Pacquiao – Cotto: No Easy Picking For Pacman

As the boxing community waits in anxious anticipation of a Mayweather – Pacquiao superfight come early 2010, it is worth noting that those who count their chickens prematurely must often settle for scrambled eggs.  Gamblers’ glib dismissal of Miguel Cotto’s chances against the Filipino legend notwithstanding, notions of the bout as a mere formality or pit stop along the Pacman’s inevitable road to welterweight supremacy could stand some serious reevaluation.  Because for all his valor and speed and celebrity, come November 14^th, Manny Pacquiao is in for the fight of his life.

In Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, he faces the biggest, strongest, most durable man he has ever competed against; a mega bodypuncher with an almost mechanical resolve.  Unlike his welterweight debut versus Oscar de la Hoya, Pacquiao will find no rust or hesitance or readily exploitable weakness, despite recent suggestions of Cotto’s deterioration since his defeat at the hands of the disgraced Antonio Margarito.

Experts contend that Cotto has slipped, citing his difficulty with the formidable Joshua Clottey as evidence, but might be hard pressed to provide example of an opponent who has not struggled against the powerful Ghanaian.  This is likely more a testament to Clottey’s prowess as a top contender than any inadequacy in Cotto since for all the post-fight criticism, a one-eyed Cotto still outworked and outpointed one of the best welterweights in the world. 

Academically, this fight appears the classic contest between speed and power; mobility versus durability.  Pacquiao must rely on the speed and combination punching which have characterized his conquests in the lower divisions.  He must punch in bunches, move his head, and refuse to be trapped along the ropes.  As Cotto aims to impose his size and strength on the smaller man, Pacquiao will find opportunities to demonstrate, definitively, that as he traverses that hazy terrain between the welter and junior welterweight divisions, he has packed his power with him. 

Size will be a factor because it will behoove Cotto to make it one.  And while traditional wisdom says that speed kills the beast, Cotto has, on several occasions, demonstrated the ability to neutralize faster fighters with a sledgehammer jab, higher output, and generally underrated versatility.  Against such top competition as Demarcus Corley, Zab Judah and Shane Mosley, Cotto overcame an early speed deficit to turn the tide with effective aggression.  Whether or not Pacquiao can withstand such aggression could prove to be a 25 or 30 million dollar question come next spring.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?