* Former world champion Bernard Hopkins, who reigned supreme in the middleweight division for a decade. Cotto is the most dangerous fight of Pacquiao's career and I think Cotto will win on a decision. "Manny is a big puncher and a good boxer but he has never faced a natural welterweight like Miguel. * Felix 'Tito' Trinidad, a five-time world champion who ruled as a welterweight, junior-middleweight and middleweight. I think he will knock him out in (round) seven or eight. * Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, one of the most fearsome and notorious fighters of all time. Some of the biggest names in boxing have been speaking about the hotly anticipated bout scheduled for 12 rounds: Pacquiao, regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, expects to face the toughest challenge of his career against Cotto for the WBO welterweight title, What other boxers are saying about Pacquiao-Cotto But you can't become someone else in an eight-week period. "He is going to use his strength and come forward and show us he is a bigger stronger guy or he is going to try to become a counterpuncher. That's where the fight is won in foot speed and that is where Manny excels."Īfter watching hours of tape of Cotto in his most recent fights, Roach predicts he will do one of two things. "Manny's foot movement and speed is too much for Cotto. "I honestly don't think we are going to knock him out," said Roach. Roach said if the smaller Pacquiao doesn't have the power to knock Cotto out, then he can wear him down with his superior hand speed and lightning quick feet. We will walk Cotto into a fight because he follows and when he follows we will take advantage of that." "We are not going to go in and start swinging at him we are going to do it smart. "We are going to show our power in the first round and hit him to remind him of the punches he took in the (Antonio) Margarito fight." Roach says they can shake Cotto's confidence by hitting him early. He knows exactly what to do in those situations. I make moves in training like Cotto makes in the fight. "I don't have to tell him the game plan anymore," Roach said. The first round of the fight will be dangerous for both fighters, and Roach said their plan is to hit Cotto with some big shots from the opening bell. Pacquiao, 30, last fought in May when he delivered a stunning second round knockout of Britain's Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand to claim the IBO light welterweight crown. The 29-year-old Cotto will be fighting for the first time since he retained his WBO title with a split decision win over Ghana's Joshua Clottey in June. The atmosphere was electric as the two fighters made their way on to a raised stage for Friday's televised weigh-in where former boxing great Roberto Duran and undefeated WBO super bantamweight Juan Manuel Lopez were among those attending. The Filipino dynamo tipped the scales at 144 pounds in front of a boisterous crowd of about 6,500 at the MGM Grand Hotel's Garden Arena.Ĭotto, 34-1 (27 KOs), was right on the limit for the scheduled 12-round bout, which will be fought at a contracted weight of 145 pounds.Īlthough Cotto has won a world title every year since 2004 and will be competing in his natural division, Pacquiao is widely viewed as the favorite. Pacquiao, 49-3-2 (37 knockouts), weighed in on Friday (Saturday in Manila) just a pound lighter than Cotto as the Filipino was greeted by deafening cheers from his supporters on the eve of the fight. Pacquiao will attempt to become the first boxer to win a seventh title in seventh weight classes on Saturday in the "Firepower" match at the MGM Grand hotel and casino.Īside from the WBO welterweight crown, Pacquiao and Cotto will be fighting for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond belt in the 145-pound catch weight. "People's Champ" Manny Pacquiao shoots for boxing glory when he faces World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
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