SuperD Boxing Coach: PICHA ZA MAPAMBANO YA NGUMI YALIYOTIKISA DUNIANI

Friday, April 6, 2012

PICHA ZA MAPAMBANO YA NGUMI YALIYOTIKISA DUNIANI

Miguel Cotto (l) and Manny Pacquiao (r) meet next Saturday in the most anticipated bout of the year...

Boarding a plane Wednesday morning to head to Vegas for the much anticipated fight between pound for pound #1 in the world Manny Pacquiao and challenger Miguel Cotto, in what could easily be a fight of the year candidate. I’ll be shooting the fight itself for HBO, as a second shooter to colleague and friend Will Hart, so I’ll be in aux, and he’ll cover ringside. I will be hanging some remotes as well though. Anyway, looking forward to this fight. I’ve been covering Miguel Cotto for awhile now, and next Saturday will mark the 12th time I’m shooting one of his fights. He’s been fun to cover throughout, and is always polite and accommodating, the first time I covered Cotto I walked away with a BWAA Photo of the Year for his celebration of his KO over Ricardo Torres.

Miguel Cotto celebrates his come from behind KO of Ricardo Torres. This photo won the 2005 BWAA Photo of the Year.

I’ve also shot several workouts with Cotto, and even after a hard workout and answering questions from the media,

Even after a workout, he's made time for a quick pose here and there...

he’ll make time to let me get a quick posed shot in private. Here’s a quick story to show you just the type of “nice guy” he can be. I was assigned to do a workout shoot with Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko several years ago, when I arrived, I took the opportunity to clear a posed shoot as well, it was okayed, and we brought in and set up the light kits, and had it all ready to go for the end of the workout. Shot the workout, once it ended, I took them into the other room at which time I was told they changed their minds and didn’t feel like doing it. Complete waste of time? Nope, Miguel Cotto who was an up and coming fighter at the time was on-site watching the workouts, and stepped in to take some shots. He was in a suit and tie, so it didn’t fit the normal studio boxing look, but after we took a few, he took off his suit, and stripped down to the waist so the pics would be more useable for us (without asking). I’ve actually made a fair amount of sales from that impromptu shoot.
To this day I’ve had 8 magazine covers featuring Cotto, and won two BWAA Photo of the Year awards with images from his fights, safe to say I’m a fan. Now on the flipside of the ring will be Manny Pacquiao. I’ve only shot two of Manny’s fights, but on both occasions I’ve had the chance to work his dressing room for HBO. It’s hard to root against Manny as well.

Manny Pacquiao relaxes in his dressing room before facing Oscar De La Hoya. Photo: Ed Mulholland/HBO

He’s relaxed, joke’s around and it’s like a party in his dressing room, even before the biggest of fights (i.e. Oscar De La Hoya). He’s always got a group around him, and if you have ever seen HBO’s 24/7, his dressing room is just like his camps and his life in general. He’s another world-class athlete and a world-class individual, in and out of the ring and a pleasure to work with, even under a pressure situation like fight night. It should also be noted that his trainer Freddie Roach is tremendous at keeping the atmosphere focused but relaxed on fight night, and it’s Freddie that ok’s my being in the dressing room.
So here we are just days away from the biggest fight of the year. It’s easily the biggest challenge either fighter has faced, and it’s truly a pick’em fight. If Pacquiao wins, he easily cements the mythical pound 4 pound title, even with Floyd Mayweather’s return. If Cotto wins, he has another signature win over a future HOF’er and becomes an elite superstar in the sport. What happens on November 14th is anyone’s guess, I’m just happy I’m going to be there shooting it. My suggestion is you should be watching it. I’ll leave you with some images from past fight’s of each fighter that I’ve covered…