Pac has little man power that affects smaller people. Maybe I'll eat my words later but I seriously doubt Pac will KO Cotto. I see it quite the opposite. Those brutal body shots will eventually slow Pac down. Cotto by TKO in the 9th
Too little, too late for Mosley as Pacquiao agrees to face Cotto
Linear Mode
