Cotto won't play 'mind games' with Roach

MANILA -- Welterweight champ Miguel Cotto is steering away from coach Freddie Roach’s “psy-war” tactics as his November 14 fight date with Pacquiao draws near.

Cotto, who will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) title against Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, said he isn’t buying any of Roach’s statements that he’ll get knocked out in the first round of the fight.

“I have never seen a fighter win with the talking of his trainer,” Cotto said in a report by PhilStar.com.

“So, I want to tell Freddie Roach, Miguel Cotto and his team do not care. The important thing here is that I’m not going to see Freddie Roach’s face in the ring. I will be there with Manny Pacquiao,” he added.

Roach, who admitted “throwing off” some of Pacquiao’s opponents with his statements, said his prized ward is perfectly capable of knocking out the Puerto Rican champ in just one round.

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“He can say anything, try anything to draw the attention and try to be the hero of the whole promotion. But on Nov. 14, we will see who talks in the end, the ones who did all the talking or the ones who stayed silent,” said Cotto.

Pacquiao holds ‘despedida’

Pacquiao, meanwhile, held a farewell party on Saturday before heading to the US for the remainder of his preparations against Cotto.

The despedida party was attended by his relatives, friends and several political personalities.

Among those present were Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, Deputy National Security adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson, election lawyer Romy Macalintal and former Manila representative Miles Roces.

Pacquiao also received an oil painting depicting him and Britain’s Ricky Hatton, whom he knocked out in two rounds last May.

The pound-for-pound king was expected to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Los Angeles 10 p.m. Saturday.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com