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Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao bring firepower to ring

The Associated Press

Miguel Cotto poses with his trainer Joe Santiago during the weigh-in for his WBO welterweight title fight against Manny Pacquiao Friday in Las Vegas.

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By EDDIE DANIELS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 14, 2009

TAMPA - Leaning against the apron of the boxing ring inside Tampa's Fight Factory boxing gym, promoter Bob Arum looked cool and collected.

It wasn't the short-sleeved button up shirt or the shorts he donned to combat the sweltering temperature inside the gym – although it didn't hurt. It was more the way in which he has juggled promoting two of his fighters for the biggest payday of their careers.

Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao fight under Arum's Top Rank promotional umbrella and will face each other in the ring tonight in Las Vegas. They will be fighting for Cotto's WBO welterweight belt as well as the WBC's newly created Diamond Belt.

The fight, dubbed "Firepower", can be seen live on HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

"It's great. I really feel great," Arum said. "People say how can you feel great if you have your two fighters going up against each other? I take great pride in the fact that I have two guys who are each going to make their biggest payday on November 14 and I've helped create it."

According to Arum, Pacquiao will collect more that $20 million, while Cotto will get over $10 million.

"Where it becomes really tough for me is when the fight starts because then it's always better to root for one guy over the other," Arum added. "And no matter what happens, I have mixed feelings watching the fight."

Feelings aren't so mixed when it comes to the fight's participants.

'Everybody's going to see'

Cotto began training for this fight nearly a month before the two agreed to square off inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Cotto was four weeks into his training in Puerto Rico when the camp returned to Tampa for the second time in as many fights. After six weeks in Tampa, Cotto and his team left for Vegas for the remaining two weeks leading into tonight's fight.

Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) used Tampa as his base prior to his June 13 bout against Joshua Clottey.

"No matter where I train, I always bring my best. Everyday," said Cotto, a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico. "On the track, in the gym. The last fight with Clottey and this one are very important to my career. You have to stay away from any kinds of distractions. Puerto Rico is my home, I live there and a lot of distractions come to me when I'm there. I'm here in Tampa just for things you have to do in your training camp. Training, rest, training and rest. I'm here doing my work and everybody's going to see the night of the 14th.

"Everybody's going to see the night of the 14th. I'm in my best shape ever."

Joe Santiago, who assumed lead training duties prior to the Clottey fight following Cotto's April split with uncle/trainer Evangelista Cotto, echoes those exact sentiments.

"Our first goal is that in Tampa, we don't have any distractions," Santiago said. "Our focus is Manny Pacquiao. That's our target and that's why we wake up early to train and workout. We come to the gym because we have the target and that's the best thing about Tampa because we don't have any distractions. We're a team and we're behind Miguel every single minute - thinking about the fight."

They aren't alone in their thoughts. Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs), with the aid of trainer Freddie Roach, is attempting to earn a seventh world title in as many weight classes. Pacquiao has already collected belts in the flyweight, junior featherweight, featherweight, lightweight, junior lightweight and junior welterweight divisions.

"I feel stronger at this weight than I ever have," Pacquiao said Wednesday during a conference call. "My punches are harder, my speed is intact. I keep getting warned about Cotto's body attack. Cotto should be worried about my body attack."

See what happens

When asked if he had anything to prove to the naysayers, Cotto bristled a bit at the notion. Quite frankly, he believes he's answered whatever questions there are.

He has beaten the likes of a crafty Shane Mosley and speedy Zab Judah. He also fought through a river of blood following a third-round cut above his left eye to win a 12-round split decision against Clottey.

Even in his loss to Antonio Margarito in 2008, Cotto stood toe-to-toe with a guy many believe had illegal hand wraps. Six months after beating Cotto, Margarito was caught with plaster in his hands wraps prior to fighting Mosley. After re-wrapping his hands, Mosley knocked Margarito out in the ninth round of that January fight.

"I had an eight year career making good fights with Judah, Mosley, (Ricardo) Torres, Clottey and the people saw Miguel Cotto in all those years and they believed in him," Cotto said. "What else do I have to do for those people to believe in me? I can't do anything else. I'm there to prove to myself that I'm better than Manny Pacquiao for the pride of my family and my kids. We're going to see what happens."

Arum has several scenarios as to what could happen tonight. Each fighter brings an exceptional arsenal into the ring. Pacquiao is known for his explosive power and overall quickness. So much so Arum likens Pacquiao to a magician.

Then there is the crushing left Cotto can land to both the head and body. The ultimate power as Arum puts it.

"How Pacquiao reacts to getting hit with those punches is, to a large extent, going to be the story of the fight," Arum admitted. "Does he suck it up and continue to fight a Manny fight or does he then go into a defensive shell? In which case he's not nearly as effective."

And of Cotto has an issue with PacMan's speed?

"If Cotto is bewildered with Manny's speed and disappearing act, then it don't matter how long the fight goes," Arum said. "(Miguel's) in trouble."

During Cotto's training camp in Tampa, it was painfully obvious where his focus lay.

Inside the Fight Factory, at least two Everlast heavy bags sway, emblazoned with Pacquiao's image. Additionally, hanging in the rafters is a poster featuring Pacquiao's face and a target over it. To the left of that graphic is a photo of Cotto jutting a left.

The words above the images said it all.

"On November 14 the world will witness who will be the new king of the ring."

Reporter Eddie Daniels can be reached at (813) 259-7066.

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