Manny yields limelight to Cotto

WITH MANNY PACQUIAO AGAIN REfraining from lighting up verbal fireworks, it was Miguel Cotto who generated a buzz in his hometown Puerto Rico by making a little promise in front of his compatriots.

“I will return as champion,” he was quoted by Internet reports as saying after a press conference in Caguas to promote his match against Pacquiao.

Cotto will defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt against the Filipino pound-for-pound king on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“Puerto Rico has been having great moments in sports the past weeks,” Cotto said. “I assure you the party will continue because after Nov. 14, I will return as champion.”

Puerto Rico’s latest triumph on the international stage was a silver-medal finish in the recent Fiba Americas, where it qualified for basketball’s World Championships in Turkey next year.

Pacquiao was greeted by an appreciative applause when he was introduced by Top Rank chief Bob Arum.

“I understand you support Cotto, but no matter who wins, we’re going to have a good fight,” said the Filipino icon.

This will be the fourth time Pacquiao will fight beyond his turf in the featherweight and super featherweight ranks.

In 2008, he took the WBC lightweight belt of David Diaz before stopping Oscar De La Hoya in eight rounds of a welterweight match. Early this year, he knocked Ricky Hatton out in two rounds of a light welterweight championship duel.

Source: Inquirer.net