Weight battle over: Pacquiao, Cotto now brace for war

Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao had a trouble-free trip at the weighing scales while his Puerto Rican rival Miguel Cotto barely made the limit Friday (Saturday in Manila) on the eve of their battle for Cotto’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Before a raucous crowd of 7,000 fans, the 30-year-old Pacquiao easily checked in at 144 lbs. while natural 147-pounder Cotto, who reportedly had trouble sliding in weight, tipped the scales at exactly the stipulated catch weight of 145 lbs. The Pacman’s 144 lb was his heaviest ever weight, according to the Associated Press. He fought at welterweight only once before, last year against the legendary Oscar de la Hoya, but he weighed in at only 142 lbs for that “Dream Match" that ended with “Golden Boy" quitting on his stool at the start of the ninth. The last time Pacquiao climbed the ring against erstwhile light-welterweight supreme Ricky Hatton, he was 138 lbs. With no worries whatsoever about cutting down on food before the weigh-in, Pacquiao came to the well-attended activity relaxed and in good mood, even engaging in a colorful banter with the event’s host, actor Jeremy Piven. Piven asked Pacquiao if it is his strategy to become abstinent during training for a fight and the Pacman, according to the Las Vegas Sun, replied: “This is like the Jimmy Kimmel show... Once I start my training I have to focus on my fight so there is no more, I mean, there is no more night time." For the 29-year-old Cotto, the 145 lb mark was his lightest since weighing the same two years ago in his winning bout with Zab Judah. The Boricuan bomber virtually admitted having exerted extra effort to cut down his weight but maintained that he’s in the best of shape for Saturday’s fight (Sunday in Manila). “I think everybody is unhappy when they can’t eat," Cotto was quoted as saying by the Las Vegas Sun. “But I’m pretty healthy. I ate well for this fight. My strength will be too much tomorrow night."

As if to demonstrate the electricity generated by the fight, celebrities turned up for the official weigh-in. The Las Vegas Sun reported the likes of New York Giants’ running back Brandon Jacobs; retired boxer Roberto Duran; Puerto Rican champ Juan Manuel Lopez; and Filipino WBA interim super flyweight boss Nonito “The Filipino" Flash" Donaire, Jr. in attendance. Roach, Santiago ‘showdown’ While the two protagonists maintained a cordial demeanor towards each other, their respective trainers did add some “tension" to the affair. Pacquiao’s guru, Freddie Roach, and Cotto’s trainer Joe Santiago, got into a heated argument, apparently over Cotto’s weight, the Las Vegas Sun reported. But Top Rank boss Bob Arum stood in the way and stopped it cold. Engaging the opponent’s trainer is nothing new to Roach as the three-time Trainer of the Year awardee exchanged barbs with Floyd Mayweather, Sr., who handled latest Pacquiao KO victim Hatton last May. It is said to be part of Roach’s psy-war strategies. The two protagonists, though, were leaving it up to their trainers to get into each other’s skin, preferring to settle the issue inside the ring. "We believe we have an advantage in speed and in power, too. My speed is still there and if you have speed you can create power," Pacquiao said in an Associated Press report. Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), who reportedly plans to enter the ring on fight night at around 149 lbs., will be gunning for a historic major title in a seventh weight division, after earlier conquests at the flyweight, super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, and light welterweight classes. Additionally, at stake for the “Firepower" showdown is the first-ever World Boxing Council Diamond Belt, an honorary championship for elite boxers like Pacquiao and Cotto. This belt is handcrafted by an artisan in Mexico City and features 18 carat gold fusion with about 800 diamonds, emeralds and rubies, as well as 150 Swarovsky semiprecious stones. Underdog Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), who is expected to climb the ring a lot heavier than Pacquiao, is poised to keep his WBO belt and prevent the reigning pound-for-pound king from reaching another career milestone at his expense. Observers, however, noted that the diet regimen that Cotto underwent during training might be a factor come fight night. “If he (Pacquiao) thinks he is going to win seven titles in seven weight divisions now, he has picked the wrong moment, the wrong fighter and the wrong opponent. If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong," Cotto said. But the Pacquiao camp will be ready for everything that the 29-year-old from Caguas, Puerto Rico will bring into the ring. “I truly think Cotto’s going to run around us a little bit because he’s going to try to be more of a counter-puncher in this fight," Roach said. “I’m not exactly sure if he’s going to try and use his strength early or use his boxing ability early. We’re just prepared for whatever he brings," he added. And that means even to the point of going toe-to-toe against the bigger and stronger champion. “One hundred percent. We will trade with him if he wants to, yes," Roach said. - GMANews.TV