Pacquiao vs. Cotto: the stuff of champions
November 15th, 2009
By Saad Farooqi: Yesterday, I watched Manny Pacquiao batter Miguel Cotto relentlessly from round 6 onwards. What was mostly an even fight by round 5 became a lopsided beatdown of a once dangerous Puerto Rican boxer. To take nothing away from Pacman, he was sensational in the ring. The last man to batter Cotto like that could have needed loaded gloves to do it. Speed, power, accuracy, footwork–the Pacman was a boxing clinic last night.
When one says Ali is the greatest fighter (regardless of whether one agrees or not) of all time we aren’t thinking of young Cassius Clay hammering Liston into submission. We aren’t thinking of the dance master blitzing his opponents from countless angles and directions. To tell the truth, we think Ali/Frazier or Ali/Foreman. We think of a heavier, slower aging boxer his skills no longer glossed with youth and speed. The Ali we call the greatest is the boxer who stepped in the ring against an opponent no one gave him a chance to win and then winning it. That was what made him the greatest: courage. It was him proving to boxing pundits that you can never measure human spirit or guess what it is capable of.
To not give Pacquiao credit for his performance is stupidity. He deserves credit and nothing in this world, no amount of bleeting or excuses from his detractors can change that.
The boxing clinic that I spoke of, however, was not so much as Pacman’s amazing talent and technique as much as it was his determination and character, both before and after the bout. The boxing clinic I spoke of was Miguel Cotto, coming back round after round and fighting a fight Cotto knew he had no chance of winning. Oscar De La Hoya took half the beating Cotto did and quit in his corner. Ricky Hatton was clubbed with just one blow from Pacquiao. Cotto took hundreds of them and came back for more. And the boxing clinic was there in watching a defeated champion embracing his victor.
And that’s what boxing is all about: courage and character. Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao showed that throughout their fight. It’s not skill or power or technique that defines a boxer as much as it does his courage to do what most men and women won’t even dream about. Last night I got an answer to my question.
In my heart, there is nothing but respect for both of them.
Tags: 29 Responses to “Pacquiao vs. Cotto: the stuff of champions”
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Mario, are you join the club of LIAM AND PEREZ… shamed on you… most all of article on this site are for PACMAN… if you cant beat them JOIN THEM, as simple as that… GAGO!!!
Mario, you’re still in denial. Tsk, tsk. When are you gonna snap out of it?.. Looser! Read all the articles here on the post fight. They are all amazed at what this little man can do.You’re are in the minority. Get into the winning team!
This ain’t a good article, it’s a GREAT one. Thanks for giving credit to the Pacman and the respect for Cotto. It was bittersweet for me because I love both fighters but in the end I felt satisfied for buying this PPV. These type of fights are the stuff legends are made off.
as a filipino, i was both happy and sad with the win of pacman. the beatdown of cotto could have ended like that of z gorres.
but he chose to stand up, round after round (although i felt the fight should have been stopped during the 9th either by the ref or cotto’s corner). that’s why manny has respected him. i respect cotto as much as i respect david diaz who respected manny.
boxers should always be a sport: magnanimous in victory, gracious in defeat.
I was a little hesitant about this fight for manny. Yes, cotto is a defined welterweight and the WBO welterweight champ. So I do not see how cotto was not there mentally and physically. I can’t wait to see manny and floyd. Manny went all 12 rounds in the welterweight div taking and landing punches– jabs, counters, combos, and power punches to the body and head. Great fight… What else does manny have to do to get SOME credit? De la hoya and hatton…. Excuses excuses…. He’s faught marquez, barrera, morales, countless times… Not afraid to win or lose… Just Box.
i wouldn’t agree more ..great article bro..
A lot of respect for MIGUEL COTTO! and hats down for Manny Pacquiao. They gave us a great night, a great fight.
If Manuela Perez writes another article and makes excuses for Cotto’s loss and does not give credit where credit is due, can you please tell him to grow up and admit he is wrong. The readers can not usally express their opinion as he ends up blocking their comment privledges. Thanks.
