MANNY PACQUIAO VS. MIGUEL COTTO

             

In other sports such as football or baseball fans know what months are big.  October is MLB playoffs, and the Super-bowl happens every February. Boxing fans have a bit of a revolving door, Hagler-Hearns was in April, Duran-Leonard was in June, then again in November. My point is most sports fans can mark the calender, while boxing fanatics have to endure rumors, failed contract negotiations, and less than stellar match-ups before a super-bowlish fight comes along. To paraphrase Forrest Gump; boxing is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.

Well, in this case I know what we are gonna get, a great fight! So if you aren't a boxing fan, at least be happy for those of us that are.(A chest bump when you see me would be nice.)  Now we have the date and the fight we wanted.  Something big to look forward to, hype up, and toil over the outcome. 

Bob Arum announced on Monday that Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will square off on November 14th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  This is a fight fans fight.  This year boxing's  Superbowl, World Series,  Stanley Cup, lies in November.

Pacquiao is coming off of a career best performance, knocking out Ricky Hatton in two rounds. Pacman went up to 140 pounds to stop the reigning ring champion. Now the man at the top of the pound for pound rankings will again go up in weight to 145 pounds to lock horns with another pound for pounder in Miguel Cotto.

One thing that you can say about Miguel Cotto is that he has been doing what many fighters in the boxing haven't lately: putting on entertaining fights.  Cotto has put some solid names on his ledger the past few years, Paul Malignaggi, Zab Judah, Shane Mosley, Antonio Margaritto, and Joshua Clottey. Now you can add the multi-division champion to that list.

WHY SHOULD YOU BE EXCITED?

Unlike some fights, this one guarantees to pay off. It pits two very exciting fighters against each other, one of which is arguably the most exciting in all combat sports(Pacquiao). Yes, I said it, even if you are one of those "MMA is way better than Boxing" kinda guys, you must admit a Manny Pacquiao fight is different. He has a power, as he proved with Ricky Hatton, he has guts, which he proved with Eric Morales, and he has become one of the best all around fighters in the game, as he proved by moving up several weight divisions to crush the likes of Oscar DeLahoya and David Diaz. Win or lose you get your money's worth with Manny. 

Cotto is coming off a razor thin decision to the sturdy Joshua Clottey, who probably could have taken the fight had he not stopped punching in the late rounds. Unlike DeLahoya, Cotto will not be draining himself to make 145lbs. Cotto has fought the past few years at 147lbs, so the 2 extra pounds shouldn't be anything to worry about.  Cotto is also a sturdy guy with a hell of a punch himself, and he really enjoys going to the body.(Except against Margarito, which I will never understand).  Anyway, he will no doubt be a solid foe for the Filipino icon, and will not make for a boring fight. 

 These are two proud combatants that seem to fight for more than money.  They fight for the fans, and they fight to prove they are the best.  That my friends, is why you should be excited.  So set the DVR, start preparing the wings, and put November 14th on your sports calender.