Cotto defeats Foreman by KO in 9

He is back, he is back stronger!

Former two division world champion Miguel Cotto (34-2,27 KOs) has taken over another division, dethroning WBA super welterweight champion Yuri Foreman (28-0, 8 KOs) in nine rounds on Saturday night in the first fight card at New York City’s famed Yankee Stadium site in 34 years. Now trained by Emanuel Steward, Cotto looked extremely sharp outboxing Foreman over the first six rounds and in the seventh round Foreman’s right knee buckled compromising his mobility. Someone at ringside threw in a towel in the eighth round and people entered the ring, but referee Arthur Mercante Jr. threw everyone out and continued the fight. Cotto continued to batter Foreman dropping him with a left to the body in round nine and the bout was waved off.

Erik "El Terrible" Morales wants to be champion again

After months of speculation and uncertainty if he will be fighting again, Erik "El Terrible" Morales from Tijuana had just confirmed that he would be back to fight again; ready to be world champion one more time. The question that's kept hanging is on what weight would he be fighting in.

There are talks that he will be entering the hot and exciting welterweight division where the names of Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey are making some loud buzz. If some may not know, Morales was the last boxer to defeat the pound-for-pound champion Pacquiao during their first meeting of their trilogy match.

After a long rest, I've been thinking if Erik still got his power and speed; especially that he had lost his last four fights: unanimous decision against Zahir Raheem and David Diaz, a KO and a TKO from Pacquiao. Though he had claimed that he had been in the gym almost everytime, getting shape-up, the latest photo that I've seen is that he's somewhat overweight. Morales will be sporting a 48W(34KO)-6L-0D record.

Miguel Cotto, Sr. passes at 57

Miguel Cotto Sr., the father of former two-division titleholder Miguel Cotto, passed away at the age of 57 in Puerto Rico on Sunday morning, the apparent victim of a heart attack, according to El Nuevo Dia.

The the Puerto Rican daily newspaper reported that Cotto Sr., who suffered from health problems such as asthma and sometimes needed the assistance of an oxygen tank to assist his breathing, was driving early Sunday, felt ill, stopped the car and reportedly asked for help before collapsing.

Cotto Sr., who served in the Puerto Rican National Guard for 25 years and worked Cotto's corner during the fighter's loss to Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 14, was very close to his son.

Rest in peace.

Early Results for FirePower

Main Event:

* Manny Pacquiao 144 vs Miguel Cotto 145
(WBO welterweight championship/WBC Diamond belt)

Undercards:

* Yuri Foreman 154 defeated Daniel Santos 154 via Unanimous Decision (116-110, 117-109, 117-109) for the WBA super welterweight championship
* Julio Cesar Chavez 160 defeated Troy Rowland 159 via Unanimous Decision (99-91, 97-93, 97-93)
* Alfonso Gomez 145.5 defeated Jesus Soto-Karass 148** via 6 round technical decision, 58-54, 57-55, 57-55
* Rodrigo Garcia 150 defeated Martin Guerra 152 via 4 round unanimous decision, 40-36 on all cards
* Eden Sonsona 121 defeated Eilon Kedem 119.5 via TKO in Round 2, 00:17
* Matt Korobov 160.5 defeated James Winchester 158 via a one-sided 6 round unanimous decision, 60-54 on all cards
* Abner Cotto 133 defeated Lupe Guzman 134.5 via 6 round unanimous decision (59-55, 60-54, 60-54)
* Richie Mepranum 113.5 defeated Ernie Marquez 112 via 6 round Split Decision (58-55, 57-56, 56-57)

Las Vegas Welcomes Pacquiao and Cotto

Four more days to go and the battle is on!

A mob scene-and-a-half greeted two world champions today at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao got the mob scene, Miguel Cotto got the half, when the two made their grand arrivals at the venue where they will face one another Saturday night on HBO-PPV.Around 11:30 a.m., Pacquiao made his entrance to a crowd that filled the casino’s front lobby. After speaking to TV media and greeting fans, he made his way to the Grand Garden Arena where, after testing out the ring, he sat down with print media for a 15-minute Q&A session.

One hour later, Cotto’s bus pulled up to the casino where a crowd, not quite so large, but just as loud, greeted the Puerto Rican champion. After a brief wave to the crowd and TV interviews, Cotto, likewise, was hustled to the arena where he will face Pacquiao on Saturday.

Both fighters proclaimed peak form and said they were unfazed by the hype surrounding the fight.

