MANILA, Philippines - Sa pagiging mas malapad at mas malakas ni Puerto Rican world welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, ang bilis at liksi ni Manny Pacquiao ang magiging bentahe ng Filipino boxing superstar.
Ito ang inihayag kahapon ni American trainer Freddie Roach sa panayam ng Las Vegas Review Journal ukol sa megafight nina Pacquiao at Cotto sa Nobyembre 14 sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
“For this fight, speed is going to be important,” ani Roach. “I think if you get Cotto in a fast-paced fight, he’ll tire. So we want to come out quick and set a fast pace. Speed is our biggest asset.”
May taas ang 28-anyos na si Cotto na 5-foot-7 at may reach na 67 inches, samantalang 5’6 1/2 naman ang 30-anyos na si Pacquiao at may 67 inch-reach.
Nakatakdang magtungo ang 49-anyos na si Roach sa Pilipinas sa Agosto para kausapin si Pacquiao hinggil sa kanilang gagawing plano laban kay Cotto, ang kasalukuyang World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight titlist.
“I know Cotto pretty well. But I haven’t really studied him yet. I have a pretty good idea how we want to fight him, but until I sit down, watch the tapes and talk to Manny, we’re still in the planning stage,” ani Roach.
Idinagdag ni Roach na higit na mas malakas at mas malapad si Cotto kumpara sa 5’10 1/2 na si Oscar Dela Hoya na tinalo ni Pacquiao via eight-round TKO noong Disyembre 6 sa kanilang non-title welterweight fight sa MGM Grand.
Mula sa pagiging light middleweight, bumaba ang 36-anyos na si Dela Hoya sa welterweight para maitakda ang kanilang laban ni Pacquiao.
“He’s a little bigger and a little bit stronger,” pagkukum-para ni Roach kina Cotto at Dela Hoya. “But I think Manny’s the better boxer, and Manny’s defense is the best it’s been. I think Manny will stop him along the way.”
Ibinabandera ni Pacquiao, ang tanging Asian fighter na naghari sa limang magkakaibang weight division, ang 49-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 37 KOs, habang dala ni Cotto ang 34-1-0 (27 KOs) slate. (Russell Cadayona)