Barely two weeks before the biggest boxing encounter of the year, Manny Pacquiao's coach Freddie Roach is holding on to his prediction of a first round knock out by Pacquiao over Cotto in their 'Firepower' match in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Famous boxing coach and trainer Freddie Roach is confident of Manny Pacquiao grabbing the IBO championship belt from his opponent Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in their 'Firepower' match on November 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Roach said Cotto cannot handle Pacquiao's speed and this will work to the advantage of the Filipino boxer who is wrapping up his training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood for his final salvo in Las Vegas.
Sunstar.com reports:
"Working the mitts with Manny at this weight, he is punching so much harder than he ever has. He is very used to it now. He is punching fast and hard now that I don't think Cotto as enough," Roach said
"I feel I am one hundred percent conditioned for the fight and I can't wait for November 14th," Pacquiao said in a recent conference call.
At the start of training in preparation for the November 14 fight, Roach told sports writers he is confident Pacquiao will win over the bigger and stronger Cotto without specifically saying how the fight will end but hinted the fight will go the distance.
Several days later, the famous American boxing coach suddenly came up with a prediction that Pacquiao will knock out Cotto in the first round. He revealed Pacquiao's new found speed and power after about three weeks of training in the mountain city of Baguio in northern Philippines.
A little less than two weeks before fight night, Roach is not changing his prediction and instead opted to stand by his first round knock out forecast. Cotto's camp says Roach is trying to engage Cotto in a psychological battle but the Puerto Rican boxer refused to comment on the bold prediction of popular boxing coach.
But in a press conference after his birthday celebration, Cotto finally issued statements to the press in response to Roach's continued assault on his ability to overcome Pacquiao's speed and power. Cotto's camp maintains that the Puerto Rican boxer will win because he is bigger, stronger and younger than the pound-for- pound king.
The Sunstar report added: With both the Pacquiao and Cotto camps exuding confidence with only days leading to the fight, a war is expected between these two ring gladiators.
Cotto is strong, bigger and the younger fighter.
Pacquiao is faster, equally strong and hungry, greatly motivated by the fact that he is fighting for history. All he needs is one more smashing performance
The Pacquiao-Cotto boxing match will take place at the MGM Grand Garden on November 14 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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