V8: Pacquiao/Cotto, Roach, Mayweather, Kirkland, and more!!!

Cotto/Pacquiao: Who Holds The X-Factor?

In Manny Pacquiao you have a fast, intense, and deadly accurate fighter whose vocabulary has never included the word quit. In Miguel Cotto, you have a strong warrior whose commitment to the body alone makes him one of the most feared men in the sport. Pacquiao comes in on a high note - soundly defeating Ricky Hatton; While Cotto comes into the fight with an ego that was badly bruised against Margarito, and subsequently jarred by Joshua Clottey. The momentum appears to be in favor of the Filipino, but the one thing that isn't, and perhaps the biggest detriment to him overall in this affair is power. The power of Marquez, Barrera, and Morales (all featherweights at the time - and perhaps the biggest punchers Pacquiao has ever faced) strongly pale in comparison to that of the man who now stands across from him. Power thrills and speed kills, but what gives? With so many attributes to consider and compare, perhaps the main intangible will come down to the influence and strategy of the men in the corners. We know Roach is a chess-master, but if the services of Emmanuel Steward does come into the fold for Cotto, will that wide gap narrow quickly? In the alphabet, the letter "W" comes before X, but in this case, Cotto will need this "X" (factor) before he can truly have a chance to get the "W". Think about it...

Freddie Roach: Could He Be The Best?

Freddie Roach has been the lead-man in the corner of some very prominent fighters. A list which includes the likes of "Iron" Mike Tyson, Oscar De la Hoya, James Toney, and a countless amount of others. Despite having a direct hand in the ring affairs of such greats, it's two men currently on his roster that have best demonstrated his true worth. Both came into the professional landscape of the sport with a certain amount of talent, but many would argue that neither could have reached this level without his 'finishing touch'. Pacquiao's intensity, paired with his ring knowledge and style have been brilliant, but in the case of Amir Khan, he was able to take a vastly unproven fighter with a broken ego and tap into potential that most new of, yet had never seen in top form. To call him the greatest ever is debatable, but to deny his worth as potentially the best in the sport today...some would say far from.

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