Manny Pacquiao hoping for Miguel Cotto Knock Out to carve a place in boxing history

Miguel Cotto is determined to halt Manny Pacquiao's march towards the history books at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas when he defends his WBO welterweight title against the world's top pound-for-pound fighter on Saturday night.

Fighting fit: Manny Pacquiao is ready to make history against Miguel Cotto in Vegas

Yet Pacquiao is the man with momentum and he could rewrite the history books by becoming the only prize fighter in history to claim seven world titles in seven weight divisions if he defeats Cotto.

Cotto, who has 34 wins (27 KOs) and just one defeat to his name, is beloved by the Puerto Rican nation and as much a symbol of machismo and humility as Pacquiao is in the Philippines.

He faces the man who is regarded as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet in the wake of the Filipino's eight-round demolition of Oscar de la Hoya 11 months ago and the second-round flattening of Britain's Ricky Hatton in May.

Pacquiao, who has won 49 fights (37 KOs) and lost three, appears unstoppable. What has been startling is Pacquiao's ability to carry his power up the divisions. Both De La Hoya and Hatton were bigger men, yet De La Hoya at welterweight and Hatton at light-welterweight were dismantled by the speed of the tenacious southpaw.

Cotto is a slow starter, and if he cannot find a way to be the aggressor in a fight, he sits back and counter-punches. He also sets clever traps for opponents and although his handspeed and movement are slower than Pacquiao's, he will be dangerous in later rounds.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said: "Manny is moving up a weight class but I am very confident in my guy and we are 100 per cent ready for this fight. I feel that he is going to knock Cotto out."

Cotto is unperturbed. "What they say and what they do does not concern me," he said. "I'm going home with the belt."

Pacquiao said: "This is the most important fight of my career. If I win, it will be history for boxing and for the Philippines."

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Boxer Manny Pacquiao and Trainer Freddie Roach are 'Inseparable'

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao and Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach seem inseparable after almost a decade of enduring professional relationship. Pacquiao will see action on November 14 against Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight crown
'Inseparable, that's how he'll always be Inseparable, just you and me its so wonderful To know you'll always be around me'.

So goes the lyrics in a song title Inseparable made popular by song artist Natalie Cole. The song best describes the trainer-boxer professional relationship of Freddie Roach and Manny Pacquiao.

The father and son relationship between the two popular sports figures dates back eight years ago when Manny Pacquiao barged into Wild Card Gym to train for his fight with African Lehlohonolo Ledwaba as a last minute substitute opponent. The Filipino boxer won after brief coaching by Freddie Roach.

The first win of Pacquiao under Roach guidance marked the beginning of a long business and professional relationship. After the convincing win by Pacquiao against Ledwaba, Roach started to concentrate on the Filipino boxer's weak points while continuing to develop the areas where the fighter excelled. Roach knew that Pacquiao's left hand is exceptionally strong. He wasted no time in enhancing Pacquiao's formidable left hand by developing techniques that would complement its strength and power.

Roach biggest achievement in guiding Pacquiao's career is his skillful transformation of Pacquiao's right hand from a weakling to a powerful working tool that complemented Pacquiao's formidable left hand. Boxing critics say that Roach was particularly successful in this transformation after long years of constant practice.
A few years after Roach able stewardship, Pacquiao conquered the boxing world with his victories over the world's greatest boxers including Erick Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz, Oscar de la Hoya, Barrera and Ricky Hatton, among others.
These victories have made this 'father and son' team multi millionaires and recipient of top sports awards from prestigious award-giving bodies.

On many occasions, their 'father and son' relationship had been subjected to a series of tests and each time, the tandem would stand united and become even more stronger.

New York Times reports:

Pacquiao, 30, viewed his trainer as a second father, even with the boundaries. Where he playfully spat water on other members of his team, or slapped them from behind, he never ventured there with Roach. Whenever Alex Ariza, his conditioning coach, tried to put new methods in place, Pacquiao always asked, “What does Freddie think?”

Critics say that the secret to their 'blooming relationship' is the respect that each one of them show as boxer and trainer. People around them and even the intrusive press have tried to test their relationship by sowing intrigues and malice in their enduring partnership but each time, they will emerge stronger and more closer to each other like father and son.

Geg Bishop of New York Times says: ”Inside the ring, they remain inseparable, but less father and son, more peers bonded by mutual respect. Outside, they must confront endless politics, the complex web of advisers and employees required for Pacquiao to make movies, records and boxing history.

“It’s magic,” said the promoter Bob Arum, the chairman of Top Rank Boxing. “Made in heaven. They’re so in tune with each other, it’s like watching a ballet.”, Bishop added.

Inseparable? They look like they are...for now.

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will face his opponent Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico on November 14 at the MGM Grand garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao is aiming for his seventh win in seven different weight classes to become the first boxer in history to attain such world record.

Also at stake is Miguel Cotto's WBO welterweight crown.
The fight will be televised worldwide and is available on pay-per-view.

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