Cotto: "I Gave Pacquiao the Key to Victory by Exchanging Blows."

[KING MEAT]

Stoic Puerto Rican warrior Miguel Cotto is a man of few words, usually short with answers and leaving his future to promotional firm Top Rank.

This weekend during a visit to ESPN Deportes' Golpe a Golpe, Cotto was more than happy to share thoughts on a November 2009 loss to Manny Pacquiao.

According to Cotto, a lapse in strategic fighting was his ultimate downfall against the dangerous Filipino.

"I was doing well the first few rounds by boxing," said Cotto. "But when he knocked me down in the third, I stopped doing what was working and went blow for blow with him."

In in that choice, he handed the fight to Pacquiao.

"I gave him the key to victory by exchanging blows," said Cotto.

Cotto eventually lost via a 12th round technical knock-out after being downed in the third, fourth, and and taking a beating through out the evening.

Maybe Cotto's uncharacteristic dialouge were the beginnings of a campaign to rematch with Pacquiao in late 2011, or 2012 - one that few believe the Puerto Rican could win.

Next for Miguel Cotto is a likely Summer rematch against Antonio Margarito at New Jersey's New Meadowlands Stadium.

[DR.ORGYY]

pacquiao gave him the keys to the canvas

[Hi-Dro]

true...

he would have done better if he didn't stand in front of Pac, or exchange punches with him. Predominantly because those exchanges were wild, non-strategic, and out of the south paw stance, which Cotto is not best at.

[BTL]

So cottos career has come down to mistakes?

[DeelDough]

Ive always said that Cotto has the tools , but not the game plan to beat Pac.

Its true what he said he started good.

I haven't seen no one in the last 3 years. Give Pacquiao a more competitive start.And ppl will mention JMM , but that was the lower weight classes. Pacquiao has grown into a WW. And his speed is always in advantage when he fights.

Some ppl say , well , Pacquiao said he wanted to test Cotto. Okay , maybe yes , one or two punches. But there is no way , Pacquiao did not feel his power.

Im not sure if he will pull it off or not , but Cotto can be more competitive and give himself the biggest chance , if he just boxes Pacquiao for the most part.

You cannot get into a brawl with Pac , you just cant. He has the upper hand in work rate and speed. BLAZING FKN SPEED.

Thats why JMM had so much success against him.

Pacquiao fought Margarito at 150 and not Cotto , because he knew Cotto had skills.

He knew he was going to hit Margarito at will. So 150 was ok for him. But not Ok for Cotto. He had to ask Cotto for 6 more pounds. Not that it would have made any difference. Unless Cotto boxed him all the way.

Cotto has to deliver a perfect fight. No mistakes. he needs that Jab and timing. He needs to counter smart and be precise.

Easier said than done.

[Carpe Diem]

In other news, water is wet.

[NORMAN BLACK]

BOXING or BRAWLING cotto will be beaten by PAC , COTTOS problem is his stamina he cannot matched PAC in energy.

[ModernTalking]

LOL at Cotto doing well the first few rounds. The first round was the only one where he did well and that was because PAC was just feeling him out.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Does Cotto have the tools? Don't think so, even if he came in with the right game plan I can't ever see him beating Pacquiao. Doesn't have the/ throw the right hand consistently enough, he doesn't clinch, needs to get set up and his body attack consists solely on his left hook to the body, which Pacquiao easily neutralized. Even when he had both his hands up Pacquiao threw uppercuts down the middle and opened up more opportunities. Even if Cotto decided not to get into any exchanges, Pacquiao would outpoint him...

[KING MEAT]

Clottey realized a few months later that all he had to do was throw poonches back.