FT Chronicle

HOLLYWOOD— Pacquiao’s a one of a kind. That’s how Urbano Antillon finds it after serving as his sparring partner. “He’s one of the hardest workers in the sport,” said the California-based Mexican, currently the No. 1-ranked lightweight contender of the WBC who totes a record of 26-1 with 19 knockouts.

The 27-year-old fighter said that after months of trading leather with Pacquiao, he expects the rapid-punching, hard-hitting southpaw to dominate the match against Cotto using his vaunted speed.

“The speed has always been the key why Manny Pacquiao has been successful,” said Antillon, who, quite interestingly, lists Pacquiao’s brother Bobby as one of his victims.

“His speed is expected, but when you’re there (in the ring) with him, it’s really overwhelming,” he said.

Cotto is not worry about Pacquiao’s undefeatable speed, insisting that the game plan his corner has prepared is way more than countering the Filipino boxing ring icon.

“You know what? That’s why we prepare ourselves,” Cotto told Examiner.com. “He’s a fast fighter. We know he has speed. We know he has a style and we are prepared to beat it. You’ll find out on the 14th how I am going to deal with his speed. It’s not going to be a factor, even though everyone thinks it is.”

Pacquiao has said he will use his speed and his movement to counter Cotto’s size and strength, adding that he is confident about his chances in the coming match, where he hopes to take a seventh weight championship against Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14 for the Puerto Rican’s WBO welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I’m always confident in every fight,” said Pacquiao on Saturday.

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