LAS VEGAS - Lots of activity here in the city in the run-up to the Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto title fight that will happen tonight.
What is clear is that Miguel Cotto is clearly playing second fiddle in this big fight. The talk around the on here is all about Manny Pacquiao. He is in the newspapers, the newscasters are talking about him on on television and the disc-jockeys love him on the radio. While there is no scientific evidence to support the number of people that have come here to see the fight – it appears most that are milling about are here to see Manny.
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – then Pacquiao must be a happy man. There was a Manny Pacquiao impostor walking around the MGM Grand immediately after the weigh-in and he looks remarkably like Pacquiao. He was a close enough representation of the real thing to fool fans and one television network from the Philippines. He even fooled me for a second. Uncanny.
Pacquiao didn't have any problem making weight on Friday afternoon. He was ripped and ready at 144 pounds and he looked very healthy. His skin had a healthy glow to it and he was energetic and pumped. I was only a few feet from him and he looks very, very strong. I was surprised at how easygoing he is. He doesn't appear to be suffering from any case of the jitters.
Here's a tidbit of information for you regarding how easy it was for Manny to make weight: On Wednesday night, two days before the weigh-in, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Pacquiao was at the Picasso restaurant the Bellagio and he was eating like a king. Dining with camp members he put away a large lobster, some Kobe beef and a host of vegetables as well as an entrée. Clearly, there was no concern whatsoever that he was not going to make the 145-pound weigh limit.
Rumors abound in the days leading up to a big fight here. The one bit of information that continues to make whispers around the MGM Grand is that Miguel Cotto has had to strain quite a bit to make the 145-pound catch-weight. Cotto weighed in on the button.
However, I was witness to his weigh-ins against both Zab Judah and Joshua Clottey and to me, Cotto looks a bit washed out. Just a bit, nothing drastic, but he does not have the same muscle tone and mass that Pacquiao did, which is surprising considering he is universally regarded as the bigger man. I would say he dried out to make the weight and when he spoke afterwards his voice sounded somewhat forced.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach and Cotto trainer Joe Santiago nearly came to blows at the weigh-in. Santiago looked at Roach and said, “145-pounds asshole” which was in reference Cotto making the weight. A fight very nearly ensued as the two trainers appeared very close to exchanging punches. My money would have been on Roach in that one.
Whew!That's how waxing hot the boxing fight on November 14 night will be.The trainers of both camp just started it and the boxers in Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto will finish it.To continue reading the full story of the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto weigh-in click here the article by T.K.Stewart.
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