"Working the mitts with Manny at this weight, he's punching so much harder than he ever has. He's really getting used to the weight. He's very used to it now and he's just punching fast and hard and I just think Miguel Cotto's defense isn't good enough. He's hittable and people that Manny can hit, he knocks out," stated a confident, and I mean CONFIDENT Freddie Roach as he stood firm on his knockout prediction during a media conference call held earlier today. After studying hours of tape and formulating a couple of different strategies, Roach is convinced that no matter what Cotto brings to the ring on November 14th, it won't be enough to handle the speed of his star pupil.
"The fight with Margarito, of course, he did take a beating in that. His first comeback fight, he fought an average guy and didn't look that great, but again, being knocked out for the first time takes your confidence away. So, I mean, he's gaining confidence," Roach commented as he shared his opinion on Miguel Cotto's abilities. Although he does think that Cotto is a good fighter, Roach questions whether or not his confidence has returned enough to stand up to Pacquiao.
"He looked a little better in the Clottey fight of course, but, you know, he did try to quit in the 9th round I think when he's holding his eye in there with the real bad cut, but he sucked it up and came on and won the fight," Roach added. "It was a good look for him. I think it gave him a little more confidence back. But we're going to take that away from him right away. We're not going to let him get any confidence in this fight. We're going to start quick."
When asked whether or not he would consider Cotto to be Pacquiao's toughest challenge, Roach downplayed the task at hand, reminding everyone that Pacquiao has already faced bigger and perhaps tougher challenges. "Miguel has a pretty good left hook. I don't think he's the strongest we've ever faced though," he remarked. "Hatton was supposed to be stronger than us also. I have no worries about that because that doesn't win fights. Boxing abilities win fights and Manny is a better boxer than him."
Listening to Roach during the conference call, you almost get the sense that he already knows something that the rest of us are unaware of. While many consider Cotto to be Pacquiao's first true test at welterweight, Roach remains steadfast in his belief that Cotto has never faced a fighter as good as Manny Pacquiao and come November 14th, he has no doubt that another one of his famous predictions will come to fruition.
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