Pacquiao, paborito sa laban

MANILA, Philippines - Dahil mas maraming pabor kay Manny Pacquiao, mas lalong namo-motivate si Miguel Cotto.

Ito ang sabi ng trainer ng Puerto Rican champion na si Joe Santiago.

“With all the people picking Pacquiao it gives Miguel extra motivation and fire to win,” ani Santiago sa isang artikulo sa fight fan.com matapos ang head trainer press conference call para sa Nov. 14 na laban kontra kay Pacquiao sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas.

Ayon kay Santiago, ganito rin daw ang nangyari nang kinalaban ni Cotto si Carlos Quintana ilang taon na ang nakakaraan.

“Many people were picking Quintana to win and that really motivated Miguel. The night of the fight he was so focused to prove people wrong that it really gave him a boost in the fight. We’re seeing that again with the way so many people are picking Pacquiao to win on Nov. 14. Miguel is driven by the people saying Pacquiao will beat him. It’s extra motivation and he is coming with fire because people are saying he can’t win.”

Sinabi ni Santiago na maganda ang takbo ng pagsasanay ni Cotto sa Tampa Florida.

“It’s been a really hard camp and all of our objectives have met. We’re having a great camp and Miguel is looking good. I think moving to camp to Tampa was a smart move and we’re very concentrated and focused. Everyone on the team is very confident about what we’re doing. Miguel has done everything asked of him in camp. Each week we’ve had a game plan and everything has been accomplished. We’re still sparring and working very hard this week and are just about set to begin toning it down as we get closer to the fight but we will continue to work with an intense focus. With Joe Chavez (cut-man) being here for the entire camp it has really been a benefit. I think his experience will help us on the night of the fight. Everyone on our team is on the same page and we are confident of victory.”

Sinabi rin ni Santiago na wallang magiging problema sa timbang ni Cotto pagda-ting sa gabi ng laban.

“Right now we’re on track to make the weight. We’ve been working hard and all the monitoring shows we are on pace. The commission has been monitoring and everything and we are right on track. We will be at 145 before the fight, no problem.”

Sa kampo ng Team Pacquiao, nakatakdang umalis sa Sabado ang delegasyon ni Pacman upang tapusin ang kanyang eight week training sa Wild Card Gym ni coach Freddie Roach bago tumulak sa Las Vegas isang linggo bago ang laban.