Miguel Cotto is obviously at the point in his career where he's at his best. He's going to show everyone that he's at his best. I think Manny Pacquiao is in for a real tough night. Cotto has showed you in the Clottey fight how bad he wants to win, how much it means to him to win...I think in this fight, he's going to show you a lot more things. I think he's going to show you his speed, his strength and how good he could be. I know we've seen him at his best against some other fighters, but I truly believe that this is going to be one of his best performances," stated Joe Santiago, trainer of WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, as he spoke early today during a media conference call. Check out what else Santiago had to say as he gave an update on Cotto's training leading up to his higly-anticipated clash with Manny Pacquiao.
JOE SANTIAGO
On Cotto's motivation...
"A lot of people are picking Pacquiao to beat him and you see that he's a little motivated by that. Without question, all the fighters want to do great; all the fighters want to be the best. I think Miguel has a little extra. People don't think he can win this fight. We know he can win this fight. He knows he can win the fight and he'll love to show everyone what he's capable of doing against this type of opponent. Yeah, I think there's a little extra motivation and I think he'll come out with a little more fire because some people say that he can't win."
"I think both guys want to show that they are the best. One is called the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. We know we have the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world in Miguel Cotto and when that night comes and he wins, everyone will know that Puerto Rico does have the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world."
"Manny Pacquiao and all he's done lately, you have to be impressed by it. But, you know, we know what we're capable of doing and Miguel wants to show everyone, the whole world, what he's capable of doing and that's why we work so hard in this camp...all I know is that Cotto is the first true welterweight that he's faced in his career. A guy that is young, I believe he's still in his prime and that's what Pacquiao is facing."
On Miguel Cotto's current weight...
"Right now, he's right on weight. We're right where we want to be. He's worked hard, you know, and there's a certain weight that he has to be on. The commission in Puerto Rico requires it and he's right on there. No problems with weight."
On Freddie Roach...
"I know that he's done a lot in boxing. Freddie Roach, I have a lot of respect for what he's done, but it really has nothing to do with each other, you know? The fighters are going to do the fighting; they're going to do the work. I mean, we have our work to do and as long as our guy wins, then we're going to get recognized for it. Once Miguel Cotto wins, they'll recognize that we had a great corner and a great team."
On Pacquiao's past opponents...
"I wouldn't say his opponents haven't been quality fighters because we know they are. We know about Oscar De La Hoya. We know Ricky Hatton. Maybe they didn't have the best night of their career, that's the way I look at it. Miguel Cotto is obviously at the point in his career where he's at his best. He's going to show everyone that he's at his best. I think Manny Pacquiao is in for a real tough night. Cotto has showed you in the Clottey fight how bad he wants to win, how much it means to him to win and I think that's a very important thing to have, you know, that desire and the wanting to be the best and I know that Miguel has it."
"We have no doubt of his heart, of his will to win and he showed you that in the Clottey fight. I think in this fight, he's going to show you a lot more things. I think he's going to show you his speed, his strength and how good he could be. I know we've seen him at his best against some other fighters, but I truly believe that this is going to be one of his best performances."
On how they plan on dealing with Pacquiao's speed...
"I think Miguel has showed everyone that he can deal with speed with Mosley, with Zab Judah. I don't think it's a problem with speed. I think it's the rhythm that Manny brings into a fight. A lot of people don't think that Miguel can stay with that rhythm. I think he will. I think he'll not only stay with the rhythm, but he'll enjoy fighting that kind of fight. I think it will be a very interesting fight, but I still think that Miguel will come out victorious that night just by doing what he always does; going forward and throwing punches and being strong."
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