By Bob Velin, USA TODAY
Manny Pacquiao will be looking to make history Saturday night when he takes on Miguel Cotto in a welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The 29-year-old Filipino superstar, who made a grand entrance along with his opponent at the scene of the fight Tuesday afternoon to begin final preparations, hopes to become the first boxer to win titles in seven weight divisions. He has held title belts from 112 pounds to 140 pounds.
Saturday's bout (HBO pay-per-view, 9:30 p.m. ET) is considered a welterweight fight, even though it will be fought at a catch weight of 145 pounds, 2 pounds below the welterweight limit.
Cotto, however, has no intention of allowing himself to become Pacquiao's seventh victim. It is Cotto's WBO belt they're fighting for, and the three-time champion, known for his powerful body punching, has held a title every year since 2004.
"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," Cotto said in a recent conference call. "If he thinks he is going to win the seventh title against Miguel Cotto, he is very wrong."
Yet despite the fact that Cotto, also 29, from Puerto Rico, is a natural welterweight, and Pacquiao started his career in 1995 at 108 pounds, Pacquiao comes in as a heavy favorite. He's listed at -350, meaning you need to place $350 to win $100.
Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) is coming off a spectacular second-round knockout of Briton Ricky Hatton last May, while Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) fought through a bad cut over his eye to win a split decision against African Joshua Clottey a month later.
The only loss of Cotto's career came in a brutal beating at the hands of Antonio Margarito in July 2008. But there's a cloud over Margarito's victory since he was discovered before his next fight to have hardened plaster in his gloves, was subsequently KO'd by Shane Mosley, and then suspended from fighting in the USA for at least a year.
Cotto is undeterred by the odds against him.
"I don't know anything about the betting business," he said. "I am just here to try and bring my best every day … and I am working to beat Manny. If the people bet for Manny, it's all right with me. All the people that are betting for Manny Pacquiao are not going to change the result of this fight."
Pacquiao's success against Mexican fighters has been well-documented. He was tagged as "The Mexican Assassin" after beating the best Mexican fighters of his era, including legends Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Berrera and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Cotto, however, says all that success means nothing against a fighter from Puerto Rico, which has its own proud boxing history, from world champions Wilfredo Benitez, Esteban DeJesus and Wilfredo Gomez to Carlos Ortiz and Felix "Tito" Trinidad.
"Different fighters and different styles, they had their moments with him," Cotto said of Pacquiao's Mexican opponents.
"It is going to be totally different with me. I have prepared myself for anything and everything that he brings. No matter who talks, or whoever says he is going to win, I know I am very confident that I am going to come out with a victory that night."
Source: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/boxing/2009-11-10-pacquiao-eyes-title_N.htm
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