MANNY PACQUIAO vs. MIQUEL COTTO

THE NEXT SUPER-FIGHT

Part 2: Why I Love Manny Pacquiao

At this point I think most know that Manny Pacquiao is one of the most exciting fighters in combat sports. That's right, not just boxing, but in all of the sports where two people square off to prove who's best. If you don't see it this way, you are 1 of 3 types of people:

1. In denial: You are so for Miguel Cotto on November 14th that you refuse to admit that Manny Pacquiao is not only a formidable opponent, but also an exciting customer at the Cotto counter.

2. New to Boxing Guy: You have never really been a boxing fan and are just starting to check it out. You peruse a few websites, and have heard of this "Pac-Man", but figure he's over-rated, and you're not going to give in to the hype.

3. A Moron: You are just in general not too bright. You probably mope through life disagreeing with pretty much whatever people say just to make them angry. You are also probably the person that is always in front of me when I'm driving.

My advice is simple;

Denial Guy: I understand how you feel. I have my favorite fighters as well, and I know you just don't like anyone challenging your man, but please admit to yourself, this is a great fight, between TWO great fighters. Now go put on your Cotto shirt, cross your fingers, and get ready for a solid fight. Trust me, you will live a happier life if you just give in on this (life might be a bit dramatic, but it will make the week and a half easier).

New to Boxing Guy: Go to Youtube, look up Manny Pacquiao, watch some of his fights, or at least some of his highlights. Read a little about him, maybe check out his Wikipedia page, and watch 24/7 on HBO, which will give you a little insight into his accomplishments and personality. Then if you still don't agree follow the Moron's advice.

Moron: I'm not sure how you even got this far in the article! You and I obviously have nothing in common, and I'm pretty sure I don't like you. You should go watch a different sport because you obviously can't tell when a fighter is exciting, and fun to watch. You're probably the type of guy that would dis Arturo Gatti too. Shame on you. Also, get off the road... you are always holding me up. My commute would be much easier without you!

Now that those morons are out of the way I will continue. My point is that we all know that Pacquiao is entertaining, talented, and one of the best parts of the sport we all love so much. We know that he has great reflexes, fast hands, and what seems to be an endless amount of energy. We hope that November 14th will be an explosive show, and that Pacquiao will once again give us an entertaining night of boxing.That is why I want to tell you a few different reasons why I love Manny Pacquiao, something that maybe you can’t find somewhere else. I can only read so many articles about Manny and this fight before I start to get bored, but I am so excited for it that I can't help but write about it anyway! So here goes, I hope you enjoy it!

How I Love Manny Pacquiao, Let Me Count The Ways:

1. 106 pounds: I could honestly write that Pacquiao weighed 106 pounds in his first fight, and he is now fighting a guy at 145 pounds (a catch weight). That is amazing to me! How does a guy who once weighed 106 lbs. add that much weight and still be so good all along the way? (Or I could spell it weigh if I really wanted to be funny).

A fighter gets the most accolades when he moves up in weight to heavyweight, but this feat is as big an accomplishment, if not more. I will always be impressed by what guys like Chris Byrd, James Toney, and Roy Jones Jr. were able to do, start at Middleweight and win to heavyweight. (I picked these three because it's about the same amount of weight, and I personally watched them all do it. I’m not going to talk about Henry Armstrong because I was born in ’78 and I didn’t watch him fight). The difference is, Byrd took advantage of the fact that he was the smaller, faster guy in a land of slow giants. Toney could have been better if he would've backed away from the table. Jones didn't test himself after he won the title. Pacquiao is not only moving up, he looks as if he has been getting better all along the way.

When a fighter looks as good as Pac-man has his past few fights, it's easy for people to discredit his opponents, but it's always after he destroys them that they are discredited, not before. Ricky Hatton looked like a new man when he stopped Paulie Malignaggi, now people talk about him as if he were an average club fighter and it’s all because of how Pac-man ended the fight. Weight drained, washed up, shell of a fighter, these are all the things Oscar De La Hoya was AFTER he fought Pacquiao, NOT before. I am finding a common theme to Pacquiao's opponents lately! Even when he fought Morales a few pounds ago, Morales beat Pacquiao fair and square in their first fight, then suddenly was washed up over night for their next two. Is it out of the question that Pacquiao is one of those special athletes that raises his game as he continues his career? He is only thirty, it's not like he is an old dog that can't learn new tricks, which brings me to my next one.

2. Manila Ice: The Hayemaker is David Haye's go to punch... his heavy right hand, yet naming it is cocky, arrogant, and in someway desperate. Yet Manny Pacquiao names his right hook "Manila Ice", and for some reason I think he's the coolest boxer to step foot on the canvas. In all seriousness, I think it shows how much both he and Freddie Roach really enjoy doing what they do, and that translates to fans watching his fights. They are having fun in a sport that can at times wear down its fans with all of its B.S. Manila Ice is such a cool name too, it should be Pacquiao's fighting name it's so good. (I may have exaggerated on Hayemaker, I actually kind of like that one too, what can I say, I'm a sucker for theatrics).

3. Swagger?: When I think of someone having swagger I think of cool, calm, collected, and confident, almost to the point of being uncaring. I think Jack Nicholson, Frank Sinatra, and Paul Newman. I would even say Miguel Cotto has that classic swagger that I am referring to, but not Manny Pacquiao. He has something different. He has a swagger that's all his own, that of a hyper kid from your elementary school days. You remember that one kid growing up that could never sit in his seat, always got in trouble, and was still somehow the coolest guy in class? That's Manny Pacquiao to a T. He's not cocky, but still confident, caring. Not worrisome, but is definitely cool in his own way. Come on, how many other boxers can get away with having a singing career?

4. Piano Solo: You can show someone why boxing is such a great, beautiful, and amazing sport just by having them watch a Manny Pacquiao fight (especially lately). He embodies all the great things that a famous piano solo should have: finesse, grace, and when the time is right, aggression. If I had to turn Manny Pacquiao into a song it would be a combination of Fur Elise, and Flight of the Bumble Bee. He is so fluid in his motions, even though he has a staccato and somewhat choppy rhythm. I am always amazed at how well he combines all the elements of aggression, speed, and power in an almost wreck-less manor, but rarely crosses that line to sloppiness.

5. Fighter: At the end of the day Manny Pacquiao is a fighter. He can sing all he wants, mingle and dabble in politics, do movies, commercials, and even appear on a postage stamp, but at the end of the day he knows he's a fighter. He is always prepared, always puts on a good show, and never lets his fans down.

Manny Pacquiao is something special in boxing; a guy who is guaranteed to give you your moneys worth. I was a little upset that the Hatton fight didn't last longer, but that doesn't mean I wasn't impressed. I wish the De La Hoya fight had lived up to expectations, but I was still amazed at what Pac-man had done. I was rooting for him in the first Morales fight, but was satisfied with the night of boxing in the end. I love Manny Pacquiao because in this day and age when I have to pay fifty bucks for the sport I love so much, he gives me an entertainment guarantee... a boxing warranty if you will, and on November 14th I wait to cash it in.

Stay tuned for Part 3: The Prediction