Pacquiao Plans To Target Miguel Cotto's Body Early On

Trainer Freddie Roach sees a flaw in Miguel Cotto. He doesn't think the Puerto Rican star can take body punches. Manny Pacquiao challenges Cotto for his WBO welterweight title on November 14 in Las Vegas. Roach has studied some of Cotto's fights and saw that he doesn't like to get hit to the body. After his TKO loss to Antonio Margarito, Cotto said he was badly hurt by combinations to the body, and not the head.

“He’s not strong to the body," Roach told GMA News. “I think we have to break him down in the earlier rounds and work at the body a lot."

Cotto's advantage in size and strength is a big worry for Roach. He won't allow Pacquiao to engage Cotto in a fire fight but at some point the two fighters will trade some heavy punches. Cotto's money-punch is the left hook to the body. Roach's strategy may set the stage for a battle of body punches.

“It’s going to be a tough fight for us," said Roach. “He (Cotto) is a very strong fighter and puncher. We have to pay attention to that. That is my biggest worry."

Source: boxingscene.com