MANNY PACQUIAO

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) — The stakes are high for the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight with not only personal honor but national pride on the line when the two meet at the MGM Grand hotel and casino.

Both fighters have reached a crossroad with Saturday's fight as Puerto Rico's Cotto hoping to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt and take the mantra of best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Filipino challenger Pacquiao wants to make history by becoming the first to win seven world titles in seven weight classes and use this fight as a springboard to a blockbuster showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

''Cotto is the biggest obstacle in Manny's path,'' said promoter Bob Arum. ''He's a true welterweight, a strong welterweight. When the bell rings, there won't be one legend in the ring, but two great fighters, fighting for their people and their country.''

Pacquiao is a hero to the people of the Philippines with widespread popularity, not just for enjoyment they get from watching him collect boxing titles, but for charity and good Samaritan work he does at home and abroad.

At one time Pacquiao was all their own but that was before he won six world titles in six different weight classes which helped get him on the cover of this month's Asian edition of Time magazine. Filipinos are getting used to sharing their national treasure with the rest of the world.

''It was big honor not just for me but for my country,'' Pacquiao told AFP of the Time cover.

Pacquiao is one of the few Filipinos to appear on the cover of Time joining former president Corazon Aquino who was named ''Woman of the Year'' by the magazine in 1986.

The article, which traces Paquiao's roots to his bid for political office in his home town of General Santos City, covers five pages in the US and international editions of the magazine.

''Manny Pacquiao has meant a lot to the sport of boxing,'' Arum said from the MGM Grand hotel and casino where the fight will take place. ''Remember that boxing has generally played to a relatively small audience, boxing fans, and sports fans.

''But this Time magazine cover shows you that the world, that people who are usually not interested in sports, are interested in Manny, his story, and his country of the Philippines.''

Sometimes prominent Filipinos can be polarizing figures. Supporters of Aquino's political opponent Ferdinand Marcos burned copies of Time magazine in the streets in 1986 because she ousted Marcos in a popular revolt.

But it is almost impossible to find anyone that has anything negative to say about the affable Pacquiao.

He comes from modest roots in the Philippines where he slept on cardboard boxes on street corners.

''He was a poor boy that has worked his way up, and now has beaten all the fighters that have been put in front of him. Manny has stayed loyal and has stayed humble,'' said Arum.

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said Thursday they are going to engage Cotto right from the opening bell on Saturday at the Grand Garden Arena.