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Raising thoughts: Four-M's unmade by intimations, plus wishful thinking versus predictions over the hills of Las Pulgas By Granville Ampong PhilBoxing.com Sun, 01 Nov 2009  Hollywood, California - Boxing predictions are often said in hypocrisy, as powerful honorary prophets preach to aficionados and fans about the virtue of honesty, hard work, and other qualities that they themselves generally lack. Several predictions are cases in point. In the unwarranted malignity of internet and newsprint writers, wishful thinkers cross the path of these prophets who would rather enforce "condemnation" than "correctness" upon a fighter, this for Pacquiao vs. Cotto, dubbed "Fire Power", on November 14, 2009 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is what one said: "Cotto will knock out Pacquiao in seven rounds." And this would surely ignite debates across the land of Pacmania, most especially in the forums where madness hits the core. But, how about Pacquiao winning by knockout within five rounds? Although I am not swayed nor dumbfounded by the HBO's 24/7 for Pacquiao vs. Cotto hypes showcasing the strengths and weaknesses of both camps, I still think both episodes become less dramatic than otherwise electric. But, of course, I have my own version. I just had a short vacation recently in San Diego, California. And on my way from Los Angeles through freeway 5 south bound just before Oceanside, I passed over the hills of Las Pulgas, of which inspirations of thoughts made my day. While it is true that "pulga" means "koto" in Cebuano dialect. I never intend to inspire an anecdote of Cotto in this context. And it does not make sense at all. Even then, it does not qualify as a pre-text. But, I expect an upbeat Cotto trying to impose ring generalship in the first two rounds, seeking his finest angles, firing body shots and trying to flex lots of jabs again and again, acting like a horse as if he just has been short-tamed or has just escaped from harm's way and has just found a new ring to explore. True, just the mere fact that he gets the crack at fighting the pound-for-pound king brings a lot excitements on his part. The challenge he unleashed against Pacquiao just before he lost his bid to Margarito in July of 2008 unexpectedly has met its end with an answer of a fight this Novermber 14. And forget about the exhibitions HBO 24/7 has downplayed of Cotto's speed and power in the series of episodes we view. It's less impressive and less substantive. Cotto is better that those scripted scenes. And take this: I vouch his jabs may throw off Pacquiao's timing especially in the first two rounds. And with Pacquiao's attempts to inflict four to five combos, Cotto is likely to mix up his uppercuts and may try to dig inside, which would somehow give Pacquiao a bit of a problem. But, Pacquiao's straight left may send Cotto fewer nerve signals in a way that he would feel it as more fatal than Margarito's illegal wraps, even in the second or third round if there's more time left. I see what I saw in Cotto versus Judah wherein Cotto had problems with Judah's straight left. But, most of all, one thing is clear here: Pacquiao has better stamina than Judah. And Cotto would find this insurmountable because of Pacquiao's inherent hand speed and unpredictable footwork. But, Cotto would do anything he can to survive round 4. If one were to see the true Cotto, then it is his fight against Ricardo Torres in 2005 that must be worth-focusing. Torres got his worth in the arms of Cotto in the first round with an initial knockdown and then Cotto got his in the mind of Torres who kept coming forward with bombs after bombs and dropped him in round 2 after taking voluminous shots to the body and upstairs. And watch Cotto's deliberate quick shot to the left thigh of Torres as he delivered a series of combos and sucked up Torres' unrelenting advances in the same round. (Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_S12SxP7KU). Then, with the intention of favorably affecting deeper inflammatory processes to Torres's right thigh and lower abdominal quadrant, Cotto successfully fired five to six low-blows in the 3rd round, right before the eyes of referee Dave Fields. Yes, Fields must have lost his mind, as if he's watching a sexual act...just having his eyes fixed, if not suspended at the ill-doings of Cotto in many instances. Or, he just lacked sleep from his previous night outings. In fact, Cotto held his composure and still deliberately dig another low blow, causing a knockdown in the 4th. (Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyZQEl21Yk0&NR=1) Torres was clearly the better fighter on that night, if not the spoiling, fatigue-inducing low blows of Cotto. Yes, it was a night adulterated by the worst referee and the dirtiest fighter ever. But, as for Pacquiao versus Cotto, Pacquiao's style of a fighting cock Kelso would make Pacquiao appear illusive, yes...elusive as well. Meanwhile, what took place in Cotto versus Torres should not have a repeat on fight night of November 14, 2009. Referee Kenny Bayless should render a drastic measure, if the same incidents happen. Pacquiao must press on for a knockout within five rounds. Another look of Cotto in his fight against Mosley. Mosley overestimated Cotto by being too cautious and waited only in late rounds. He could have knocked him out even in one of the early rounds had he started early - quick and fast - and kept throwing lefts to the head. Cotto could have bleed into submission. But, instead, Mosley chose the "Old Fashion Quaker Oats Brand" style of cooking versus the "Quick Brand" than can be cooked in less than five minutes, as in the case of imposing his ring authority over his calculating foe in Cotto in the early rounds. Rightly so as for the celebrated boxing guru's plan, as soon as the opening bell rings on fight night, "We will not give Cotto a single chance to think effectively," says Freddie Roach during an ambush interview by this writer at the Wild Card last Thursday. "We will distract his thinking process by way of Pacquiao's display of speed and