WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto had his first day of training for his ‘Firepower’ super fight against Manny Pacquiao on November 14. Miguel began his training camp in the Abner “Pin” Cotto Boxing Gym in Aguas Buenas. He will be training three days a week to establish a pre-training condition until his physical trainer Phil Landman arrives in Puerto Rico on August 22 to begin full training sessions on Monday, August 24.
If there is one thing that both Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto would readily agree on, it would be the size of the gloves that will be used in their November 14 showdown.
Pacquiao will wear the 8 oz gloves to maximize the power behind those iron-clad fists, while Cotto should also do the same as he had done in the past.
"Both are punchers and they'll be wearing 8 oz gloves in the fight," said Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal on Monday.
Pacquiao had used 8 oz when he fought Oscar De La Hoya at welterweight (147 lbs) and Ricky Hatton at super-lightweight (140 lbs) although there is a stipulation in the state of Nevada that 10 oz gloves will be strongly pushed for those fighting at lightweight (135 lbs) and higher.
Pacquiao’s awesome power was very evident against Hatton, who fell flat on his back after taking a bout-ending left to the chin in the second round.
However, the Nevada commission allows the use of 8 oz if both camps agree to use the lighter kind of gloves. Nevada had enforced the 10 oz gloves rule after a spate of ring deaths some years back in the lightweight division.
The past few weeks, the people of Pacquiao and Cotto have been exchanging barbs as regards to the finer points of the fight contract.
The issue of weight and status of the fight (title or non-title) being penciled for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas have apparently been settled although there are still cries from Cotto's camp in the Puerto Rican media that belies claims by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum that everything has been taken cared of.
Citing that contracts have yet to be signed, Gacal still believes there is still enough time to iron out the kinks since the proposed start of the four-city promotional and press tour will only begin on September 10.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has declared that Cotto's welterweight crown will be on the line even though the agreed catch weight if 145 lbs.
Pacquiao and Cotto are known for their heavy hands.
The Filipino has a 49-3-2 win-loss-draw card with 37 knockouts (68 percent), while the Puerto Rican has a 34-1 mark with 27 knockouts (77 percent).
Source: mb.com.ph
MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao came close to pulling the plug on Miguel Cotto if not for the assurance by promoter Bob Arum that the Puerto Rican will stake his World Boxing Organization welterweight title at a catchweight of 145 lb on Nov. 14.
Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal, yesterday said they were already preparing an official statement saying they will have to start looking for another opponent after reports said Cotto was not willing to stake his 147 lb title.
The reports quoted Cotto as saying he will only stake his WBO title if the fight is held at 147 lb, the welterweight limit, and that the 28-year-old champion was not willing to pay WBO the $150,000 sanctioning fee.
“Bob Arum told us not to believe everything that’s being reported. Then he assured me that Cotto will put his WBO welterweight title on the line -- at 145 pounds,” said Gacal from Gen. Santos City yesterday.
“We have to take Mr. Arum’s word on that,” added Gacal.
The Pacquiao lawyer said with the weight issue practically settled, now comes the money issue, although he said both camps have had an agreement regarding the purse sharing.
But Gacal did not give out the details, only saying that a 65-35 sharing in favor of Pacquiao should be the “worst-case scenario” for the Filipino pound-for-pound champion and today’s main attraction in boxing.
Gacal is hoping that the fight contract for Pacquiao vs Cotto be signed as soon as possible so both boxers can start focusing on what they have to do on the ring than on the negotiating table.
Reports said Cotto is scheduled to start working out today in Puerto Rico, while Roach wants Pacquiao to start limbering up before the press tour set on the second week of September.
“We were almost ready to issue a statement that we’ll start looking for a new opponent because of all those talks that Cotto wants Pacquiao to go up to 147 before he stakes his crown,” said Gacal.
Gacal, however, did not mention the boxer they had in mind in case the Cotto fight was scratched. It could be Shane Mosley, who’s offering Pacquiao everything but the kitchen sink, or someone else.
And that could even be Floyd Mayweather Jr., whom trainer Freddie Roach described as “the easiest fight of the three.”
Mayweather, who retired almost two years ago but is slated to return to the ring in September against Juan Manuel Marquez, another fighter drooling over Pacquiao.
The fight was supposed to be held in July but a rib injury sustained by Mayweather in training, coupled by poor ticket sales, led to a cancellation, and a new date on Sept. 19.
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