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Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- Manny Pacquiao is confident he still has the hand speed and ring savvy to counter the raw power of Miguel Cotto despite the added weight.

"I feel stronger at this weight than I ever have," Pacquiao said. "My punches are harder, my speed is intact. I keep getting warned about Cotto's body attack. Cotto should be worried about my body attack."

Pacquiao and Cotto met face to face at the Hollywood Theatre in MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas for the final press conference leading to the “Fire Power” match up.

The Filipino dynamo is seeking to win his 7th title in 7 different weight classes when he steps on the ring Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to face Cotto, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion.

Oscar de la Hoya stands as the only fighter to have won major championships in 6 different weight classes.

Pacquiao has managed to achieve what many other boxers failed--maintain his speed and power as he moves up to challenge heavier opponents.

"My speed is still there. If you have speed then you generate your own power," said Pacquiao, who is the odds on favourite to win Saturday and take Cotto's (34-1, 27 KOs) belt.

"We know that he is bigger than me and stronger than me but we studied his style for the past two months and we have our strategy," he said. "Speed, power and being smart will lead to success."

Cotto out to stop Pacquiao

Cotto, meanwhile, is resolute on crushing Pacquiao’s hopes of a 7th world title.

“I’ve prepared enough for anything Manny can bring to this fight,” the WBO welterweight champ told ABS-CBN News. “And I'm pretty sure I'm going to beat Manny.”

He declared that he is “more than a 100%” determined to defeat the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer.

Bob Arum, the promoter of both Pacquiao and Cotto, also mentioned the possibility of the Puerto Rican scoring a knockout victory over the Filipino in “Firepower.”

“If Cotto wins, he will be able to land that devastating left hook whether to the body or to the head... And once he slows Manny up with his full arsenal… [he] could very well knock Manny out,” said Arum, the head honcho of Top Rank Promotions.

Analysts side with Pacquiao

Although Pacquiao refused to predict the possible outcome of the match, most fight analysts picked him to win.

“I think its going to be a terrific fight, but I favor Pacquiao because I think the speed is going to be too much for Cotto,” said Kevin Lole of Yahoo Sports.

“I'm picking Manny Pacquiao simply because at the end of the day, I think his speed, the fact that he's so relentless and throws so many punches from so many different angles is going to be too difficult for Miguel Cotto,” said Keiran Mulvaney of Reuters.

After the press conference, Pacquiao retreated to the gym for the finishing touches of his strategy versus Cotto.

Coach Freddie Roach had Pacquiao doing the mitts and final drills for the fight.

Roach admits getting hurt sometimes in the process, especially when the Filipino rips a series of punches through his body protector.

“My stomach hurt so bad...you can't imagine how hard he is hitting,” he said. “I cant wait for this fight."