NO RUSH: Fight with Mayweather can wait--- Pacquiao

NEWLY- crowned WBO welterweight king Manny Pacquiao said he was said in no rush to fight American Floyd Mayweather Jr. as he flew back to a hero's welcome in his native Philippines Friday.

After his stunning 12th-round Las Vegas stoppage of Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto for a historic seventh title in as many weight division, the champ also suggested he might fight on beyond the much anticipated Mayweather showdown.

"We are not forcing a fight with him. It is right that he is the one challenging me, because my fights score more on pay per view,' said the 30-year-old southpaw, his swollen right hand and ear still wrapped in protective gauze. Earlier this week, Mayweather was quoted as saying he wanted to fight Pacquiao but the Filipino not indicated any interest.

"I have yet to hear him actually say, 'yes I want to fight Mayweather, "

Mayweather told USA today on Monday.

"Manny Pacquiao doesn't say anything directly about fighting me because he might just know it's not a fight he can win." Mayweather said.

Pacquiao on Friday stressed it was up to his promoter and coaching staff to find his next foe.

He admitted there were people around him, including his mother, who advised him to hang up his gloves while on top.

"I do not wish for him to fight "Weather" his mother Dionisia Pacquiao said in an interview aired on local radio on Friday.

"If he does, I will climb onto the ring myself--- I don't care if my son gets disqualified."

Pacquiao said "I am thinking about that. Of course, that's my parent and I respect my parent," he said.

But he said in another interview later Friday that Mayweather may not be his last ring opponent.

"It is too early to say that," Pacquiao said. He said the American was a different fighter to Cotto, or even Pacquiao's famous recent scalps-- Oscar De la Hoya and Ricky Hatton. "We will need a different style of fighting him," he said.

You have to adapt to the weather."

Pacquiao said he wanted to enjoy time his family . He refused to answer on his personal life, having earlier brushed off rumours his marriage was failing amids report he flew a starlet to Las Vegas to watch him win.

SOURCE: PEOPLE'S TONIGHT

AUTHOR: AFP

Pacquiao batters Cotto for TKO win

LAS VEGAS – Manny Pacquiao staked his claim atop boxing’s mythical throne as the pound-for-pound best, using his lightning hand speed to beat and batter Miguel Cotto into submission Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao knocked Cotto down once in the third round and again in the fourth, pummeled him repeatedly and easily lifted the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt from the Puerto Rican with a 12th-round stoppage. The time was 55 seconds into the final round, as referee Kenny Bayless leaped between the fighters to save Cotto a more savage beating and ignominious end

Cotto came out strong and landed some hard punches, but Cotto couldn’t deal with the speed. Pacquiao was landing three shots for every two Cotto did early. After the knockdown in the fourth, Cotto’s offense was nonexistent as he spent most of the last two thirds of the fight fending off Pacquiao’s onslaught.

Cotto landed in single digits in power shots in every round from the fifth forward.

Pacquiao nearly had the stoppage after the 11th when Cotto trainer Joe Santiago walked onto the ring apron and waved his hand at Bayless.

It appeared he was going to stop the fight, but then Bayless and ringside physician James Game spoke and allowed it to continue. It was only extending the misery as Pacquiao poured it on in the 12th.

When the fight ended, the crowd began to chant, “We want Floyd!” It was a reference to Floyd Mayweather Jr., the other man with a claim to the top of the boxing pound-for-pound list.

Pacquiao, who has won championship belts in five divisions and beat the linear champion in two others, can no longer be knocked as a small man who was beating washed up fighters.

In Cotto, he took on an elite and powerful welterweight whose only loss came under suspicious circumstances to Antonio Margarito last year. There is suspicion that Margarito’s gloves were loaded for that fight, though it has never been proven.

But Pacquiao proved he was able to not only take a welterweight punch, but rock him repeatedly. It was a magnificent performance and will create public demand for a fight with Mayweather.

“I want to see him fight Mayweather,” Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said.

Santiago said Pacquiao hit harder and was stronger than expected. Cotto injured his left shoulder in the eighth.

SOURCE: YAHOO SPORTS

AUTHOR: KEVIN LOLE

Manny wins over Cotto at Round 12

Once again Manny wins. At Round 12 the referee decided to stop the fight because Cotto give up. According to the announcer Cotto is like chicken running without head away from Manny. First in the History Manny wins 7 title. From round 1 t0 12 Manny is so confident. At second round Cotto bend his knee on the rin. Manny always releasing combination. Once again Manny give his best to win this fight for the Philippines.

Round 2- Pacquiao- Cotto

Manny release his jab but Cotto defense already. Right hook release by Manny. Cotto punch always on Manny's body. They are both very aggressive now. Manny release again his combination but Cotto is fast.

ROUND 1: PACQUIAO-COTTO

The fight start to begin Manny and Cotto are both in the stages now. Manny is always wearing his smile while Cotto is very serious. Miguel Cotto start punch Pacquiao. Two jab by Cotto. Manny release his combination left and right. Cotto is too aggressive.

