I haven’t slapped a link from the Times Online on here for a while so here goes.
Boxing has been in the headlines a lot lately. Not least because of David Haye’s ‘fight’ and eventual victory against the freakishly large Valuev. While a nice moment for Britsh boxing, the fight I was most excited about was Pacquiao – Cotto.
Most probably weren’t even aware of this battle because of it being on Sky Sports and not Box Office and the fact it was a week after Haye – Valuev probably didn’t help either.
But for those that bothered to tune in, or like me, record it, saw what was essentially a masterclass. Manny Pacquiao, now a 5-weight world champion, destroyed Miguel Cotto in what was painful but compelling viewing. Pueta Rican born Cotto had no answer for the Filipino beast. Even though the fight lasted until 55 seconds into the 12th and final round it was almost as if there was a sick curiosity from the referee to see just how much punishment Cotto could take. It was clear by the 8th round that he had nothing left to give and his face reflected that at the end of each round. Cotto, the world champion, was destroyed.
Now all eyes in the boxing world are focussed on one fight. Pacquiao vs Mayweather. In what Matthew Syed describes as: “the most seminal contest to have taken place in a boxing ring since Marvin Hagler put his middleweight title on the line against a twinkle-toed Sugar Ray Leonard at Caesars Palace in 1987”
To me, Floyd Mayweather .Jr is not just any old boxer, he is the best boxer I have ever watched. Even when he dismantled Ricky Hatton, you couldn’t help but admire the man. He talks a lot about blueprints. There is, because of him, a ‘blueprint to beat Hatton’, there have been ‘blueprints’ to beat Del La Hoya and Marquez, two fighters that are notches on his 40-0 record. Leading up to this potential blockbuster he will no doubt speak of how there is a ‘blueprint’ to beat Pacquiao and equally as important, no blueprint to beat Floyd Mayweather. There is a good chance that this will be the biggest fight in my lifetime and all I can say is, ‘Leeeeeeeeets Get Ready to Rumble’.
