I still have a soul

Who's next after Pacman retires?

Tonight Manny Pacquiao fights Tony Margarito for the vacant WBC Super Welterweight Championship in Dallas, TX where he last beat Joshua Clottey a few months back. As a Pacman supporter, I'm firmly behind my fellow countryman in his quest for an 8^th division title and should be the better of the two combatants in Texas Stadium. Just like Jeff mentioned in his blog the other day, we Filipinos are gambling folk and there's nothing I like better than a sure thing. There's no doubt in my mind that this one's a sure thing.

Manny's Last Fight?

Pacquiao will be fighting over 147 for the first time while Margarito will step in the ring for only his second bout in the weight class, the first being in a fight I'm sure he'd rather not ever have mentioned again. Manny looks to add to his legacy while Tony looks to redeem his.



It'll be speed and accuracy versus endurance and power as Margarito's chin will resist a bit of the punishment bound to fly at him in the way of right jabs, left crosses, and right hooks. Margarito will stalk Pacquiao around the ring as his longer punch will continually be avoided and followed by counters. There will be times where he will catch the smaller fighter on the ropes or in the corner and get in a few heavy shots, but for the most part his aggressive style will have him walking into punches from directions he will never have known possible. I'm predicting Pacman gets the TKO in the seventh after putting Tony down for the third time in the round.

Manny and his people know this is a good fight for him and though many will call for the immediate signing of Manny and Mayweather once again, it's very unlikely that'll happen, IMO. A lot has been said about Manny's side projects between fights and even during training for fights. There's nothing he won't do for his people however with a legacy stamped with 50+ wins and eight titles in eight weight classes, it will be time for him to hang up the gloves and devote his time to other endeavors. He has said himself that he has already accomplished everything he has ever wanted to from within the ring. His life in boxing has been a storied one and though it won't continue in arenas fighting for titles, his legacy will grow as he blazes a new trail to become the Filipino president one day.

His departure from boxing will leave behind a void for a new Champion to take the helm.

Will Cotto Put the Breaks on Pacman's Plans for Seven Titles in Seven Divisions?

This Saturday Manny Pacquiao will fight WBO Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto for a chance to win his seventh title in seven different weight divisions, something no boxer in history has ever done. In his most recent fights, Pacquiao dominated Oscar De La Hoya in a fight last December where De La Hoya didn't answer the bell in the ninth; and this past summer he destroyed former Welterweight and Light Welterweight Champion Ricky Hatton in two rounds. Cotto, a two time Welterweight Champion, picked up his second Welterweight belt defeating Michael Jennings for the vacant WBO title and successfully defended the belt in his first defense against Joshua Clottey this past summer. Immediately after that fight, plans were being made for the Pacquiao-Cotto fight which boxing fans will be treated to this Saturday night at the MGM Grand Hotel.

There's been a lot of talk around the catchweight of 145 pounds that has been agreed upon though imposed by Freddie Roach and the Pacquiao camp. Some are calling this a bit of a headgame but I wonder if making Cotto fight only a pound less than what he normally fights at may have actually benefited Cotto more. Though he has gotten into the gym earlier than he usually does for fights, the thoughts that he would overtrain (such as De La Hoya seemed to going down to 148) don't seem to be manifesting. In fact, the extra training has not only brought his team closer together but Cotto seems to be the best shape of his life and looks to be getting stronger as he nears Saturday's fight night and the 145-pound mark. The one thing that he hasn't been able to replicate in training with his sparring partners is the speed that he will have to contend with this Saturday.

On the other hand, Pacquiao's star seems to be shining more than ever and though he's always had other interests outside of the ring, this past year has kept Manny busier than ever. Pacquiao wanted to train for train for the fight back in the Philippines in the northern mountains of Baguio. Roach actually suggested the team train in Vancouver (would've been awesome) but thoughts of a rainy city pushed them to decide to head to the motherland. Ironically, the islands were pounded by a number of typhoons while the Pacquiao camp was set up in the PI and Manny himself looked to be affected wanting to help out wherever he could.

Pacquiao further saw himself seeming distracted when training in Manila as fans continually sought to get a glimpse of their hometown champion, while also finding time to do television appearances to talk about his career and upcoming fight. Add to this is Floyd Mayweather's schooling of Juan Marquez, who Pacquiao won twice and lost once against, in September setting up a possible next match against the Filipino Buzzsaw and it's easy for people to contend that Pacquiao may not be as focused as he could be for what should be his biggest fight of his career.

