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Source: TJ Manotoc, abs-cbnnews.com

-- It’s just days away before Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto meet on the ring to determine who is the better fighter.

Although it is expected to be a heavy fight for Pacquiao, the Filipino superstar is favored to win over the bigger Cotto.

Boxing analysts shared their views on how the fight might play out based on the fighters’ abilities.

Dennis Principe, sports analyst

“This is one fight na makakatiyak tayo na tatagal ito ng beyond six or seven rounds. Manny will be fighting someone, one of the most intelligent and one of the youngest among the marquee fighters today - eto kaka 29 lang n’ya.

“If he (Cotto) can force Manny to play the role of the challenger - ako habulin mo 'I am the champion' - maganda, maganda chances ni Cotto. But if Cotto will fight the style of Manny, mahihirapan si Cotto.”

Ronnie Nathanielsz, boxing analyst

“I think Pacquiao will go for the win early in the fight -- the longer the fight goes, the stronger Cotto will get. His body punches might hurt Pacquiao. Cotto's strength is his left hook to the body. He’s got a decent right straight.

“But he’s (Cotto) slow, he's very slow. You put him side by side to Manny, they are miles apart, they’re like Lydia de Vega running against you and me. I think speed will be the factor, not his hand speed but his foot speed.”

Ed Picson, sports columnist

“It’s a fight between a power-punching guy and one who has both power and speed....[The] one with power, it's all he has, and the one has power and speed.”

Teddy Atlas, boxing trainer/analyst
(as told to DogHouseboxing.com)

“The Pacquiao strength is his speed and he is a southpaw. He wants to move to his right, behave like a southpaw and take advantage of being a lefty. Forcing Cotto to deal with angles and use his speed because he is quicker with his feet, his body movement, his hands, he must constantly be reminding himself that he is quicker with the feet, quicker with the body, quicker with the hands.

“He will need to box from the outside early on in the fight to establish a rhythm. Pacquiao seems to be the kind of guy that sets tones, he sets rhythms, and when he gets into a good rhythm, his offense flows like good music.