The sportsbook odds for November 14th's showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas aren't giving Cotto very much credit, but he shouldn't take it to heart as he's facing the world's No.1 pound-for-pound fighter. What does Cotto need to do to try and give Pacquiao his first loss in over four years?
Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) is stepping outside of his comfort zone of New York's Madison Square Garden, where he's won his last two fights, including a split decision over Josh Clottey. His last fight in Las Vegas came in July 2008, when he lost his only professional fight to Antonio Margarito, who was accused of wrapping his hands in plaster. This is easily the biggest fight of Cotto's career, even bigger than his wins over Shane Mosley and Zab Judah. Cotto likes to go at his opponent, but he'll need to be patient on November 14th.
Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) fought a similar opponent to Cotto in his last fight, and that ended up in a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao may be the world's quickest boxer, but he's shown he can knock out bigger guys like Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya. He has the patience and skill to counteract with ferocity, which is while he's such a massive online betting favorite.
Pacquiao is rated as a -270 boxing betting favorite in this contest, and this is his third fight in a row at the MGM Grand, which is where Cotto lost to Margarito. Cotto is a talented boxer, and if he catches Pacquiao with a clean shot, it could be over for the world No.1. However, Pacquiao can also throw the hands, and he's very tough to get a clean shot on. We're skeptical on whether Cotto has the patience to wait for an opening against Pacquiao, because if he tries to rush in and force the action, well, he just has to look at tape of the Hatton fight to see how that turned out.
--BetOnline.com
Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) is stepping outside of his comfort zone of New York's Madison Square Garden, where he's won his last two fights, including a split decision over Josh Clottey. His last fight in Las Vegas came in July 2008, when he lost his only professional fight to Antonio Margarito, who was accused of wrapping his hands in plaster. This is easily the biggest fight of Cotto's career, even bigger than his wins over Shane Mosley and Zab Judah. Cotto likes to go at his opponent, but he'll need to be patient on November 14th.
Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) fought a similar opponent to Cotto in his last fight, and that ended up in a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton. Pacquiao may be the world's quickest boxer, but he's shown he can knock out bigger guys like Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya. He has the patience and skill to counteract with ferocity, which is while he's such a massive online betting favorite.
Pacquiao is rated as a -270 boxing betting favorite in this contest, and this is his third fight in a row at the MGM Grand, which is where Cotto lost to Margarito. Cotto is a talented boxer, and if he catches Pacquiao with a clean shot, it could be over for the world No.1. However, Pacquiao can also throw the hands, and he's very tough to get a clean shot on. We're skeptical on whether Cotto has the patience to wait for an opening against Pacquiao, because if he tries to rush in and force the action, well, he just has to look at tape of the Hatton fight to see how that turned out.
--BetOnline.com
