Maharlikan Times

COTTO ADVISED BY FELLOW PUERTO RICAN TO WEAR AN EYEPATCH

by Granville Ampong, Philboxing.com

BEVERLY HILLS, California, September 15, 2009 - Despite suspicion that Antonio Margarito may have used the same illegal wraps on his hands during his fight against Miguel Cotto, which was discovered on his hands just before his loss to Shane Mosley and led to the revocation of his boxing license for at least one year by the California State Athletic Commission, the story of the Puerto Rican's devastating defeat in the hands of the former can no longer be reconstructed.

       But, forget about his first professional loss.

       Cotto's situation as to his fight against Pound-4-Pound King Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao this November 14 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, runs perilous, if not a conjunctive prospect of a much more embarrassing defeat of the Puerto Rican, according to Pacquiao's close associate who disclosed game plans to this writer on condition of anonymity.

       "Pacquiao's hammering fists are more fatal upon impact than that of Margarito's illegal wraps," he added.

       Conversely, "Pacquiao's speed, power and agility are obviously far superior than WBO Welterweight titlist," said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's celebrated trainer, when asked by this writer yesterday during the Media Press Conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

       But, "It's going to be a difficult fight."

       Asked again by this writer about his game plans if ever Cotto employs dirty tactics during the fight, Roach said: " We have prepared some counter-strategies for them and we are ready."

       "We have studied his fights and we see he has some troubles fighting a southpaw," Pacquiao, who is a southpaw himself, said as he sat by the table surrounded by media interviewers.

       Wearing a Herringbone black-tweed cap and in his fine-touched, black suite, Pacquiao seemed to be at his best composure, usual winsome spirit and remained not apprehensive about Cotto's record, size and strength.

       But, Cotto' record of 34 wins and 1 loss shows his impressive victories over all of his three opponents in recent years who are southpaws, namely: Zab Judah in 2007 by TKO 11, Carlos Quintana in 2006 by RTD 5 and De Marcus Corley in 2005 by TKO 5.

       On the other hand, Pacquiao's tactical skills still seem unpredictable because of his powerful right hand that bolts almost equally of his tectonic left as seen in his last two fights against Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

       But, as for Cotto, he said he is "ready to win over another great southpaw" and "ready to give a clean fight".

       "I have no excuses and I am training much harder for this fight," said Cotto. " I am ready to go back to Puerto Rico after the fight as a champion and bring home another belt."

       Cotto was referring to the new WBC Diamond Belt which was created as an honorary championship belt exclusively for fights between elite boxers. The belt is handcrafted by an artisan in Mexico City (Chelango) with 18 carat gold fusion and has about 800 diamonds, emeralds and rubies, as well as 150 Swarovsky semi-precious stones, of which this writer had touched, examined and had photographs of himself as well with it - holding it close to his chest, in fact.

       "Manny Pacquiao, a three-time WBC world champion in three different weight divisions, and Miguel Cotto, a former WBC International champion, are unquestionably qualified as two of the best boxers of today," said Mauricio Sulaiman of the World Boxing Council.

       But, one writer asked Cotto of his tendency to get cut and bleed easily above his left eye as seen in his fight against Joshua Clotty, which can quickly change the tempo of the fighting style.

       Cotto said: "Well, I have to be ready for it."

       Meanwhile, there is still one chance of escape.

"Cotto has to wear a black eye-patch alternatively during his training."

       At least, that's the tactical input of Tony Vasquez, a Puerto Rican bearing 6'1" and a veteran boxing strategist in his own right, who worked his way up as a fighter and retired from the United States Marine Corps.

       Vasquez, a boxing tactician who claimed he is not associated with the team of Cotto, shared some concerns about Cotto fighting against Pacquiao.

       On the other hand, Vasquez, who happened to engage in a conversation with this writer right after the media conference, would love to share his wisdom to Cotto or to any boxer on how to become an effective fighter against Pacquiao.

       "To be effective", he said, " Cotto must prepare for the worst scenario wherein he will have to fight with one eye open unless the fight is stopped by the referee or ring doctor, or by his team."

       "Pacquiao's almost equally powerful bilateral fists, his speed and the complexity of his footwork must be the major problem of Cotto." He added.

       "Using a black eye-patch to one eye during his sparing sessions will help him widen his peripheral vision, explore new dimensions and gain better control of his range if it happens that one of his eye is swollen-shut," Vasquez further explained intimating that his techniques may have not been used yet by boxing trainers, as of this writing.

       "Despite what will happen when that time comes that he would only have to rely on one eye, the skills that Cotto has learned will become his contingent tools for victory , and that he must not give up, " added the 68 year old son of Puerto Rico who claimed to have lived by the beautiful mountain ranges, notably the Cordillera Central, which rises to 4,389 ft (1,388 m) in the Cerro de Punta.