Op-Ed: Fans Applaud Pacquiao and Cotto for Sportsmanship and Humility

Boxing fans and supporters from around the world are applauding Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto for their show of sportsmanship and humility in projecting themselves as deserving role models for the young people who are into boxing and other sports.

Less than 24 hours before the Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto face each other at the MGM Grand Garden arena for the 'Firepower' match, millions of fans around the world are applauding them for their sportsmanship and humility despite harsh words thrown at them by some of their fanatic fans and supporters. These two great fighters indeed deserve to be applauded for their show of humility and respect for each other's ability and qualities as professional boxers. By doing so, they serve as role models for young people who are into boxing and other sports. During their training, Pacquiao and Cotto have tried hard to restrain themselves by not criticizing each other's capabilities as boxers. Pacquiao has not uttered words that can be considered demeaning to Cotto as a professional boxer. The Filipino boxing idol did not even predict that he will knock Cotto down or on which round is he going to finish Cotto. In fact Pacquiao even admitted that he is facing a tough fighter in the Puerto Rican boxer. Instead of attacking Cotto during his interviews with sportswriters, Pacquiao would just issue statements such as these: "We believe we have an advantage in speed and in power, too," Pacquiao said. "My speed is still there and if you have speed you can create power." "I set aside everything that can distract my mind," Pacquiao said. "This is the important fight of my life. To win seven titles means 20 or 30 years ago you won't forget my name. Manny Pacquiao will still be there." “This is the most important fight of my career. Cotto believes he's stronger and bigger than me. And of course I believe in myself. If I win this fight, it will be history for boxing and for the Philippines." Like Pacquiao, Cotto has not issued statements that could be considered as an attack on Pacquiao's ability as a professional boxer. Cotto has these to say: If he (Pacquiao) thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent. If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong," Cotto said. "It's just a fight," Cotto said. "I'm not mad that people want me to win this fight or not. If he thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent. Nowhere in these statements did any one of the two great sportsmen say anything that is insulting or demeaning to their ability as professional boxers. And for having projected themselves as good role models, they deserve to be applauded.