ring intelligence." At this stage, Cotto should be less concerned about countering Pacquiao's surgical attacks. That's given. Pacquiao will engage him at close range and then disappear. But, Cotto's rising confidence may just drop once he starts to bleed. Pacquiao may give Cotto a deep, surgical cut in the left eyebrow from the former's hammering right, that if he won't try to run. That I think he won't. And it is likely to happen between third and fifth rounds, if a knock out does not steal the high intensity of the fight. Cotto should be concerned about his bleeding tendencies. And what he needs on fight night is a fast coagulating agent. And forget about Pacquiao's style because Cotto will surely face an illusive one, if not just an elusive bomber. Intimations and Predictions from Pacquiao Circle I get a chance to mingle with some of the mighty arms of Pacmania recently at a Thai Restaurant by the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, a place reminiscent of my memorable interviews last spring with Gareth Davies - the formidable English sportswriter from the Telegraph Media Group - and Robert Jorgensen - the publicist of Sky Sports, the Rupert Murdoch owned satellite TV broadcaster who covered the telecast of Hatton v Pacquiao on pay per view for the United Kingdom. Well, Jaime Zu?o, an enterprising boxing veteran both as a trainer and as a manager from Philippines, predicts Pacquiao to win by way of knockout either in the 4th or 5th round. A humble supporter of Pacquiao in his own right who traveled all the way from Florida and a former special agent in the Armed forces of the Philippines, Zu?o keeps a low profile but does not hesitate to be bold enough of his assessment of Cotto vs. Pacquiao believing that his prediction will come to pass. Another boxing veteran who takes pride about the nice ring on his left middle finger that bears the name of Manny Pacquiao on bluish crafted edges, Benedicto Delgado stands firm saying that Pacquiao will knock Cotto out in the 5th. Fondly called "Manong Ben", Delgado says Pacquiao's punches are as pointed as the corner of a square. "Masiyado'ng kanto, eskuwalado," declares the former trainer of Pacquiao who made his mark when Pacquiao first fought in the U.S. against Ledwaba in 2001. He believes that his prot?g? has more than what he needs to take down Cotto within fifteen minutes from the opening bell. Manong Ben confesses his sense of fulfillment being Pacquiao's confidant as well for more than a decade. He discloses Pacquiao has a ritual to observe after each of his fight, win or loss. " Pacquiao gives three dozens of eggs to the Augustinian Monastery in Manila every after his fight for mysterious reason." He has started giving the same ever since when Sister Superior Marcos was still alive, according to Manong Ben whose knuckles and palms are still firm and thick even at his retiring age. Tijuana Cheat, a feasible pick of the Four M's status post "Fire Power" After his devastating defeat from the hands of Mosley and his one year suspension to legally fight in the U.S., Margarito is egging in the dusts of shame. Contrary to popular opinion, he is now likely to shake off such dusts and to hatch out to emerge victorious over the other three M's: Marquez, Mosley and Mayweather. Sure, Golden Boy and Freddie Roach would not like this idea. But as a matter of responding to the pulse of time, Margarito is the most viable, if not logical one, to consider after the climax of "Fire Power". Bob Arum's belief in the theory of economic utility would dictate the choice for Pacquiao's next opponent. And forget about the malignity of the "Jetweight Theory of Conservation". Nothing is better than just having less resistance in the negotiations, as least in matters of petting another in-house fighter against the pound-for-pound king, only if a rematch of Pacquiao and Cotto becomes less foreseable. For one thing, Margarito's brutal victory over Cotto, though the former is under suspicion of using illegal wraps, remains black and white. That gruesome incident is still alive in the memory of boxing fans. And Arum would rather stifle Golden Boy Promotion's power over its pursuit on Pacquiao for Mosley or Marquez and much more forestall a debacle on another possible match with Jet-weight King Fraud Mayweather, most especially at this point wherein Pacquiao seems to have reached the highest limit of his basal metabolic index that could keep him more effective at catch-weight in the welterweight division. If Cotto fails to deliver a convincing performance for a rematch with Pacquiao, that if Pacquiao wins impressively, then Arum would surely seek his own measure in the media that pushes to drum up the name of Margarito in the ears of the boxing public. With this in mind, boxing fans should forget all about the hypes and underestimations, Top Rank Godfather must prevail. Oh, yes, Margarito is likely to be penciled for a March fight with Pacquiao. A fight between these two gladiators at 144 pounds catch-weight limit should be fair enough. Jet-weight bypasser should be onerously penalized, I suppose. The other three-M's, Mayweather, Mosley and Marquez, should just spend their wishful moments for a much lesser retirement package. And of these three, the probable next is Marquez. But, he must wait his turn until after the Tijuana Cheat retires once more. Blame it on the heat. But, it's all about having less bumpy and a much easier critical pathway. And when all else fails, all competing inroads' qualifiers would still depend on Arum's power of choice. After all, Pacquiao would just say: "I am a fighter and it's all up to my promoter." Being the Top Rank Godfather of power, intelligence, love and the lord of his own thoughts, Arum holds the key to Pacquiao's choosing. But, wait a minute..., my friend! Yes, these are just all about my intimations, plus wishful thinking versus predictions over the hills of Las Pulgas. Notes: You may send your comment(s) to granvilleampong@maharlikantimes.com. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Granville Ampong.  |
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