racingmeridian.com

COTTO-PACQUIAO..the elements of Pacquiao’s strategy against Miguel Cotto can be inferred through the words of trainer Freddie Roach. 1) Pacquiao believes Cotto telegraphs his punches by dropping his hands. When Cotto’s hands start to dip, Pacquiao will initiate blazing combinations. 2) Pacquiao feels Cotto is vulnerable to his specialty, straight left hands. The punch that carved up Oscar De la Hoya will be present in abundance. 3) Pacquiao feels Cotto has regressed after his brutal beating at the hands of Antonio Margarito. The cornerstone of their strategy, a ferocious, mind numbing attack in the first round, will seek to exploit a perceived mental vulnerability, a sense Cotto will crumble when faced with a Margarito-like assault…a conversation with a Pinoy mate on the ground in Las Vegas offered intriguing insight into the skewered odds (Pacquiao -350, Cotto +270). I was told that punters view Cotto as “drawn” and “haggard”. Whispers have Cotto reminding the Filipino mob of the appearance of the wan Oscar De La Hoya before last Decembers Pacquiao fight. Cotto is an extremely large welterweight, generally fighting at about 160 lbs, and the struggle to make the agreed upon weight of 145, as opposed to the traditional standard of 147, might be the straw that severed this Puerto Ricans back. The Pacquiao crowd is in full howl frenzy, literally oblivious to any scenario which does not promulgate their hero’s ascension…

Freddie Roach inadvertently referred to the chaos of the boxer’s camp in Manila. He did not make mention of his disagreements with the fighter, nor did he mention that Pacquiao at one point refused to train. His ceaseless insinuations that Cotto will quit are rendered obtuse by a review of the palpable facts of the Puerto Ricans career. When Miguel took a knee against Antonio Margarito it was after some of the most intense action this side of Hagler-Hearns. He was bleeding from the mouth, the nose and from his ears. It is clear that his head had been pummelled by the very same plaster insets yanked from Margarito’s gloves in the moments before Antonio engaged Shane Mosley. Miguel has pushed his body through tight, arduous battles with Mosley and Joshua Clottey. He has swapped murderous blows with KO artists Ricardo Torres and Kelson Pinto. He will not quit.

Cotto will fight out of a semi crouch with his hands high and chin tucked in. He will ask Pacquiao the questions that Juan Manuel Marquez could never quite articulate; can you handle powerful left hooks to the body? Can you sustain a high pitched attack against a foe you cannot hurt? After spending as much time talking about Floyd Mayweather as Cotto, after booking a live performance for after midnight the night of the fight, after associating recklessly with the clamour and cacophony of your fans, do you still have the lust for battle?

There is a feverish anticipation for a clash that promises to brandish the elements that elevate the act of punching another in the face to art; strategy, courage, fortitude, skill, determination and passion. The inability to confidently predict the outcome of the fight does not mean we cannot anticipate a masterpiece. The clash of styles, the calamitous stakes, the growl of nationalism, all conspire to make this the most compelling fight of the year.

THE PICK..sweet redemption for Miguel Cotto. Up off the canvas, soaked in blood (his own and Manny’s), Cotto switches it up late and counterpunches through the final stanzas, doing just enough to eke out a decision win (taking Cotto +270, over 9.5 rounds +130).

PONIES.. Quality Road balked at entering the gate before the Breeders Cup Classic and was subjected to boorish and amateur treatment by the gate crew. The horse was clearly terrified. His scratch from the race, unfortunately, is not the end of the story. The horse refused to board a plane and instead had to be vanned back east. The poor creature is so traumatized by his handling that there is the distinct possibility he will not race again. His absence would be a desperate blow for horse racing connoisseurs. The three year old delivered the definitive male performance of the year while besting Dunkirk in the Florida Derby and had been expected to be a star during his four year old campaign…