While he relies heavily on the training prowess of long-time cornerman Joe Santiago, Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto also needs the expertise of a conditioning coach as he revs up for the biggest fight of his career on November 14.

Cotto kicked off training camp for his super showdown with Manny Pacquiao last Monday in his hometown of Caguas, doing light exercises and hitting the heavy bag occasionally as his supporters watched intently, all looking concerned owing to the caliber of their hero's next opponent.

As Cotto begins to sweat it out, he is keenly waiting the arrival in the islands of Los Angeles-based fitness expert Phil Landman, who has been tasked to whip Cotto into a fiery punching machine ever since the puncher invaded the welterweight ranks in late-2006.

Since hooking up with Landman, Cotto has only lost once in eight fights, albeit the stoppage defeat to Antonio Margarito in July 2008 was shrouded with controversy because it was discovered that Margarito fought with loaded gloves.

A native of South Africa, Landman is scheduled to set foot in Puerto Rico on August 22 and will begin full work with Cotto on the 24th.

Together with Santiago, Landman will be on hand to assist Cotto in the morning roadwork, afternoon workouts and even nutrition.

Team Cotto will begin formal training camp in mid-September after Top Rank head Bob Arum holds a four-city promotional tour featuring Cotto and Pacquiao in New York, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles, Team Cotto will travel to Tampa, Florida, where the next seven weeks will be spent not only on making sure Cotto gets in tip-top shape but in perfecting a gameplan for Pacquiao.

Camping out with Cotto, Santiago and Landman in Florida are the boxer's father Miguel and cutman Joe Chavez, who also served under Pacquiao a few years ago.

Pacquiao, meanwhile, is not yet in training mode and only plans to hook up with Freddie Roach after the media tour for the usual eight-week camp.