Roach - Speed is the key

Freddie Roach insists Manny Pacquiao can cement his place as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter against Miguel Cotto on November 14.

The six-weight world champion, who knocked out Ricky Hatton to claim the IBO light-welterweight crown in May, will return to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas at the catchweight of 145lbs.

The winner is in line for a super bout against either Floyd Mayweather Jr or Juan Manuel Marquez and, though Pac Man acknowledges his natural deficiencies, he remains confident his ability will see him through.

"I can see that this fight is going to be a hard fight for me because Miguel Cotto is bigger than me and stronger than me," Pacquiao told Sky Sports News. "But of course I believe in my power and my speed."

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach has studied the 28-year-old Puerto Rican - 34(27KO)-0-1 - closely over recent months and is sure his charge can come through.

"He [Cotto] knows that hand speed because he dealt with that when he fought Shane Mosley as well, but he has a little difficulty with the southpaw style," Roach said.

"But it's really not our hand speed that's going to win this fight, it's the foot speed. That's the key to this fight.

"After we exchange we can't stay in front of this guy and let him throw back at us."

Roach will no doubt watch Mayweather versus Marquez first, which is live on Sky, on the night of Saturday, September 19, as he plans for life post-Cotto.

Source: skysports.com