Philippine Sports News and Updates

Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, one of the possible next foes of Manny Pacquiao, has nothing but praises for the world’s pound-for-pound king.

Cotto, the WBO welterweight champion, told Examiner.com that he was also shocked by Pacquiao’s second round demolition of Ricky Hatton in the “Battle of East and West.”

“This was a huge surprise, I think, for everyone out there,” he remarked.

“He is one of the greatest boxers,” Cotto said of Pacquiao.

“I hear all the talk (on Pacquiao),” he mentioned on pitting him against “the Pacman.”

Aside from Cotto, other fighters deemed as Pacquiao’s possible opponents include Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez (depending on who wins the July 18 Mayweather-Marquez bout).

“Sugar” Shane Mosley even offered a 40-60 split to face Pacquiao. But nothing has been finalized yet.

Cotto added, “But I keep my focus on this fight, on Joshua Clottey."

The Puerto Rican will face Ghana’s Clottey on June 13 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

Clottey, the former IBF welterweight champion, has a record of 35-2, with 21 KOs. Cotto, meanwhile, is at 33-1, with 27 KOs.

Pacquiao and his trainer, Freddie Roach, are expected to watch the bout at ringside.

Meantime, a Filipino fighter is set to fight in the Cotto-Clottey undercard. According to the Madison Square Garden website, www.TheGarden.com, Rodel Mayol will challenge WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan Calderon in 12 rounds.

Mayol, who hails from Mandaue City in Cebu, has 25 wins, three losses, and 19 knockouts. Puerto Rico’s Calderon, on the other hand, is undefeated at 32-0 with six knockouts.

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