WORDS: CARLO PAMINTUAN
November 14, 2009 | 5051 views
KEYS TO THE FIGHT
The key for Pacquiao is to maintain his distance from Cotto. He should use his superior hand and foot speed to connect before Cotto gets to unload.
Pacquiao should dart in and out and move side to side, and make Cotto miss to exhaust him. The key punches for Pacquiao, as always, are the right hook, the lead left followed by a quick side step to the right, and the lights-out left that he used to put Ricky Hatton to sleep.
For Cotto they key is to slow Pacquiao down, which of course, involves working the body early in the fight. Cotto should also establish his jab early and keep Pacquiao at bay by sticking a stiff jab to his face whenever he comes in.
The jab that Cotto used to knock Clottey down is eerily similar to the jab than decked Pacquiao against Hussein so this could be used as a potent weapon against Pacquiao.
Cotto should also employ the usual countermeasures to a southpaw opponent, which involves circling to the right, while throwing double jabs and connecting with lead rights.
FEARLESS FORECAST
There is no clear favorite. However, it is Pacquiao’s uncanny ability to rise to the occasion that will win him this fight. He may have dull moments against the Jorge Solises and Oscar Larioses of this world, but he always shows his very best when the lights shine brightest.
Pacquiao looks like he will win the early rounds by being the busier fighter while Cotto will win the middle rounds by bullying the smaller Pacquiao.
But Pacquiao will shift to another gear in the late rounds as Cotto gets tired. Pacquiao will land a looping left that will not drop Cotto, but will give Pacquiao the opportunity to land five unanswered blows that will prompt the referee to stop the fight.
After all is said and done, we think Manny Pacquiao will come home as the new WBO welterweight champion.
