‘Cotto is one tough nut’

<

By Edri K. Aznar

UNLIKE pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao’s last three battles, his upcoming super fight with Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto, on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, would be a competitive one says Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.

Pacquiao’s last three battles, which were in three different weight classes, ended in devastating fashion as he easily brutalized former World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz via a ninth round technical knockout, the legendary Oscar dela Hoya by an eighth-round stoppage and British superstar Ricky Hatton through a second round knockout.

Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, believes that this mega match will be competitive as both fighters are two of the best boxers at present and are on top of their game.

“Of course, he won’t be as devastating as he was against De La Hoya and Hatton,” said Arum in a report posted at The Ring website. “Other than a suspect loss to (Antonio) Margarito, Cotto has fought anybody and hasn’t lost.”

The 28-year-old Cotto’s only career loss was an 11th round stoppage by Mexican warrior Antonio Margarito, which was tainted because Margarito was found out later in his fight with Shane Mosley of placing illegal substance on his hand wraps.

A lot of experts believe that Cotto, who will be putting on the line his World Boxing Organization welterweight title, is on a career downfall after his first career defeat, however Arum thinks otherwise.

“People don’t realize how good (Joshua) Clottey is,” Arum said. “I think Clottey would be competitive with any welterweight out there, including Mosley and (Floyd) Mayweather.

And Cotto beat him with blood pouring into his eye. He showed a lot of guts.”

Cotto escaped a close split decision over Josua Clottey last June 13 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Arum also assured that if Pacquiao loses, he will still be one of the best fighters in boxing.

“This fight will be like the (first) Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran fight,” said Arum. “Duran won the fight but Leonard wasn’t diminished because it was such a great fight. Trust me, there’ll be no loser in this fight.”


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 14, 2009.