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Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- Both the camps of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto believe that the key in winning the FirePower match on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) lies on whoever dictates the pace of the fight.

Pacquiao’s coach, Freddie Roach, said his fighter's renowned hand and foot speed will be a significant factor in the hotly anticipated clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"Manny's speed is so effective whether he's coming or going. It's his footwork, he'll feint you out of his socks," he said.

"We're definitely going to dictate the pace of the fight. I respect Miguel, but he'll get knocked out in this one."

Cotto's trainer Joe Santiago countered by saying his man would control the tempo of the scheduled 12-round bout.

"You have to. You have to decide what's going to take place in the ring from the beginning. We're going to dictate the pace," he said.

Santiago predicted Cotto would match Pacquiao's speed, citing the Puerto Rican's victories in 2007 against Americans Zab Judah and Shane Mosley.

"He showed us he can deal with speed, against Judah and against Mosley, and he did it very well," he said.

Making the 145-lb limit

Although the fight will be for World Boxing Organization welterweight title, both fighters will try to make the 145-pound catch weight limit they have agreed on.

As of posting time, Pacquiao weighed 147 pounds, just two pounds shy of the agreed limit.

Roach said all his ward needs to do is to run a bit to taper down to 145.

"He's 147 pounds right now… that was before the run,” he said. “After the run, he's right on weight. Weight is not an issue."

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Cotto won’t have problems making the weight.

"Yesterday he (Cotto) was 146 pounds. If you put up enough money, I'll call his room and in two hours he will come down and he will be 145. So there's no issue, no problem," he said.

3-1 favorite

Pacquiao, 49-3-2 (37 KOs), is a 3-1 on favorite with Las Vegas bookmakers, a fact that surprises Santiago.

"I can't understand why Pacquiao would be the favorite," he said. "Look at who we've fought, and the guys he's fought. He fought a couple of guys who were over the hill."

Roach, however, believes Cotto, 34-1 (27 KOs), is on the downside of his career.

The boxing Hall-of-Famer said Cotto is still feeling the after-effects of a brutal 11th-round stoppage by Antonio Margarito in the same MGM Grand ring in July 2008.

"I think he's slowed down since that Margarito fight," Roach said.

"If you see his fights pre-Margarito or post-Margarito, I think he's a different fighter, I really do.

"When you're undefeated and you're a world champion and then you're knocked out for the first time in your life, it's going to affect you."

Analysts speak

Boxing analysts agree that the Fire Power match will be a big test for both boxers.

Pacquiao will try to win a 7th world title in a 7th weight division while Cotto will try to defend his supremacy in the welterweight division.

“Actually malaking sugal ito para kay Manny…Strategy dapat ni Manny umiwas siyang maipit sa ropes, sumayaw at sundutin si Cotto,” said sports columnist Ed Picson.

Picson, also the executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, marvelled at Cotto’s punching power.

He said this could pose a trouble to the Filipino champ.

“He has a lot of power, lalo na sa simula ng laban. It’s important for Manny to test the patience of Cotto. Si Cotto, mainipin iyan eh... pipilitin niya na si Manny ang umatake sa kanya,” said Picson.

HBO commentator and boxing trainer Manny Stewart, meanwhile, said both Pacquiao and Cotto are capable of dishing out good punches, which mean a spectacular fight.

He added that the fight’s outcome will depend on who is the better ring tactician.

“One thing we keep forgetting about both guys, even though we think about their aggressiveness and punching power, they have also shown that they can box. Cotto has demonstrated that he can be a beautiful boxer if he wants, Pacquiao can box also and when he chooses to box his best asset is his foot speed and hand speed,” Stewart told DogHouseBoxing.com.

“They both are very good punchers, which makes for a great fight.”