MANILA, Philippines - Nakilala sa world boxing scene si Miguel Angel Cotto na isang napakalakas na welterweight fighter.
Ngunit sa kanilang megafight ni Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, hindi nangangamba si American trainer Freddie Roach sa mga pakakawalang suntok ng Puerto Rican.
“Manny is not going to back out for anybody. Manny has a really good chin because he has a big heart,” ani Roach sa panayam kahapon ng Doughouseboxing.com. “Of course Cotto’s power is a major concern for me but I really think that we will have no problems. I’m training Manny not to get hit.”
Nakatakda ang salpukan ng 30-anyos na si Pacquiao at ng 28-anyos na si Cotto sa Nobyembre 14 sa MGM Grand Garden Arena sa Las Vegas, Nevada kung saan itataya ng huli ang kanyang suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown.
Ibinabandera ni Pacquiao, naghari na sa flyweight, super bantamweight, super featherweight, lightweight at light welterweight divisions, ang 49-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 37 KOs, habang may 34-1-0 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 27 KOs kum-para sa 49-3-2 (37 KOs) card naman si Cotto.
Kasalukuyan nang pinapanood ng 49-anyos na si Roach ang anim na laban ni Cotto, kabilang na ang kanyang panalo kay Sugar Shane Mosley noong 2007.
“I have already watched several hours of Cotto’s fights. I have been concentrating on how well he did against Shane Mosley. How he neutralized Shane’s speed. Yes, we will have a great game plan for Cotto,” sabi ni Roach.
Kaugnay naman sa kanilang gagawing training ni Pacquiao, ang bagong International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight titlist, sinabi ni Roach na posible nila itong gawin sa Baguio City.
“Because of immigration laws he must spend five weeks training outside America. The laws say we can spend 183 days (yearly) in America and that means the last three weeks of training will be here at the WildCard,” ani Roach. “Right now the plans are to train in Baguio City in the Philippines at the Olympic Training Center.”
Nauna nang ikinunsi-dera ng kampo ni “Pacman” ang pagsasanay sa Bahamas, Vancouver, Canada at Mexico. (RCadayona)