By Mark Vester
The final leg of Manny Pacquiao's training camp is under way. Pacquiao challenges WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto for his title on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and his team arrived in Los Angeles over the weekend to start training at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.
Roach told the Manila Bulletin that Pacquiao must keep the fight in the middle of the ring. If Cotto is able to back Pacquiao against the ropes, Roach says that he will probably lose the fight. Getting caught against the ropes, according to Roach, will be Pacquiao's downfall.
"If he stays on the ropes, he'd get beat," Roach said. "If Manny does that, Cotto's going to beat us. He has to stay focused and he can't afford to take Cotto lightly."
Two new sparring partners are coming in to replace Urbano Antillon and Jose Luis Castillo. Roach told the paper that welterweight Raymond Serrano (10-0, 6KOs) and junior middleweight Ray Beltran are coming on board.
"We can't afford to take it easy in sparring because Cotto's not going to be easy on us. Cotto's going to be hard on us," Roach said.
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