Manny Pacquiao became the first fighter in boxing history to win his seventh title in seven weight classes with a 12th round TKO victory over Miguel Cotto last night (OK, and this morning here on the east coast). Pacman landed a blistering 336 punches as he improved to 50-3-2 overall (with 38 KOs), discarding his opponent with relative ease after a very competitive beginning to this fight. Cotto fell to 34-2 with the loss.
Cotto managed to win the first round or two, depending on how you looked at the fight. I would say he definitely won the first round. He …read more

The countdown to Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto officially begins this evening when HBO presents the first installment of Pacquiao-Cotto 24/7. This fight brings extra excitement in that Manny, who many consider to be boxing’s pound-for-pound champion (until he fights Floyd Mayweather, I believe), is moving up in weight (again) to 145 pounds to fight Miguel Cotto, the current WBO welterweight champ. I’ve doubted Manny in the past and I’ve always lived to regret those doubts.
There are unanswered questions for both fighters. Miguel has only lost once. That was a little over a year ago when Antonio Margarito beat him …read more

Imagine you are Antonio Margarito. Your impressive July beat down of Miguel Cotto was a rousing success both in pulling pay-per-view buys and in garnering media attention. Casual sports fans have started recognizing your name and maybe even your face.
The sky is the limit. Right? Well, not so much. There are so few people out there for you to fight for your deserved huge payday. Shane Mosley? Yawn, that guy never caught the public’s eye. Paul Williams? Nobody knows him and maybe he’s a little too dangerous. Zab Judah? I’d have a good time at least. Ricky Hatton? Um, …read more

Boxing promised us a welterweight fight for the ages and for 11 rounds Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito provided. Margarito charged relentlessly with defiant straightforward abandon while Cotto skillfully bobbed, weaved, counterpunched and scored with inspired boxing. Power punch after power punch from both fighters, bomb after bomb.
But in the 11th it was the Mexican, the Tijuana Tornado Antonio Margarito, who proved to have the greater will as the Puerto Rican Cotto quit on his feet, too battered, unwilling and unable to summon strength in the championship rounds.
Cotto’s corner ostensibly threw in the towel but Miguel’s sinking eyes and …read more

Maybe somewhere somehow you’ve read something about Saturday’s Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito welterweight title fight. About how it’s the going to be the greatest fight of all time, about how if there’s one fight you should watch this year this should be it, about how this is the fight to bring casual fans in, about how the action will be scintillating and non-stop, about how if you can’t get excited about this fight then you’ll never be excited about any fight ever. Ever, ever, ever.
Am I excited? Yes. Do I think it’s going to be a great fight? Of …read more

Before February 9, 2008 Paul Williams was feared by most, ducked by many, and intriguing to all. His gangly 6′1″ welterweight frame combined with his relentless punching style seemed unstoppable. But then a funny thing happened: Carlos Quintana. The respected but lightly regarded Puerto Rican was given little chance — he was listed as an 8 to 1 underdog — but managed to dominate the South Carolinian from Round One onward; winning a close unanimous decision that was more definitive than the close cards implied.
After his unexpected loss Williams immediately exercised his rematch clause setting up this Saturday’s …read more