A Miguel Caught in a Perfect Manny Storm

When I heard this fight was fit to sail, I picked Cotto to win. I even worried about Manny’s safety. We all saw what Cotto did to Mosley’s Jaw. Manny came off beating an end of career Oscar De La Hoya and then an ill prepared Ricky Hatton. Miguel came off wins against Michael Jennings, who picked up a WBU strap and the ever capable, always dangerous for IBF Champion Joshua Clottey. As the fight left harbour, Cotto’s jab was classic and effective and he even landed some quality rights. How could Manny break this pattern? Then things got torrid. Stormy. The kind of danger you feel when the clouds are black and the wind suddenly reverses. Giant left hooks and a pressurized style from Miguel were met by Pacman finding range quicker, better and sharper. The pre-lightening tension is about to bust out over the ring. Then the familiar fury that Pacman shaves off fights with. Turning his ‘back against the ropes mistake’ into a fight changing knockdown. Wild attacks, a force of nature, no doubting either warriors heart, but Pacman punches like it means something. The way Gatti did. A fully loaded flooding wave washes in, a little stumble as a colossal left hook from Cotto rails against the storm, but the erosion of Miguel’s rock goes on. The crumble begins. The fault shows and the cracking commences. And still he punches. Still he fights. Pacman’s climate control dictating how much Cotto resists, when he fires and when he moves. A whirlwind insistence. To the end, to the last bell they will punch and punch…and punch. The volume of hail too great. The drumming of the gloves too far a stretch. Pacquaio, a Duran of our times, a great. A classic. For Cotto I have a new respect. No quit in him. To the end he was searching for ways and chances to win. I salute you both. It was history.