The questions now become, though he has always been a multi-tasker out of the ring, will these distractions finally catch up with Manny? Will Pacquiao find that focus he needs to win his seventh title in a seventh weight class? On the other hand, will the extra training for Cotto which seemed to have made him as strong as ever, be enough to counter the speed of Pacquiao's fists which have been described in the past as blinding razors that come at all angles. If the winner was decided in training camp, as many in the industry allude to, then the edge may go to Cotto.

That's just a few of the many thoughts I have going into this fight this weekend. And at the end of the day, all it takes is one big punch in the right to turn a fight around or to end it completely. I asked our community on the forums what their predictions are for the fight. Personally, before the training began I thought Manny would defeat Cotto early, but after noting how each camp has prepared for the fight, it really looks like Cotto could put up a decent fight defending his title looking as good as he ever has. Regardless, I'm still picking Pacquiao FTW and see him being too much for Cotto to handle stopping him in the 8th.

Here are some of the community predictions:

"I pick Pacman in 11 rounds, or a decision, I can't really see him actually knocking down Cotto, but I can see him stopping Cotto on cuts." ~mi_hee-fan

"Manny Pacquiao by UD. The fact of the matter is Roach is not going to teach Pac to rush in there Bob Sapp style. Pac is going to pick Miguel off with hit and run tactics all night. And for those who are unsure of Pac's chin, he has been hit flush and has not been KO'D yet." ~j-bels08

"His chin ain't bad but it ain't good either. I don't say this because I hate him, he is one of my favourite fighters, but Cotto will KO him big time." ~I-The_G-Man-I

"I think Cotto by decision because the fights at 145 pounds i think Cotto will hurt him early then Pac-man's heart will keep him in the fight but Cotto will win on points." ~Evanz14

"I didn't believe Freddie when he said Manny would KO Hatton within 3 rounds or when he said KO De La Hoya in 8. He was shockingly right about both. Looking at where Pacquiao is right now, at his peak and prime, and how Freddie Roach is such an evil genius, I can't predict what round but its gonna be a KO win for Manny." ~pinoyboi516

"I think Manny wins this. I think he will knockout Cotto in less than 8. Speed is greater than power. Manny is faster and very strong. Cotto will go to the body but Manny will sidestep, make him miss, and make him pay with counters." ~reznick8

Look out for the official EA SPORTS Pacquiao-Cotto simulation by the game team to be released this week.

Manny Pacquiao - The BEST Boxer in the World!

Photos courtesy of Wally Skalij of the New York Times: Pacquiao Forces De La Hoya to Quit

Manny Pacquiao should be on the cover of Fight Night Round 4. He just dethrowned the former cover athlete with speed and precision making it look rather easy.



Leading with the left cross early, Manny’s speed was too much for Oscar who was out of his league in this fight. By the time Manny felt Oscar ate enough lead lefts, he beat the snot out of him with his hooks and jabs and just out boxed him with deadly and precise combinations. It was almost too tough to watch near the end. Manny was just doing his best to put on a good battle after the fans were treated to some pretty terrible opening fights, all featured bouts lasting no more than 5 rounds between 3 of them.

From the start you could tell that Oscar was having trouble with Manny's speed. Coming forward, Oscar found himself on the receiving end of many straight lefts followed by right hooks that he had very few answers for.

By the sixth round Manny's combination punches were too much for the veteran who's left eye could barely be seen underneath the now sizable bruise. It began to look at this point like Manny could put an end to this fight at any time.

After another dominant round in the seventh, Oscar seemed to just be unresponsive to the continued onslaught of punches coming in his direction from every angle. Numerous times, Manny had the former 10-time World Champion on the ropes only to back off and safely execute trainer Freddy Roach's plan of skilled execution over 8-9 rounds.

As the ten second mark was called Pacquiao unloaded a flurry of punches that connected upon Oscar in the corner putting an exclamation point on an already masterful evening of boxing. At the end of the round, everyone in the MGM Grand Arena, where 7 years ago these fighters both successfully fought in same ring 7 weight classes apart, witnessed two fighters going in opposite directions.

When Oscar's trainer told him that Manny was just too fast, it was enough to keep him from standing to answer the ninth round bell. He would only get up to congratulate Manny already celebrating and graciously thanking the fans, everyone around him, and God for the victory!