Manny Pacquiao Must Go After Cotto Early, Says Donaire
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Reigning WBA Interim super flyweight champion and former IBF/WBO flyweight king Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire says his idol Manny Pacquiao “must use his speed and power to take the fight in the early rounds” against WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.
The two fighters clash before a sell-out crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on November 15, Manila Time, in a fight to be telecast by Solar Sports and to be carried in theaters, stadiums, restaurants, bars and at the 18,000 capacity Araneta Coliseum on a pay-per-view basis.
Donaire who left with wife Rachael for the US on Saturday to be at ringside for the Pacquiao-Cotto “Fire Power” showdown said Pacquiao “cannot wait for the late rounds” where the vaunted body shots of Cotto may take its toll.
However, Donaire said he was confident that Pacquiao could beat Cotto with his “speed as well as good power” but warned that Cotto “is a big rival. He is a mountain” that the Filipino boxing hero must climb to become the first fighter in history to win world titles in seven different weight divisions.
Donaire said his manager Cameron Dunkin and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum are looking at three possible opponents for his next fight including WBA bantamweight champion Yonnhy Perez, WBO champion Fernando Montiel and Mexican warrior Jorge Arce among others.
Donaire who has recovered fully from a bout with dengue said “everything is good and I’m ready to go.” He said he had undergone x-rays, a bone scan and “everything is good” and that after the Pacquiao-Cotto fight he would begin slowly getting back into shape in time for his fight which is set for sometime in the first quarter of 2010.
