MIGUEL COTTO

Manny Pacquiao can run, but he can’t hide.

Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto made this comment when told about the size of the ring that will be used in his November 14 fight with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Trainer Joe Santiago, speaking to the Puerto Rican press, said Pacquiao’s camp is requesting that a 24x24 ring be set up at the MGM Grand and he is likely to turn it down.
 
During the negotiations, Santiago revealed that one of Pacquiao’s demands was the use of a larger ring instead of the usual 20x20 since a spacious ring would enable the Filipino to dance around in anticipation of Cotto’s onslaught.

But when told about the size of the ring, Cotto shrugged it off, telling Primera Hora that “I don’t have any problems with it.”

Still, Santiago said even if Pacquiao gets his way, Cotto would still know how to cut the ring off.

Under Nevada rules, a 20-x20 ring will be used for the 12-round World Boxing Organization welterweight bout, according to Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum.

With a little over ten weeks to go before the much-awaited match, Cotto’s training took a huge step when he began the crucial phase of sparring on Monday at Puerto Rico’s Olympic training center in the town of Salinas.

Cotto banged bodies with welterweight Frankie Santos, who was the recipient of many a Cotto left hook to the body during the workout under the watchful eyes of Santiago and conditioning coach Phil Landman. Landman will have his hands full in the next two weeks owing to a change in training schedule in lieu of a multi-city press/publicity tour that kicks off September 10 in New York.
 
There will also stops in Caguas in Puerto Rico, San Francisco, Los Angeles and even San Diego.

“In the coming weeks, we will be focusing on strength and conditioning,” Landman told the Bulletin in an email.

“The press tour is coming up and it’s a challenging weeks with all the traveling, erratic hours and long days. Obviously it is not conducive to the training but it is also necessary and part of it and we work around the schedule. We have a program set forth so we try to minimize losing out any of the preparation,” concluded Landman, who has been in Puerto Rico the last nine days.