Great article! Nuff rexpect to Cotto but all hail P4P Greatness Manny Pacquiao!
the fight was simply amazing. both fighters were great. pacquiao showed speed and power to gain the win, cotto likewise showed indurance and humbleness after the ref stopped the fight. ….
manny also showed courage in the early rounds for playing miguel’s game. he knows miguel is a dengerous puncher so he fought miguel in his game, took all those punches that miguel was so eager to throw at manny where they hit the hardest. he admits that it hurts a lot taking cotto’s punishment
the article says it all to miguel’s courage. both men were amazing at fight night.
praise the lord ……..aleluyahhhhhh to all of you BOXING LOVERS
Amen to that brother
Last night I saw the greatest pound for pound fighter I have ever seen. Not since Robinson and Duran in their hayday have I seen anyone as good as Manny. The nonsense about Cotto not been as good as before is rubbish. What I saw happens once in a generation a truly great fighting machine.
No matter how much cotto trains he will never be the same fighter. Its a mental problem more than anything and like I said only he knows how he feels. His face now gets swollen and cut like never before of course his not gonna be able to see where the punches are going.I believe its best that cotto just retireds. Manny is a good fighter but I still not believe his the greatest He just chooses his fights correctly and thats my opinion. Cottos face its so fragil now look how he bleeds before margarito when would you ever see cottos face like that its unexplainable.
Top article, well written manuela perez take note this is how you write
One thing manny proved that haters believe is not true even possibly by you Mairo is that he has no Chin. I dont care if you think cotto is the same fighter or not even looking at post margarito fights he still packs a punch. Manny absorbed them all and not even fazed. If cotto in post margarito cant hurt pacquiao in welterweight then few can for sure. Worst is he seem to even enjoy it. He has power and very good chin and proved it for the division. What more do we need to make him a true welterweight?
Great article
Cotto hasn’t been the same fighter since the margarito fight. Its sad to see someone do that to someone. If manny would of fought the older cotto manny would of not had a chance i don’t care what anyone says. Manny Is not a great fighter his just anothe mayweather that knows how to pick his fights. fighting a beat down miguel cotto is not very copetitive. First a burnt out oscar then a c average hatton and now a mental and physical hurt cotto due to a cheater margarito. Its sad to see a great fighter go through so much pain only he knows how he truly feels.
Even I am afraid of the great Miguel Cotto. Manny has the guts to fight him.
Very good article!!
does manuela perez still write on this site? because the last article that he said he will stop writing if pacquiao beat cotto. i hope he keep his word, manuela perez, Mc donald are hiring right now..LOL PacYou perez
very nicely written, love the last two paras especially. good work.
I can’t understand why Cotto’s punches had no effect on Manny. For a guy that’s been knocked out at Flyweight, he was taking some big, clean shots and just walking through them. How has his chin improved so much??? I would be worried though, if I was a Pacman fan, to see just how often and how cleanly he was hit. In what was essentially a one-sided fight, Manny walked on to a lot of big shots, especially when Cotto was countering. If I was Floyd I’d be encouraged by last nights performance. Sure Manny was great, but he was often taking big shots to land his own. Floyd knows if Cotto can counter him effectively, then he can hit him all night long. The only question is can Manny break through his defence?
dont take anything away from cotto, he is a great fighter, but manny is the best fighter ive ever watched. mayweather will be a different proposition, its a must happen fight to see who is the best in the buisness
Very very greate article…
Thanks man…
Pacquiao is the best, Cotto said it (best welterweight he fought and all time great)…
awesome fight- not like boring mayweather!
I was quite impressed by how light on his feet Cotto still was at the end, despite being near the end of his strength. He obviously wasn’t anywhere close to being in the fight near the end, but he was still able to get away a few quick shots occasionally…
Fairly said, great article.
good article. cotto and pacman pounded each, yet still had respect for each other.