Cotto: Pacman in for a surprise

MANILA, Philippines - Title or no title, 147 or 145 pounds, Miguel Cotto has vowed to give Manny Pacquiao a hell of a time when they clash on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Speaking to fighthype.com, the 27-year-old Puerto Rican said there’s a very big difference between him and Oscar dela Hoya and Ricky Hatton who both fell way short of expectations when they fought Pacquiao.

Dela Hoya, the golden boy, was exposed as an aging fighter and was pounded to submission by Pacquiao last December while Hatton lasted no more than two rounds and there are so many calls for him to retire.

Cotto, the reigning WBO welterweight champion, directed his shots at Pacquiao’s long-time trainer, Freddie Roach.

“Hey Roach, I have some news, I am not Oscar dela Hoya at the end of his career. I am not the overrated Ricky Hatton,” Cotto told fighthype.com the other day.

“Roach knows what Pacquiao will be facing on Nov. 14. It will be war,” added Cotto who stands to lose his crown if he decides to keep his $150,000 instead of paying the WBO the sanction fees.

Cotto will reportedly earn no less than $6 million for the Pacquiao fight, the biggest ever paycheck for the Puerto Rican, and said the only way he’d stake his crown is if the Filipino icon goes up to 147 lb.

Either way, he’s bound to lose his title because Roach said there’s no way Cotto could beat Pacquiao.

“We will expose him,” said Roach of Cotto who may be younger and bigger but is definitely the slower fighter. This early, Pacquiao has been installed a 2-1 favorite.

“We’re not gonna stand in front of this guy and trade with him. Manny’s a much smarter fighter now,” said Roach, who shouldn’t lose sleep whether or not Cotto puts the title at stake.

Roach knows the consequences.

“If Cotto gives it up I think the WBO will make Manny the number one. We’ll pay the sanction fee and the title will be on the line. That’s what I think will happen,” he told boxingscene.com.

“I haven’t spoken to Manny about it but if it was me I would ask for the title to be on the line. I think regardless of what Cotto says, the title will be on the line. I want it for Manny’s legacy. Manny won titles at 112, 122, 126, 130, 135 and 140. I want to see him become the first fighter to win seven world titles in seven weight divisions,” said Roach.

While there’s been a verbal agreement between the two camps, the fight contract has yet to be signed.