Miguel Cotto — and not Manny Pacquiao — is the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound and Cotto will validate this claim on November 14.

“I think both guys want to show that they are the best,” said Cotto tactician Joe Santiago during a teleconference call held from Tampa, Florida.

“One is called the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and we know we have the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world in Miguel Cotto and when that night comes and he wins, everyone will know that Puerto Rico does have the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world,” stressed Santiago, a long-time Cotto training assistant who will be working for only the second time as chief second.

Santiago has been at the helm of Cotto’s training at the Fight Factory Gym in Tampa where they have camped out the past four weeks eating, breathing and thinking Pacquiao.

“I think Manny Pacquiao is in for a tough night. Cotto showed in the (Joshua) Clottey fight how much he wants to win and how much it means to him to win. I think that desire is a very important thing to have, to win, and Miguel has it.”

What makes Santiago and the rest of Team Cotto upbeat about their chances against Pacquiao is the fact that Pacquiao will be facing a “true welterweight” who is still and “young” and “in his prime.”