Critics only fire up Cotto:Santiago

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By Edri K. Aznar

A LOT of experts and boxing fans are predicting that Miguel Cotto will fall to Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao in their mega battle on Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.

However, Cotto’s trainer Joe Santiago believes the critics only add fuel Cotto’s will to win over the pound-for-pound champion.


“Before Miguel fought Carlos Quintana a few years ago, people were picking Quintana to win and that really motivated Miguel.

The night of the fight he was so focused on proving people wrong that it really gave him a boost. We’re seeing that again with the way so many people are picking Pacquiao to win.

It’s extra motivation and he is coming with more fire because of people saying that he can’t win,” said Santiago in an interview posted at FightFan.com.

As to experts saying that Cotto was never the same again after suffering an 11th round stoppage in the hands of Mexican banger Antonio Margarito, Santiago feels otherwise and said Cotto is still in his dominant form.

“As far as we’re concerned, the Margarito fight is over. Miguel is as hungry as he’s ever been and his confidence is good. In the last fight with Clottey, I don’t think a lot of fighters would have stood up to what Clottey was bringing with the cut Miguel had… but Miguel did and he pulled through,” he said.

Santiago said Pacquiao has fought some of the best—Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton—but thinks they weren’t in their best form. He also said Pacquiao will be in for a tough fight as Cotto is extremely hungry for a victory.

“He will show his speed and power in this fight. This will be one of Miguel’s best performances. I think Miguel has shown people that he can deal with speed when he fought Shane Mosley and Zab Judah. People don’t think Miguel can catch up to Manny and his speed and rhythm but I think he will and it will surprise people,” he said.

Santiago feels that both boxers will come in the ring prepared but he believes that his ward will be the better boxer and come out victorious.

“We feel all he has to do is beat Pacquaio and it will prove he is the best fighter in the world. A win over Pacquiao would be huge, not only for Miguel and me but for Puerto Rico.”


Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 22, 2009.