Although he will go into the fight as the underdog, Miguel Cotto insists he will beat Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Champion insists he won't let Pac Man take his title away in Las Vegas
Although he will go into the fight as the underdog, Miguel Cotto insists he will beat Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Cotto defends his WBO welterweight crown against the Filipino superstar at the MGM Grand on Saturday, live on
Sky Sports 1.
Pacquiao is looking to take home a seventh world title as he continues to rise up the weights without too many problems, but Cotto says this time it is a step too far.
The Puerto Rican is adamant that Pacquiao will not find it so easy this time around, and vowed to come away with his title intact.
"If he 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," said Cotto.
"If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong."
Knockout
Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach says Cotto could be knocked out in the very first round, but Cotto has scoffed at such suggestions.
"Forget about Freddie Roach," he said. "The only thing Freddie can do is train Manny. He can't go over the ropes and into the ring to fight against Miguel Cotto. He can only train Manny the best he can.
"He may say and think Manny will knock me out but at the end of the day, it is just Manny and Miguel Cotto in the ring.
"No matter what kind of things Freddie Roach says before the fight, I have a very strong mind. The psyche game? I'm not going to follow that game."
There have also been suggestions that the Pacquiao camp are already planning for a superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr next March, but Cotto warned that he must be their main focus.
Focus
"What they say and what they do does not concern me," Cotto added. "They know what they have in front of him. He better be focused on what they will have in front of him in Miguel Cotto.
"Once I beat Manny Pacquiao they can continue their plans and do what they want but I am not going home without winning this fight."
Instead it could be Cotto facing Mayweather should he win on Saturday night.
Asked about the prospect of such a fight, Cotto said: "I am here for the big names and ready for the hot opponents. That's what boxing needs for the guys at the top to fight other guys at the top, like it was 20 years ago. Make the fights that fans want to watch.
"I am here for any boxer that wants to fight Miguel Cotto. They have to start with my company and I am more than ready to fight the biggest names in boxing."
