Cotto happy with underdog tag
Reuters - Fri, 06 Nov 07:19:00 2009
Miguel Cotto has no qualms about being listed as the bookmakers' underdog for his WBO welterweight title defence against Filipino Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas next week.
The Puerto Rican, who has an enviable career record of 34-1 featuring 27 knockouts, is confident his power and meticulous preparation will trump Pacquiao's speed when the fighters clash on November 14.
"I don't know anything about the betting business," Cotto said call from his training camp in Las Vegas. "I am just here to try to bring my best every day in the gym.
"With all the work I make in my training camp, I am going to the fight to win money.
"I am here for myself, not for any kind of bet. I am prepared for anything Manny can bring to this fight. He has a lot of things besides his speed and I am prepared for all he can show me at this time."
Pacquiao, (49-3-2, 37 KOs), is widely viewed as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world but Cotto believes the Filipino southpaw has picked the wrong opponent for his first bout in the welterweight division.
"Manny comes from a lower weight division and if he thinks he is going to have the same power as Miguel Cotto, he is thinking pretty wrong," the Puerto Rican said.
"He has picked the wrong moment and the wrong fighter. If he thinks he is going to win against Miguel Cotto, he is pretty wrong."
Cotto, who retained his WBO title with a gruelling split decision win over Ghana's Joshua Clottey in June, was confident he would be able to cope with Pacquiao's renowned speed.
"We know he has speed and style and that is why you prepare yourself to beat him," he said. "You will find out on the 14th how I am going to deal with his speed and it is not going to be the factor that everyone thinks it is."
Pacquiao cemented his status as the sport's premier fighter with a stunning second round knockout of Britain's Ricky Hatton in May to claim the IBO light welterweight crown.
Since then, he and his trainer Freddie Roach have frequently discussed the possibility of a lucrative bout with undefeated American welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr, leaving many fans to regard the Cotto fight as a formality.
Cotto, however, was unfazed by suggestions he was being underappreciated by the Pacquiao camp.
"What they say and do doesn't concern me," the 29-year-old said.
"I know they know what they have in front of them. I know what I can do to him and he better be focused on what he is up against in Miguel Cotto.
"It's not really important what the boxing world wants to see or wants to do.
"Once I beat Manny Pacquiao on November 14, they continue their plans and do whatever they want but I am not going home without winning this fight."
This site is Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! and Eurosport. All rights reserved.
- Terms of Service
- Updated Privacy Policy
- Copyright/IP Policy
- Remarks and Suggestions
- Corporate info
- Jobs at Eurosport
Notice: We collect personal information on this site. To learn more about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy.
Comment 1 - 4 of 4
i think this is a @#$%e to call. all this ranting and raving about pacquiao. he isnt unbeatable i hope you all know. my own prediction is, that this fight will go the full distance, and pacquiao will win narrowly on points ! ill look forward to seeing this one !
Well Chad if you know so much about boxing, then maybe you can tell us all exactly how Cotto will beat Pacquaio? Cotto tends to be a slow starter and against a guy like Pacquaio that means big trouble for him. Everyone keeps talking about Pacquaio's speed, but speed is not his only weapon. He also has great head movement, has this ability to make a guy miss. Unlike the earlier fights in his career, he seems to know when to throw a lot of punches and when to back off. It amazes me how people do not rate Pacquaio enough, yet they give far more respect to people like FMJ, who has not even fought the best around.
Only way i can see Pacquaio loosing this fight is, if he gets a really bad cut and it stops him from fighting his usual way. A bit like the cut he got against Marquez in the second fight.
Either way, this will be a great fight between to great fighters.
I can't wait .
size is irrelivant since deyre equal. it youd be between speed power and aggresion vs solid defence and strength. prediction: pacman tko or ko between 5th and 8th round. if you guys think he cannot ko cotto out ........ ur kiddin your selves. but this is boxing ........ cotto might win it
I consider myself to know alot about boxing and I am very confident in saying Miguel Cotto will be too much for Manny Pacquiao. I predict cotto will win by TKO in the later rounds. possibly the 10th.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account