Manny will need all the luck, warns Santiago

LAS VEGAS – Give this round to Joe Santiago.

After taking big hits from his counterpart, Freddie Roach, the 32-year-old trainer of Miguel Cotto landed a good one during Wednesday’s final press conference at the Hollywood Theater of the MGM Grand.

“Good luck to Manny. He’s gonna need it,” said Santiago as he took his turn on the microphone and faced the media. He took a quick glance at the Pacquiao side of the presidential table then went back to his seat.

Santiago is the former nutritionist and training assistant of Cotto, and took the helm after the Puerto Rican champ had a bitter parting of ways with his uncle and chief trainer, Evangelista Cotto, a few months ago.

But Santiago, so young, so neat to look like a champion’s trainer, is being criticized for his lack of experience. He never fought as a boxer, and Roach said Cotto’s trainer “doesn’t really know what it feels to be inside the ring.”

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But during the press conference he had the balls to wish Pacquiao luck because, in his mind, the Filipino icon would need it.

“Miguel is in the best shape he’s ever been. And I hope Manny Pacquiao will be in the same level,” said Santiago, who was taking his first steps when Roach, 17 years his senior, was making his pro debut at the famed Boston Garden in 1978.

In a purple sweater, dress jeans and leather shoes, Santiago proclaimed victory for Cotto.

“We’re only three days away and it will be a great victory for Puerto Rico,” he said.

A week ago, in Los Angeles, Roach said he received word that Santiago was telling him to “f***k off,’ because I talk too much they say.”

But the most successful trainer in the sport today wouldn’t stop.

“I heard he said ‘why don’t I put my trophy (as Trainer of the Year) on the line? Well, we’ll see about that after the fight. I have a thousand or a million trophies in boxing and he’s never fought before. He’s never fought in his life. Never in his life,” he said.

“He doesn’t know what it means to be inside that ring. He puts the towel over his (Cotto’s) shoulder and gives him drinking water and all of a sudden he’s a coach. Believe me, Cotto trains himself,” he said.

Roach stayed no more than 30 seconds in front of the microphone Wednesday.

“Miguel, good luck to you and your camp. See you on Saturday,” he said. – Abac Cordero