Cotto doesn't mind being the underdog

LAS VEGAS
– Miguel Cotto is the underdog. And he doesn’t mind at all.

“I expected it to be like this,” said the wide-bodied champion from Caguas in Puerto Rico during Tuesday’s welcome ceremony at the MGM Grand, just three days before his head-on collision with superstar Manny Pacquiao.

Cotto, who turned 29 just days ago, was welcomed an hour after Pacquiao left and took with him more than half of the crowd, of course, predominantly Filipino, that packed the hotel’s main lobby as early as 10 in the morning.

After Pacquiao left, the excitement died down a bit, but Cotto just felt fine with it. He had his own following, his own pack of fans that shouted his name and waved the Puerto Rican flag, but not as boisterous as that of Pacquiao’s.

It’s understandable, Cotto being the underdog.

“Everything that Manny has, he has earned,” said Cotto of Pacquiao’s immense popularity, and not to mention the Filipino’s fat bank account.

Cotto came in wearing a tracksuit, and looked so serious as if the actual fight was to start in a few minutes. With cheekbones a little more prominent that a week ago, he said he’s ready to fight.

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“I’m prepared for the speed of Manny. I have equal hand speed and prepared well with my sparring partners. I’m prepared for anything,” said Cotto, who stakes his WBO welterweight (147 lb) crown at a catchweight two pounds less.

Again, he brushed off reports that he’s starving himself to death, just to make the weight, and avoid being fined $1 million for each pound in excess of 145.

“I’m eating well and I’m not worried about my weight,” he insisted before the media that crowded him in one corner of the ring.

Cotto must have been told that just a while ago, the hotel’s main lobby was jumping like crazy with Pacquiao. Again, he said he didn’t mind, because on the night of the fight, the battle turns one-on-one.

“It’s going to be just Manny and me and the referee. There’s nobody else. And we have the key to the fight. Our camp will make the difference.”

All he wants now is the last laugh. – Abac Cordero