By Mark Vester
Trainer Freddie Roach is already creating the blueprint for Manny Pacquiao's strategy to beat WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Roach doesn't think Cotto has the stamina to fight a fast paced for twelve rounds. He plans to make Pacquiao come out fast and hard to start the fight with a bang. Roach sees Cotto getting tired in the late rounds and then Pacquiao will take him out.
"I'll go (to the Philippines) sometime next month and we'll get started," Roach said to The Las Vegas Review Journal. "For this fight, speed is going to be important. I think if you get Cotto in a fast-paced fight, he'll tire. So we want to come out quick and set a fast pace. Speed is our biggest asset."
"I know Cotto pretty well. But I haven't really studied him yet. I have a pretty good idea how we want to fight him, but until I sit down, watch the tapes and talk to Manny, we're still in the planning stage."
Roach looks at Cotto as Pacquiao's most dangerous opponent. He says Cotto is bigger and stronger than Oscar De La Hoya, who Pacquiao demolished last December. He says Pacquiao has the speed, better boxing skills and better defense. He doesn't see Cotto last the full twelve.
"He's a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger," Roach said. "But I think Manny's the better boxer, and Manny's defense is the best it's been. I think Pacquiao will stop him along the way."
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