Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao revealed his reasons for agreeing to fight Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, the current World Boxing Organization welterweight champion.
In his July 25 “Kumbinasyon” column on PhilBoxing.com, Pacquiao said he knows that his bout with Cotto is what boxing fans would want to see.
“Tinanggap ko ang laban at aking haharapin si Cotto sa timbang na 145 pounds dahil alam kong siya ang may pinakamalaking potensiyal na makapagbibigay ng magandang laban para sa mga fans ng boksing,” he said.
He mentioned that his and Cotto’s fighting styles are definitely “not boring.” He also described their fighting styles as “lubhang kapanapanabik.”
However, it has been made known that the much-awaited fight on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is not a title bout.
“Walang championship belt ang napagkasunduan sa laban na ito dahil sa catch weight na 145 pounds, 2 pounds na mas mababa kaysa sa 147 welterweight limit,” Pacquiao explained.
“Pero kahit na walang belt na nakataya, mas mahalaga pa rin na paglalabanan namin ni Cotto ang pagiging No. 1 pound-for-pound,” he said of the Ring Magazine No.1 pound-for-pound fighter title he holds.
Pacquiao is also the International Boxing Organization / Ring Magazine light welterweight champion.
Still, “Pacman” promised an explosive slugfest. “Siguradong umaatikabong bakbakan ito, walang takbuhan at walang atrasan o habulan.”
He noted that he is set to embark on another rigorous training under Freddie Roach in September.
“Sa mga susunod na buwan, hihingin ko ulit sa inyo ang lahat ng suporta na aking kakailanganin upang maghanda at mag-train,” he told his fans. “Sana, sama-sama ulit tayo sa pananalangin.”
Pacquiao also mentioned he knows that his and Cotto’s fans will support their fight given the same passion for boxing shared by Filipinos and Puerto Ricans.
“Napanood ko at na-experience na ang mga Puerto Ricans ay para ring mga Pilipino sa pagbibigay ng suporta at pagmamahal sa kanilang sariling mga kababayan,” Pacquiao related.
He made this claim after watching Cotto’s match against Ghanaian Joshua Clottey last June 13 at the Madison Square Garden in New York. Cotto won by split decision.
“Mainit din nila akong tinanggap at binigyan-puri, kaya mataas ang respeto ko sa mga fans galing ng Puerto Rico,” he added.
Meantime, he said that while he is confident that fans will support his fight against Cotto, there are some fights that are not gaining much support.
“Nalaman kong iyong ilang mga malalaking laban sa mga susunod na buwan ay hindi masyadong tinatangkilik ng mga fans at mahina ang bentahan ng mga tickets dahil na rin siguro sa ekonomiya at sa pagsunod ng mga fans sa kani-kanilang mga iniidolong mga boxers,” he said without giving information on the said bouts.
Source
The bigger opponent does not always prevail, as proven by Pacquiao in previous matches. Pacquiao will destroy Cotto in round 6
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