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Why Manny Pacquiao won’t KO Miguel Cotto in round 1

Posted: November 2nd, 2009 | By David Isaacson


What are the odds that Pacquiao will stop Cotto in the first round?

What are the odds that Pacquiao will stop Cotto in the first round?

I have huge respect for trainer Freddie Roach, but I can’t agree with his prediction that Manny Pacquiao will knock out Miguel Cotto in the first round next Saturday night.

I don’t dispute Pacquiao has incredible speed, and I accept that he carries fantastic power, but even so, one look at Pacquiao’s record will tell you that he seldom wins fights in the first round. The last time he achieved that was more than seven years ago, when he was still a junior-featherweight. That is 17 fights and 130 rounds ago!

That’s when he stopped Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym of Thailand two minutes 46 seconds into the first round. His previous first-round stoppage came in June 2000 against South Korea’s Seung-Kon Chae, then an unbeaten fighter.

In his days before becoming a world champion, Pacquiao scored four first-round KOs for a career tally of six. But his best round for finishing an opponent is the second, which he’s achieved seven times.

Pacquiao has executed five stoppage wins in round three and five in round four, which means that 23 of his 37 career stoppage wins have come in the first four rounds.

It’s awesome stuff, but remember this: Miguel Cotto is tough. Sure, Zab Judah rocked him in round one, but he recovered quickly. Secondly, he has been stopped only once in his career and that was in the 11th round against a hard fighter who might have been packing plaster-of-paris in his gloves!

And don’t forget, for all the similarities and weaknesses that Roach claims to have spotted between Cotto and Hatton, Pacquiao didn’t stop Hatton in round one.

Furthermore, if you look back on superfights throughout history, how many of them ended in the first round? Almost none!

Pacquiao and Cotto fans seem to think their fighter will have an easy night on November 14. The last time both these men went the distance they had to settle for split decisions – Cotto against Joshua Clottey in June and Pacquiao against Juan Manuel Marquez in March last year.

I have a feeling that this fight will go to the final bell, although I think Pacquiao will emerge victorious. If there is a stoppage, it will be in the later rounds.

I’m not entirely sure how this will end, but that’s what makes this an intriguing fight – nobody knows what will happen!

  
 
 

Comments

 

Dencio

November 3, 2009 at 8:34 am

Roach said it jokingly – KO1, but it could happen depending on what Cotto will do on hte first round. If he will attack Manny like what Hatton did, he will knocked down or worse knocked out. It might not be in round 1 but definitely it will happen.

 

crisscross

November 3, 2009 at 9:22 am

Roach was just joking.. but who knows.. it myt happen.. lets just w8t and watch the fight! ..gashort yung nagsulat nito! lol

 

JASON "FILIPINO"

November 3, 2009 at 11:28 am

IT’S GOING TO BE ON THE 6TH ROUND COTTO WILL NOT HIT THE CANVASS HE WILL JUST KNEEL THEN THE THIRD MAN WILL STOP THE FIGHT.

 

Pacman fan

November 3, 2009 at 11:31 am

Cmon bro. This fight can go anywhere , cotto is a very tough fighter ! but i am not sure if size will be a factor in the fight. Manny pacquiao speed power stamina head movement will be the perfect key to knocking out miguel cotto.
Manny pacquiao by late stoppage or a win by split decision

 

isidro

November 3, 2009 at 12:08 pm

That is M1P1 (Manny1 Pacquiao 1)for you,joke told by Freddie Roach.
However it is an exciting fight,as what this article is feeling too.Nobody knows ,everyone will think so ,base in their own analysis.
Actually low blows of Cotto got it’s own place too in the whole predictions.

 

baklita

November 3, 2009 at 2:36 pm

I like it when a report is fair and square giving the reader an interesting thought to ponder. Pacquiao-Cotto fight should furnish worthy remark to escalate the sport of competition.

cotto has the age advantage and it is my firm conviction that team pacman won’t be able to k.o. miguel as roach uttered. but k.o. can occur on both sides specifically on pacquiao side since he’s climbing up a territory that really belongs to cotto.

on fight night, all questions will be answered. how much bet can draw a crowd?

aihihihi!!!

baklita

 

comment

November 3, 2009 at 3:01 pm

yup. first round KO is just a psy war for coach roach. hehe! I am wondering why all of you ride on this prediction.

 

Cisco Bay

November 3, 2009 at 4:05 pm

This an “if” from the beginning. If Cotto will mixed it up on Round 1.

 

Dj GEAR

November 3, 2009 at 5:18 pm

Cotto will KO in first round 1min. 42 secs….believe me!!!!!

 

pikoy

November 3, 2009 at 5:36 pm

after seven years we can see another first round knock out coming from the pacman! pac knows!

 

Larry Lachica, Jeddah

November 3, 2009 at 7:15 pm

What Roach send might or might not happen….Mind Game? most probably but who knows? he is the trainer of Pacquiao…

On Manny’s part….Manny says: he will go for knockout if the oppurtunity comes….if that opportunity comes in 1st Round…then Manny will go for it and Roach will be more satisfied if Manny can do it!

We don’t know if it will happen or not…we will only know comes Nov.14 and after the we hear the sound of the Bell in First Round….

 

Tasyo

November 5, 2009 at 7:27 pm

Manny will lose according to Madame Auring. I will be surprised if Manny wins. I’m betting on 3rd round KO win by Cotto. I don’t think that speed will make a difference on this fight but the one who has the biggest heart, courage and the will.

 

ernie

November 10, 2009 at 12:22 am

Tasyo, I’m w/ you Cotto will win, his class and boxing style are much better than Pacman hands. Pacman only has a crazy power on hands. I like Cotto to go the distance giving a sort of boxing class to Pacman, also Cotto’s power punch is strong enough to make Pacman dance. Cotto knows the ring Pac doesn’t. I’m not a gambler but If I bet on Cotto.. I WIN

 

rocky b

November 10, 2009 at 8:59 am

i think freddie is only psyching out miguel when he predicted a first round knockout- it’s a psywar and freddie is a specialist at it. it’ll probably come but in the later rounds, say rd. 9 or 10 when miguel’s face is busted up.

 

rocky b

November 10, 2009 at 9:08 am

lest miguel turns to dirty tactics when he gets hurt then that would spell the difference.

 

miyuka

November 13, 2009 at 6:11 pm

Roach didnt said that pacman will KO cotto in the 1st round.. he said i think cotto will be down in round 9… his favorite number :D

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  • About

    At the height of his sporting prowess, David Isaacson could be seen every Saturday afternoon climbing the stairs to the upper gallery of Newlands. An all-round sportsman in his younger days - he was equally awful at cricket, soccer, athletics, swimming, table tennis, tennis, judo, cycling, hockey, basketball, volleyball and touch rugby - David quickly learnt that it was much easier (and far less painful) to be an armchair critic. As a journalist he has covered three Olympic Games, infuriated several sports administrators, reported on numerous other events and irritated Butana Komphela.
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