“I’m happy for that and understand this part of it all,” said Pacquiao. “I am focused on the fight.”

Despite diversions in the Philippines, Pacquiao said that training camp has been good.

“I’m, right now, ready to go,” he said, touching on the high altitude of camp in the Philippines, training with former champ Jose Luis Castillo and finishing up camp in Los Angeles at the Wild Card Gym.

Pacquiao shrugged off questions about Cotto being his toughest – biggest and strongest – opponent to date.

“I believe in myself,” he said, laughing. “I don’t want to say anything before the fight, but will wait until the ring.

“My motivation? I am fighting for the people who love boxing.”

How Pacquiao has been able to move up in weight, from 105 lbs., in his pro debut, to now fight as a welterweight, is still a wonder for the champ.

“It just happened,” he said. “I watch the tape [when a 105-pounder] and I’m a kid, cocky. I struggled to make weight and lost my flyweight belt because I couldn’t make weight.

“Now, I feel strong. Like David and Goliath, as an example. But if you believe in God and train hard, if you love your opponent and love everybody, it is good.”

As Pacquiao fended off questions about size and strength, Cotto was asked to explain how he would handle the Filipino’s speed.

“I’m prepared for the speed of Manny,” said Cotto. “I have equal hand speed and prepared well with my sparring partners.

“I’m prepared for anything.”

Though Pacquiao has left reviewing tapes to his trainer, Freddie Roach, Cotto says he has studied his opponent – mainly his first fights with Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera.

“We have the key to the fight,” said Cotto. “Our camp has made the difference.”

When asked about who’s next, after Pacquiao, Cotto would not comment, but he did talk about those who are prematurely writing about a future Pacquiao-Mayweather matchup.

“Manny is the only thing in my mind right now,” said Cotto. “I don’t know what Manny thinks, but when we’re in the ring together Saturday night, he can think about whatever opponent he wants.

“It’s going to be just Manny and me and the referee. There’s nobody else.”


Credits to Fightnews.com

The Pacman is going to Dallas!?

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum is not looking too far ahead but in the event Manny Pacquiao gets past Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14, the Hall of Fame promoter said a fight in a brand-new stadium being used by the Dallas Cowboys is a candidate to host the Filipino’s first fight in 2010. Arum said that while Las Vegas is a front-runner in staging a major boxing card, Dallas is keen in hosting a major show in its 50,000-seat venue and Pacquiao could be lined up to face Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in a third meeting there on March 13, 2010. The main supporting fight will feature Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., said Arum. But if Cotto wins against Pacquiao, Arum said the most sensible thing to do is to bring Cotto back to New York in June 2010–in time for the annual Puerto Rican Independence Day celebrations–for a huge show at Yankee Stadium.

Pound-forPound King Pacquiao arrives in L.A.!

The pound-for-pound king, six-time world champion, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao arrives in Los Angeles after spending weeks of training in his country, the Philippines. Pacman will continue his training in preparation for his upcoming mega-fight against the three-time world champion, Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto on the 14th of November this year. The event is called "FirePower".

Pacquiao-Cotto is another mega-fight to watch

After his big win against the British sensation Ricky Hatton, thru a devastating 2nd round KO, the 'pound-for-pound king' Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao will be in the ring again to fight the welterweight powerhouse Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico. The mega-fight will take place on the 14th of November 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. It's an event that boxing fans shouldn't miss.

The fight will take place in 145lb level, as both camps have agreed to it; 2lb lighter than the welterweight limit.

Miguel Cotto will be coming from a record of 34W(27KO)-1L, after 2 consecutive wins (Joshua Clottey and Michael Jennings); his first defeat was handed to him by Antonio Margarito via TKO. Cotto will be the naturally larger man in this fight, he's been fighting in junior-welterweight and welterweight for his entire career.

On the other hand, the Pacman will be more dynamic offensive fighter; coming to the ring with the record of 49W(37KO)-3L-2D. Pacquiao has been victorious for his last ten fights.

As usual, many people are again thinking if the Filipino champion is strong enough to defeat the Puerto Rican or the question should be the other way around? Same question had been asked when Manny went up the weights to face David Diaz (from 130lb to 135lb), Oscar De La Hoya (145lb), Ricky Hatton (140lb); and yet he had proved himself as he had won those fights.

It's clear that Miguel Cotto is the underdog fighter here, but don't underestimate his superior boxing skills, he's got that powerful flush strike that he's been using with his previous fights.

This is surely a boxing match that we should be waiting for. The answers to our questions will surely be answered after.