Bob Arum Officially Announces Pacquiao vs. Cotto; Let the Spectacle Begin!
By Brian O. Blake, Doghouse Boxing (July 24, 2009)  
Only Shane Mosley will be disappointed upon hearing that Top Rank CEO Bob Arum officially announced today that pound for pound king Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao 49-3-2 (37) will take on Puerto Rican sensation and WBO welterweight champ Miguel Cotto 34-1 (27).

"Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto have reached an agreement to fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Saturday, November 14," said Arum. "The fight will be seen live on HBO Pay-Per-View. Top
Rank is working on a major media tour to start right after Labor Day. Further details will be announced as they get closer to kicking off the tour."

One of the details of the fight will certainly be the weight in which the fight will take place at.

Many feel that it will be a 145 lb. contest.

Pacquiao, the Filipino phenom, is riding a 10 fight win streak which dates back to early 2004 when he dropped a close but unanimous decision to Erik Morales in the first of their three meetings.

His Henry Armstrong-like performance earned him the 2008 BWAA "Fighter of the Year" honor.

Most recently Pacquiao destroyed Ricky Hatton in a matter of two rounds in a jr. welterweight title bout.

This will be Manny's second venture into the welterweight division, his last being the surprising dominance over future hall-of-famer, Oscar De La Hoya, back in December, in what would be The Golden Boy's final fight.

Manny looks to find the same success this time around against a much younger Miguel Cotto.

Cotto, the three time champion who hails from Caguas, Puerto Rico was last seen just over a month ago on HBO against the always tough Joshua Clottey.

Cotto left Madison Square Garden with a close split decision win. It was Cotto's first fight without his uncle, Evangelista Cotto, in his corner as his trainer.

While Pacquiao is a global sensation, Cotto is no slouch when it comes to having a loyal and rabid fan-base. He's sold more tickets in The Garden this decade than any other fighter.

As Puerto Rican fight fans watched their star Felix Trinidad disappear from the spotlight, the boxing-rich country searched desperately for their next big star.

Miguel Cotto was that fighter.

The last time Cotto fought in Las Vegas was against Antonio Margarito, when Cotto suffered the first, and so far, only loss of his professional career.

Two fights from that loss to Margarito, Cotto once again finds himself with a title around his waist, as he has every year since 2004.

Another thing that hasn't changed is the fact that he's always fought the best that the sport of boxing has to offer.

Pacquiao, no doubt, fits the bill.

Some will take Pacquiao, others will insist that Cotto will come out on top. Everyone in the boxing world will agree that this is one of the best fights available.

Everyone except Shane Mosley, that is.

Questions and comments can be sent to: BrianOBlake@yahoo.com


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