FORMER boxing greats are split on their predictions of the outcome of the much-awaited Nov. 14 mega match between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and ex-three division world champion Hector Camacho bet on Pacquiao, while hall of famers George Foreman and Carlos Ortiz see it the other way around.
Tyson, who is a huge fan of the current pound-for-pound No.1, believes Pacquiao will stop Cotto in the later rounds.
“I pick Pacquiao by knockout within the seventh or eighth. Manny just has too much for Cotto,” said Tyson in a report posted at boxingscene.com.
Another heavyweight great, Foreman, thinks differently as he predicted a unanimous decision win by the 29-year-old Cotto.
Thinking defense
“I think there could have been better chances of Pacquiao winning had he faced Cotto before he fought (Joshua) Clottey.
But now Cotto is thinking defense. I think Cotto is going to pull out a decision. Because of the terrible beating he took against (Antonio) Margarito, he knows he can’t get into a knockdown, drag out brawl. He’s going to be smarter, while Pacquiao will be complacent because of his current status,” said the 60-year-old Foreman, who is a two-time heavyweight champion.
“I’m Puerto Rican like Cotto, but I pick Pacquiao because he has fought better guys like (Oscar) de la Hoya. I see him having no problem against Cotto. Cotto is not a smart fighter.
He can be beaten. So can Pacquiao. But Pacquiao has an unorthodox style, with punches coming from all over. If Cotto tries to box, I see Pacquiao stopping him. Pacquiao’s on a roll, he has the confidence, and has the boxing momentum. I see him winning,” said Camacho.
“Pacquiao is a good boxer and Cotto is a fighter. I’m going to give the edge to Cotto, and not just because he’s Puerto Rican but because of the way he fights. He always comes to fight in shape. I see him winning by decision, but I do think that he can knock Pacquiao out if the chance arrives,” said Ortiz.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on November 11, 2009.
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