Home 
LAS VEGAS? Manny Pacquiao?s s trainer Freddie Roach says the Filipino southpaw has never been in better shape and has predicted a knockout when he challenges Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
?This week is the sharpest I have ever seen him in my life,? Roach told reporters at the MGM Grand on Thursday.
?We were doing the mitts (training) on Tuesday and every time I was about to tell him something, he made the move before I could say anything.?
Roach believes his fighter?s renowned hand and foot speed will be a significant factor in the hotly anticipated clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Setting the pace
?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 said his man would control the tempo of the scheduled 12-round bout.
?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.
Pacquiao is a 3-1 on favorite with Las Vegas bookmakers, which 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.?
Report from Reuters
