Former middleweight world champion, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins weighed in his thoughts on the upcoming super match between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto during ESPN’s weekly boxing show “Friday Night Fights.”
According to Bernard, “It’ll be a heated battle overall. I just like Pacquiao because Pacquiao has proven that he can answer the call. He’s the legitimate pound-for-pound right now. I think Cotto is a game fighter. He’s tough. He has the mentality of Arturo Gatti, sort of. He’s gonna come to try and press you. But Pacquiao is just a sharp shooter. He punches at all angles. He has Freddie Roach in his corner to give him the smarts. Cotto will be busted up and I don’t think his face can hold up 12 rounds in the fight.”
“I just like Pacquiao because Pacquiao has proven that he can answer the call.” — Bernard Hopkins
During the show, Teddy Atlas also dropped in his two cents, discussing the possible psychological issues within Miguel. “I think Miguel is damaged goods after the Margarito fight. I don’t think he’s the same fighter,” Teddy said, “He was very vulnerable psychologically during the Clottey fight. I thoroughly believe he had one guy in his head while he had the little guy in front of him. Clottey let him go.”
Here are some stats ESPN provided:
Top 10 Pound for Pound Meet in Vegas
Manny Pacquiao:
• Won Last 10 Fights (Opp. Record 456-36-7)
• Last four fights in 4 different weight classes
Miguel Cotto:
• Opp record since winning title in 2004 (419-31-4)
• Only loss vs. Antonio Margarito (2008)
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pacquiao gonna knock out cotto in 3 rounds
im going to knockout cotto and mayweather too becoz i hab a new techniques, de rite hook.
don’t forget to drink ur milk manny!
i will knock manny down in the 4th round
Can’t wait for the 24/7 coverage and how they will dissect each other’s stratagem.
In this corner, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is a sharpshooter in all sense of the word, as he has the speed and flexibility goes after specific points of the body to slow his opponent down to a halt or go after their constant guard dropping moments like Hatton. His power may seem crushing at times, but its all do to his effective sharpshooting to cripple his opponents. But Pacman’s best attribute is having the smarts of trainer, Freddy Roach in his corner to show him the way. Remember the start of his pro/HBO career, swing wildly with all his force behind every straight left punch. Now after the polishing of Roach towards a winning game plan, he is now able to throw anything in any direction he wants and has taken his game to a whole another level.
But in the opposite corner Miguel Angel Cotto…. I’m not with Atlas on this one. Cotto is a great fighter. Yes, he didn’t seem focus in the Clottey fight, because of the Margarito illegal wrapping fight was one that left a mark on his once pristine flawless record and his mind, but the man can over come that. “Damaged Goods” or not, Cotto still holds the WBO title belt. He may not seem to be the top name on the Puerto Rican OK hit-list for big victories, but he’s also one, who if you cornered him; is going only one way and that’s slugging it out for freedom. He is a fighter, who boxes with exciting power too behind his fists.
But one last thing…
There is going to be a great fight, however since there is no Title Belt on the line, its not going to break money or viewer records that boxing promoter, Bob Arum would like to see. He promotes both parties in this fight, so whatever happens he gets a win-win in the end. But I’m sure that he doesn’t want his cash-cow: Pacman to lose though.
Kay Manny ako dito kahit hindi niya ako tinalo, alam ko kakayanin niya timiris ng kuto.
People don’t pay to see titles. They pay to see fights. This has all the makings of a legendary fight. Also, I think everyone who follows boxing would agree that the titles are a joke and the organizations are rampant with corruption. Who want’s any of that? I will pay to see this fight. Prediction: Pac-man. Cotto is a great fighter but he has lost his confidence.
MANNY IS A GREAT SMALL FIGHTER!! HE HASN’T FOUGHT ANY REAL NATURAL WELTER WEIGHTS LIKE COTTO. COTTO HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO BEAT MANNY AND MANNY IS MAKING A BIG MISTAKE FACING A MAN LIKE COTTO.. THE ONLY REASON PEOPLE THINK THAT COTTO WILL LOSE IS BECAUSE OF THE LOSE TO MARGACHITO FIGHT.. THE MAN TOOK BRICKS FOR 11 ROUNDS AND I DON’T THINK MANNY HAS BRICKS IN HIS HANDS TO STOP COTTO.. I GIVE COTTO TO KO MANNY IN THE 8TH ROUND.. OSCAR HAS BEEN DONE AND RICKY IS A JOKE!! THE REST WAS FIGHTER IN MANNY WEIGHT CLASS THAT HE WAS GREAT IN THAT DIVISION, BUT NOT WITH THE BIG BOYS.. CATCH WEIGHT WHAT A JOKE!!
i think manny is too good for mayweather wait and see what manny is going to do
i think cotto will be happy to pick
out his kuto on the ring afterwards
When Pacquiao beat Cotto, some haters will say, “Cotto was past his prime and psychologically damaged before the fight”… They all have their excuses — Morales was washed up, dela hoya was washed up, hatton was a joke or overrated, marquez just slipped after kissing the canvas. They all want to discredit the Pacman. For this fight, Manny Pacquiao can win. The Pacman will win. Cotto is a worthy opponent and a great boxer. He is not picky of his opponents unlike Gayweather. But, pacquiao will win.
Yeaaah!!! You said it right Reginald! Those are very things i’ve been wanting to say to all these manny-bashers.