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Source: Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnnews.com

-- Foreman, Mosley side with Cotto

Although Manny Pacquiao himself admitted he will have a tough fight against Miguel Cotto, most celebrities picked the Filipino superstar to win the “Fire Power” match this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).

Out of the 41 personalities asked to take their pick between Pacquiao and Cotto, 26 of them favored Pacquiao to win according to BoxingScene.com.

“I pick Manny Pacquiao by knockout. I think he will knock him out in 7 or 8. Manny just has too much for Cotto,” former undisputed heavyweight champ Mike Tyson said.

"Pacquiao is going to chop Cotto up. Out of respect, Cotto will get some rounds, but Manny is the Bruce Lee of boxing. His basketball and martial arts background give him that speed and agility. You can't tell where his shots are coming from,” noted former two-division world champion Bernard Hopkins.

“Unlike Rocky, Bruce Lee was a real dude and so is Manny,” he added.

For his part, undefeated super middleweight and junior heavyweight champ Joe Calzaghe said: “I think Manny Pacquiao is going to be too quick for Cotto… I know people say Cotto is the bigger guy but I still think Pacquiao beats him in a decision.”

Current IBF light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson also thinks Pacquiao will outdo Cotto.

‘The Federer of Tennis’

Another Pacquiao believer is US Ambassador Kristie Kenney, an avid sports fan.

“It’s a big week,” Kenney told abs-cbnNEWS.com, pertaining to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Manila later this week.

However, her comment also meant that it’ also a big week for sports as Pacquiao’s fight falls on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Asked to make a fight prediction, Kenney replied: “Well you know it’s hard to say because I don’t know boxing as well as other people do. I’m new to boxing, a new fan only because of Manny.

“He’s the ‘thinking man’ boxer. He thinks about what his opponents are gonna do. I was really struck every time I talk to him by how smart he is on the strategy,” she continued.

Kenney, who is also a fan of basketball and tennis, believes Cotto is a tough opponent. But despite Cotto’s “size advantage” over Pacquiao, she thinks that the Filipino boxing icon will prevail.

“To begin with, he’s got the athletic [talent] and the brain. He mixes it. He’s the Roger Federer of the boxing world. He’s got the thinking part and the athletic talent,” explained the US Ambassador.

‘Cotto by decision’

Meanwhile, other boxers who shared their views with BoxingScene.com stated that Cotto will be able to beat “the Pacman.”

“I think there would have been a good opportunity for Pacquiao to win if he faced Cotto before he fought Clottey, but now Cotto is thinking defense. I think Cotto is going to pull out a decision… He's going to be smarter,” said George Foreman.

The former heavyweight champion added: “Pacquiao has been riding high and has beaten some of the best in the world. And it leaves you kind of complacent when you're winning. And even if you don't want it to, sometimes you can't get up for a big fight. And that's a plus for Cotto.”

WBA welterweight champion Shane Mosley, meantime, said he thinks Cotto will win in a decision because he is a “real welterweight.”

Mosley is the same boxer who almost literally chased Pacquiao for a match after the Filipino’s spectacular second-round KO over Ricky Hatton.

Former champions Tito Trinidad and Winky Wright also believe that Cotto will emerge victorious.

‘Quick and powerful’

Other athletes noted that Pacquiao’s speed and power will enable him to topple the WBO welterweight champion from Puerto Rico.

They are Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens, Brandon Marshall of the Denver Broncos, Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins, and Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers.

“I think he is on a roll right now and he doesn't get enough credit for the power he brings so I think he wins by decision,” Calvin Pace of the New York Jets said of Pacquiao.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Kellen Winslow, Jr., the Jets’ Kris Jenkins and Baltimore Orioles’ Brian Roberts, on the other hand, sided with Cotto.

“Miguel Cotto will end Manny's domination with hard jabs and will knock him out in the later rounds to end Pac-Man’s reign,” declared Gordon Beckham of the Chicago White Sox.

Scribes take their pick

Sportswriters, meantime, seemed to have a hard time choosing as they see the Pacquiao-Cotto match a really close fight.

USA Today’s Bob Velin said that “lightning-quick” Pacquiao will triumph. The Wall Street Journal’s Godron Marino, for his part, expects a Pacquiao KO.

Boxing writer and historian Bert Sugar even predicted a Pacquiao victory in Round 8.

Kieran Mulvaney of Reuters and Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review-Journal added that Pacquiao will be able to overcome his Puerto Rican foe.

“I expect Manny to move in and out, hitting Cotto and sliding out of danger. I expect a great fight but I expect Manny to win a decision,” commented Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia Daily News’ Bernard Fernandez, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, and Newsday’s Bobby Cassidy are on Cotto’s side.

“Cotto in a decision,” said New York Daily News’ Tim Smith. “He is the first legitimate welterweight that Pacquiao has faced who is in his prime rather than a blown up junior welterweight or a fighter who is no longer in the prime of his career.”

Star power

Most of the celebrities who shared their fight predictions also favored the Filipino boxing sensation.

“Pacquiao and Cotto are two of the best welterweights out there. While both fighters possess tremendous punching power and heart, I believe that the speed of Pacquiao will earn him the WBO welterweight belt,” said business magnate Donald Trump.

He added: “If Pacquiao is victorious, Mayweather would be the next fight that I and all fans would want to see.”

Host and comedian George Lopez, comedian Carrot Top also chose Pacquiao, along with actors Tyrese Gibson (“Transformers”), Mark Consuelos (“All My Children) and Sam Trammel (“True Blood).

Actor Andre Royo (“The Wire”) remarked: “Pacman wins ‘cause Pacman fights. If Pacman loses, then the Philippines won't have no lights!”

John Leguizamo (“Ice Age,” “Moulin Rouge), meantime, seemed to be unable to make up his mind. “Both have no quit. Basically it's Pacman's speed and angles vs. Cotto's powerful body shots and boxing skills,” he said.

“Two things to watch, if Cotto's cut above eye opens. And does Cotto's new trainer get him fighting sharper than he did against Clottey? This one will go down with the classics. If Cotto's on he wins, if not Pacman,” added the Emmy Award-winning actor..

Rapper, record producer and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs, for his part, said: “If Cotto reconnects the way he was three years ago, he may give Pacquiao a problem.”