SOURCE: BoxingChaos.com

In his fight against David Diaz, HBO analyst Larry Merchant made a comment about Manny Pacquiao’s improved right fist saying that the once one-handed Filipino bomber used to only have the “left stuff” but has added the “right stuff” now. 

HBO’s ringside scorecard judge Harold Lederman who was also observing the fight said,

“I can’t remember a southpaw who can throw four, five right hands before he pulls his right hand back. Incredible! He throws a hook, a jab, an uppercut right before he pulls his hand back. It’s amazing. Roy Jones used to do it with a left hand but this kid is amazing with that right hand.”

Well that was more than a year ago. After proving it’s potency against Ricky Hatton when he tasted “Manila Ice” (the name Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach gave for the right hook) in the first round that knocked the British star down last May, Pacquiao’s right hand is looking more lethal than ever. Insiders I have spoken to who have witnessed Pacquiao’s training sessions this week  have told me that Pacquiao unleashes his right more often and at more angles than ever before similar to what he did in the Diaz fight. In this Youtube video below, Pacquiao sent his trainer’s mitts flying with a swift right.

Roach has worked hard to improve Pacquiao’s right hand and is the main reason of the fighter’s ascension as the best fighter in the game. His opponents can’t expect devastating punches from one angle anymore as Pacquiao has proven his right can equally blow away his opponent. But against Cotto, it might very well be the fastest and strongest we’ll ever see the punch hit.

Also, Pacquiao’s right knee is said to be just fine. Roach and strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza have not changed anything with their routines and that the appearance of the black knee brace on Pacquiao’s right knee is not more than precautionary measure. And with the way Pacquiao is moving and shaping up, I have a feeling we will see the best Pacquiao yet on November 14.

SOURCE: http://www.examiner.com/x-10947-Indianapolis-Fight-Sports-Examiner~y2009m11d2-Pacquiaos-Rights-Right-hand-looking-dynamite-No-injury-to-right-knee

EL PASO EN ROUTE TO LOS ANGELES–Too bad that Manny Pacquiao did not fight Ricky Hatton in the autumn.

The KO 2 happened in May but, if Ricky’s quick fall had happened in the fall, I could have trotted out Muhammad Ali’s old line about Hatton getting “dismemberment, he got hit so hard, he wondered where October and November went.”

I bring this up to inform the Pacquiao Worldwide Army (PWA) and crotchety “Jeff The Rican” that, starting today (Sunday), I will be eating, sleeping and breathing Pacquiao-Cotto. After a brief LA stay, I head directly to the Big Fight Scene in Lost Wages, Nevada.

I survived a quick sojourn to the bullet ridden, Mexican Army patrolled streets of Ciudad Juarez. More on that epic adventure later.

One highlight of my cross-border excursion was running into Mexican fight guy Panchito Reyes. He;s handled world champ Cesar Bazan and many other top fighters.

Panchito’s no hesitation fight pick: “Pacquiao by KO in six rounds, no doubt!”

Lots of other Mexicanos must feel the same way because Megamanny is the minus 2.50 betting favorite at the Juarez Race & Sports Book while Cotto is the plus 2.05 underdog, basically the same odds you can get in Vegas as of today.

From here on out, your roving reporter and humble correspondent, your Pinoy friendly but also Boricua freindly White Gorilla will be on the scene wherever there is Pacquiao-Cotto news, including their respective media workouts Tuesday and Wednesday.

Imagine, Miguel I’m No Angel Cotto invading the City of Angels.

Got any questions for the White Gorilla?

My phone hotline is always open at 917 853 4484 and the email location is mlcmarley@aol.com,

Mabuhay ka Marley!

I guess it’s OK to cheer for myself once in a while, I don’t want to upset #1floydfan, you know.

SOURCE: http://www.examiner.com/x-5699-NY-Boxing-Examiner~y2009m11d1-Mexicos-Panchito-Reyes-bold-call-Pacquiao-by-KO-in-6

Miguel Cotto has again taken one step ahead of Manny Pacquiao as the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion already broke training camp in Tampa, Florida and is now headed towards Las Vegas.

The 28-year old Puerto Rican held the final day of training at his camp Friday and is now looking forward to departing for the “Sin City”, about two weeks before meeting Pacquiao inside the ring in one of the year’s biggest fights.

WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico Top Rank photo
Cotto also began training three weeks ahead of Pacquiao.

Chief trainer Joe Santiago was very much satisfied with the way Cotto’s camp turned out the past eight weeks. “We’ve had the perfect camp. Miguel is determined and focus. We are about to head out for Las Vegas.”

In contrast, Pacquiao is still training at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles and won’t be heading for Las Vegas until Nov. 9.

The Filipino boxing champion didn’t arrive in L.A. until last week after spending the first part of his training camp at the Shape-Up gym in Baguio City.

Trainer Freddie Roach said the 30-year old pound-for-pound king is almost 95 percent ready for the bout, saying that his ward “is jus getting better and better.”

Roach added, “he’s punching so much harder than he used to.”

But in what has been a growing word of animosity between Roach and Cotto’s team, Santiago said they are not taking seriously what Pacquiao’s trainer had been preaching about.

“We do not pay attention to whatever Freddie Roach is saying. We are focused on one person – Pacquiao. Roach is trying to play mind games with us, but it’s not working,” said Santiago.

Team Cotto is expected to be in Las Vegas on Sunday. Except for Tuesday (Nov. 3) when the 2000 Sydney Olympian travels to Los Angeles for a press workout, Cotto will be training on a daily basis.

“It’s been a while since Miguel has had this kind of drive, determination and focus,” added Santiago, who replaced Cotto’s uncle Evangelista, as the champion’s trainer.

And if Pacquiao is punching so much harder this time, Cotto is now also throwing punches by the volume, according to conditioning coach Phil Landman.

“During sparring I count every punch. For the Clottey fight, Miguel averaged 45 punches per round. Here in Tampa while training for Pacquiao, Miguel has averaged 65 punches a round,” noted Landman.

“This is a very good number. Miguel is ready, prepared to fight and will win.” – GMANews.TV

SOURCE: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/176051/pacquiao-foe-cotto-ends-camp-headed-to-vegas