Maharlikan Times

Watch Miguel Cotto tonight morphing into a hopeless "Pharaoh" unrepentantly with the same instinct!

By Granville Ampong, Philboxing.com

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, November 14, 2009 - The arguments are soon to close. It's almost 3 o'clock in the morning. And as the scanty clouds begin rolling over the dazzling Las Vegas strips this chilly, misty moment, fight fans become increasingly restless with their raising thoughts as manifested in the intellectual, atmospheric pressure of Pacland forums and other auxiliaries. So after all the rousing days and short intermittent sleeping hours leading to this day, I walk semi-dazed from the parking lot into the MGM Grand still thinking that all boxing prophets must make arguments, regardless of whether they be rhetorical, direct persuasion or simply a false notion. Rightly so, when I set out to think about boxing, I must not hesitate using the written word to lend humanity to this brutal craft. As of this writing, I sense something that others may have otherwise expect: Miguel Cotto must have felt his time, if not his career, slipping away!

If you observe the countenance of Cotto as he edges into the fight night with Manny Pacquiao , you would say his is not similar to that of Moses at Mount Sinai and not even of Pacquiao, much more not even an all-too-familiar pre-fight mode of "Miguel Cotto" of yesteryears. Yes, Cotto's bearing is like that of a "below-the-belt" - still a hard-hitting - hopeless "Pharaoh" whose insistence of unbelief and willful intent to hold the Israelites in bondage of slavery brought him an even more devastating defeat in the hands of the Creative Force of the Universe, of which Cotto finds his best comfort from the meditations of his solitude, enslaving himself - in fact - with inelastic fortitude during his training...least of himself becoming a headhunter for tonight's fight, dubbed "Fire Power" here at the MGM Grand Arena.

But, Pacquiao said it otherwise: "Don't bother Cotto about being too serious; he wants to become a religious person." Pacquio says it playfully in front of the media personalities and some fans egging elbow to elbow along the ropes of the ring inside the Wild Card Gym during the "open-worked out" for media last week.

Indeed, Cotto has all the reasons to be dead-serious. He is facing a smaller man but skillful one, who is more charismatic and more popular than he is, despite the fact that he is regarded as one of the greatest athletes Puerto Rico has ever had. After all and other than the honorary WBC Diamond Belt, he must feel it a bit odd to be the underdog even though his own WBO Welterweight Championship belt is on the line for the contest.

Then, consider this: Cotto may not be the same fighter who fought Judah, Mosley, Clottey, Margarito and the rest of the victims. But, one thing for sure, he would still be the same dirty fighter who fought Torres in 2005. And that 's where his basic instinct shines, especially when the "going becomes tough"!

Conversely, forget about the game plans and power that catapulted him to the series of victories that he is known for, except his lone, questionable defeat from Antonio Margarito who may have used illegal hand wraps during their fight. He has better game plans and much greater power than his previous ones. He is by far ready to present surprises, which may not be conceivable to Pacquiao fans. He is bound to do anything he can to get the nods from at least two of the judges, namely: Adalaide Byrd, Duane Ford and Dave Moretti. And don't forget referee Kenny Bayless and the ring physicians whose technical decisions will critically come into play.

I must extrapolate this again from my previous article: Cotto is better that those scripted scenes of the HBO's 24/7 episodes. And take this: I vouch his jabs may throw off Pacquiao's timing especially in the first two rounds. And with Pacquiao's attempts to inflict four to five combos, Cotto is likely to mix up his uppercuts and may try to dig inside, which would somehow give Pacquiao a bit of a problem.

But, Pacquiao's straight left may send Cotto fewer nerve signals in a way that he would feel it as more fatal than Margarito's illegal wraps, even in the second or third round if there's more time left. I see what I saw in Cotto versus Judah wherein Cotto had problems with Judah's straight left. But, most of all, one thing is clear here: Pacquiao has better stamina than Judah. And Cotto would find this insurmountable because of Pacquiao's inherent hand speed and unpredictable footwork. But, Cotto would do anything he can to survive round 4.

If one were to see the true Cotto, then it is his fight against Ricardo Torres in 2005 that must be worth-focusing. Torres got his worth in the arms of Cotto in the first round with an initial knockdown and then Cotto got his in the mind of Torres who kept coming forward with bombs after bombs and dropped him in round 2 after taking voluminous shots to the body and upstairs. And watch Cotto's deliberate quick shot to the left thigh of Torres as he delivered a series of combos and sucked up Torres' unrelenting advances in the same round. (Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_S12SxP7KU).

Then, with the intention of favorably affecting deeper inflammatory processes to Torres's right thigh and lower abdominal quadrant, Cotto successfully fired five to six low-blows in the 3rd round, right before the eyes of referee Dave Fields. Yes, Fields must have lost his mind, as if he's watching a sexual act...just having his eyes fixed, if not suspended at the ill-doings of Cotto in many instances. Or, he just lacked sleep from his previous night outings. In fact, Cotto held his composure and still deliberately dig another low blow, causing a knockdown in the 4th. (Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyZQEl21Yk0&NR=1)

Torres was clearly the better fighter on that night, if not the spoiling, fatigue-inducing low blows of Cotto.

Yes, it was a night adulterated by the worst referee and the dirtiest fighter ever.

But, as for Pacquiao versus Cotto, Pacquiao's style of a fighting cock Kelso would make Pacquiao appear illusive, yes...elusive as well.

Meanwhile, what took place in Cotto versus Torres should not have a repeat tonight.

Referee Kenny Bayless should render a drastic measure, if the same incidents happen.

Time and again, Cotto would just say: " I am not Ricky Hatton. I am not Oscar de la Hoya. I am Miguel Cotto."

Note: To send your comment(s), please send to granvilleampong@maharlikantimes.com.