Marquez trainer picks Pacquiao over Cotto

MANILA, Philippines – Take it from maestro Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, the master tactician who plotted one of the few game plans that could beat Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao.

Known as the ageless corner man of Pacquiao’s arch-nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, Beristain recently gave his two cents on the Filipino southpaw’s upcoming fight with Miguel Cotto.

And he said Cotto is going to be in a lot of trouble with Pacquiao.

"His (Pacquiao’s) left hand is like a missile, like a rocket, it has tremendous speed and his power is tremendous," Beristain said in an interview with ESPN's Spanish TV program "Golpe a Golpe."

Beristain, who has produced a string of Mexican world titlists, was responsible for piloting the counterpunching Marquez to two close and gruesome bouts with Pacquiao — one ending up in a controversial draw and the other a highly disputed, razor-thin split decision that went in the Filipino’s favor.

He was also tapped to work the corner of Oscar De La Hoya during his fight with Pacquiao. De La Hoya, however, lost that bout when he quit on his stool.

And having known Pacquiao in those three fights made Beristain put his money on the General Santos City based-southpaw, who faces Cotto on Nov. 14 (Nov. 15 in Manila) in Las Vegas.

"The key to the fight is not only Pacquiao's speed but is also the fact that he has been better with his technique. He is a technical fighter now with speed and power, and that Pacquiao is very difficult to beat,” he said.

“If it was difficult before, imagine now, Cotto will be in a world of trouble when he steps in the ring with Manny. Besides that, I don't think he recovered from the beating (Antonio) Margarito gave him. I think Pacquiao will win this fight," the trainer added.

Beristain also said Pacquiao will be entering the ring boasting an ace on his sleeve with Freddie Roach, his longtime trainer.

"I think Pacquiao is lucky to have him in his corner, Freddie Roach is one of the best trainers in the world and he has a lot of knowledge and he has made Pacquiao a better fighter who used to have a lot of flaws in his style. Pacquiao used to jump when throwing punches and now he is doing great from a technical point of view and that is Freddie's work," he said.

Source: philstar.co