Manny Happy Returns

Posted by Ryan Bates on 11.15.2009

Post-fight press conference revolves around the pound-for-pound best, the warrior who fell bravely in defeat, and a pretender to the throne put in jeopardy.


Photos by Laura De La Torre / 411mania.com

There can only be one Highlander. And, as of tonight, there can only be one pound-for-pound champion. That man is Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao. The evidence can be found in his strong, tough opponent Miguel Cotto's face, and in the words of all involved.

"Fight of the Year" and "Round of the Year" were easily thrown around the press-room as the fighters came in.

"I will go on the record," said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, "and say that I really believe that Manny Pacquiao is the best fighter I've ever seen. That includes Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler... the best fighter I've ever seen."

When questioned on the next opponent, Arum said, "Shane Mosley would have been a great opponent. What is he doing? He signed a contract with Berto. Don't let anyone say that Manny is ducking Mosley. He's ducking him that you can't fight two guys in the same night."

"Manny is open to fight anybody. If Floyd Mayweather wants to fight Manny Pacquiao, he knows who to call. Know that I hate him, he hates me. If he wants to fight Manny Pacquiao, have him call me."

Shortly after, Arum got his wish granted. "If this isn't what boxing is all about, I don't know what is," said Ross Greenburg, executive of HBO, with a message for Arum: "I just got off the phone with Richard Schaefer, and he said Bob Arum will be getting that call on Monday and he himself will come in to make that fight happen."

Manny was a little more humble though. "We just did our best, with my master -- he's not my trainer, he's my master -- Freddie Roach. I'm just doing my job to give a good fight on every fight. That's my goal, to give happiness and enjoyment to people who watch."

"I just think I'm an ordinary fighter," added Pacquiao.

"You're not ordinary," responded Roach.

"The first three rounds I tried to measure his power," commented Pacquiao on his fight. "I'm trying to fight toe-to-toe. Of course I respect Cotto, but his camp they were always saying he was bigger and stronger. I wanted to let him know who was stronger and tougher in that ring."

Of his seventh world title, Pacquiao said, "Nothing is impossible if you believe in God."

And then to prove it, he gave us a few bars of his hit, "Sometimes When We Touch."

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"Obviously, losing is not as good as winning," said Arum of the defeated champion. "But Cotto, against a normal great welterweight, will do just fine."

"Miguel has always been a courageous fighter, a great fighter. He just was in the ring with a guy who demonstrated to me and to Miguel that he is the best fighter of the era."

Cotto was sent to University Medical Center on the commission's orders on his own ability, and was unable to comment. He released a statement, saying he's okay, stating, "I know I have a cut. It's a fight. It's how I'm supposed to look." He stated that he hopes the fans enjoyed a great fight, and that Pacquiao was the best fighter he's ever been against.

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The undercard victors were just as pleased with their victories.

"I like the sound of world champion," said Yuri Foreman, new middleweight champion after beating Daniel Santos. "There are a lot of tough Jews. The Jews are a tough people. I was surprised that Daniel Santos looked big. I knew he would probably be aggressive. I respect him, I know he's a world champion.... former."

"Sports transcends nations," he added.

"I thank God because I felt good, and I hope that next year I can become a world champion," said Julio Cesar Chavez through his manager, who easily defeated Troy Rowland. "I wanted to have a knockout, but I couldn't knock him out."

Arum also added that the next challenge for Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. would be a possible match against New York's "Irish" John Duddy. About 15,335 saw the fight by closed-circuit, and 16,000 people who saw it live. Gate approximation is about $9 million.