TALE OF THE TAPE

PACQUIAO COTTO

General Santos City, RP HOMETOWN Caguas, Puerto Rico

49-3-2 (37 KOs) RECORD 34-1 (27 KOs)

Dec. 17, 1978 BIRTH DATE Oct. 29, 1980

144 lbs WEIGHT 145 lbs

5'6 1/2 HEIGHT 5'8

67" REACH 69"

38" CHEST NORMAL 39"

41" CHEST EXPANDED 41"

13" BICEPS 13"

12" FOREARM 11 1/2

28" WAIST 32"

20" THIGH 22 1/2

15" CALF 12"

16" NECK 16"

8" WRIST 7 1/2"

10" FIST 11"

READY TO RUMBLE: Boxing champ Pacquiao uses ring to get message across

LAS VEGAS, Nevada-- Manny Pacquiao has made no secret of his political ambitions outside the ring but dabling in government isn't the same as taking it on as a full time career, saya trainer Freddie Roach.

Roach said Pacquiao may run for office in his native for Philippines, but after the fighter gets a taste of political life Roach expect him to eventually return to his boxing roots.

"I would love to see him go out on top," Roach said. "The thing is he can fight for a long time, because his work ethic is s great,"

"Once he gets into politics and finds out how corrupt it is, he will come back to boxing. He can do more as a boxer than a politician for his countrymen. Although he's proven me wrong before." Pacquiao faces Miguel Cotto in a World Boxing Organization welterweight title fight Saturday at the MGM Grand hotel and casino.

The first fight of the round will be dangerous for both fighters and Roach said their plan is to hit Cotto with some big shots from the opening bell.

"I don't have to tell him the game plan anymore,"Roach said.

It is automatic now. I makes move in training like Cotto makes in the fight. It is like a dance. He knows exactly what to do in those situations.

Roach says they can shake Cotto confidence by hitting him early. "We are going to start quick anyway."

"We are going to show are power in the first round and hit him to remind him of the punches he took in the (Antonio) Margarito fight.

"We are not going to go in and start swinging at him we are going to do it smart. We will walk Cotto into the fight because he follows, and when he follows we will take advantage of that."

Roach said if the smaller Pacquiao doesn't have the power to knock Cotto out then he can wear him down with his superior hand speed and lighting quick feet.

" I honestly don't think we are going to knock him out,"

"Manny's foot movement and speed is too much for Cotto. That's where the fight is won in foot speed and that is where Manny excels."

After watching hours of tape of Cotto in his most recent fights, Roach predicts he will do one of two things.

"He is going to use his strength and come forward and show us he is a bigger, stronger guy or he is going to try to become a counter puncher. But you can't become someone elsei n an eight-week period. We have a perfect game plan, I think."

SOURCE: PEOPLE'S TONIGHT

AUTHOR : GREG HEAKES

MOBBED IN VEGAS

LAS VEGAS- Miguel Cotto is the reigning welterweight champion, who puts his World Boxing Organization (WBO) title on the line this Saturday (Sunday in Manila). Unfortunately, the hype and adulation centered around Manny Pacquiao Tuesday when the two superstars formally arrived at the MGM Grand Hotel, four days before they finally slug it to out in the ring and give life to a 12-round fight anticipated by many to be one of the biggest in 2009. Mobbed and his name repeatedly chanted by the huge crowd that gathered at the lobby of the luxurious hotel, the Filipino ring icon, no doubt, was the star of the show with cameras clicking and videos, rolling while Team Pacquiao that included trainer Freddie Roach, were being led from the entrance into the make shift ring at the center of the building.

Chants of Manny! Manny! Manny! and placards bearing the words "Pacman Pound-for-Pound King! were all over the place as people gathered around to see the glimpse of the boxing superstar from the Philippines, never mind that he arrived 30 minutes late for the appointed time of the welcome reception arranged by Top Rank Promotions.

An hour later, it was the turn of Cotto and his associates to be greeted at the hotel lobb. The impact of their arrival, however, was not the same.

But Cotto is unfazed.

"I expected it to like this. Everything Manny has, he has earned," said Cotto, without anyhint of disgust.

Besides, the champion stressed come fight night would only be him and the Pacman inside the ring.

"It's going to be just Manny, Miguel Cotto and the referee inside the ring," said Cotto, who scored a split decision win over Joshua Clottey in his WBO title defense last June at the Madison Square Garden in New York. "Nobody can come and give anything to Manny."

Pacquiao said he's happy with all the adulation being given him as among the faces of boxing today and the universally acknowledged top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

"I'm happy for that and understand this is part of it all," said Pacquiao during the 15-minute question-and-answer portion he had with members of the press at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

But hero worship aside, Pacquiao, who was welcomed amidst a Filipiniana-type atmosphere, said he's all geared up for the Cotto bout.

"I'm, right now, ready to go," he said. "I believe in myself. I don't want to say anything before the fight, but will wait until we meet in the ring. "My motivation? I am fighting for people who love boxing." Unlike the cheerful approach of Pacquiao, Cotto was more combative.

A 2000 Sydney Olympian, Cotto said he's ready to offset the speed Pacquiao is going to bring into the ring.

"I'm prepared for the speed of Manny," he said. "I have equal hand speed and prepared well with my sparring partners. I'm prepared for anything. We have the key to the fight," said Cotto .

"Our camp has made the difference."

SOURCE: PEOPLE'S TONIGHT

AUTHOR: GERRY RAMOS