Manny sees all-out war against Cotto

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao said his coming fight with Miguel Cotto will be far from being boring even if the Puerto Rican champion is not putting his WBO welterweight title at stake.

Pacquiao said he agreed to fight Cotto on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas because it’s the fight the fans want to see and that only the 27-year-old Cotto could give him a good fight.

“He has the biggest potential to give me and the fans a good fight,” said Pacquiao who should start training for the fight by the second week of September or right after the press tour.

Pacquiao said it wouldn’t matter if the WBO crown is not at stake.

“It was agreed upon that there will be no championship belt at stake because it’s a catchweight of 145 pounds, which is two pounds off the welterweight limit of 147 pounds,” Pacquiao said through his regular column.

“But even if there’s no belt, what’s important is the pound-for-pound title. Siguradong umaatikabong bakbakan ito, walang takbuhan at walang atrasan o habulan (this is war, no quarters asked, none given),” said Pacquiao.

Bob Arum said the other day that Cotto, the underdog, has decided not to put his title on the line because he doesn’t want to pay the sanction fee, which could amount to $400,000.

But the legendary promoter said with or without the title, the fight should be the biggest this year.

“Nobody in the US cares about the title,” Arum told The STAR even if it means that Pacquiao won’t have a crack at winning a historic seventh world title in different weight classes (a number that is being disputed).

 However, WBO president Francisco Valcarcel assured fight fans it’s going to be a title fight because Cotto is the champion and Pacquiao is the No. 1 contender.

“You tell me if it’s worth $400,000 to defend his belt. I think not. Cotto’s making more money against Pacquiao than he ever has in his life, so why should he flush four hundred grand down the toilet?” wrote Tim Starks of The Queensbury Rules.

The WBO can threaten to strip Cotto, who can earn more than $6 million against Pacquiao, of his crown, but observers believe that won’t be enough to make him let go of his money.

“Now, this could be some kind of negotiating ploy where Cotto gets another party – Arum, perhaps, or Pacquiao – to pay the fees,” Starks also wrote.

Pacquiao said it will be a great clash of styles when he faces Cotto, the bigger, younger but slower fighter. This early, Pacquiao has been installed as a 2-1 favorite.

“With our styles, it wouldn’t be boring. Expect us to go at it right from the start, right from the opening bell. And I expect the fans to come and watch this fight,” said Pacquiao who stands to earn at least $12 million.