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POWER AND STRENGTH
On the power front, however, Cotto, being the bigger fighter, naturally has the advantage. The proud Puerto Rican started his career by knocking out guys in the light welterweight division while Pacquiao started his career fighting in the minimumweight division.

Cotto’s last eight fights all have been in the welterweight division while Pacquiao only has one fight in this division where he weighed in at 142 pounds. Cotto has also proven he could knock down full-fledged welterweights but Pacquiao, in his lone fight at welterweight, did not manage to floor de la Hoya even though he was landing clean punches all night.

If this fight was held at 143 pounds, Pacquiao would be the stronger fighter, come fight night because to make that weight, Cotto would most likely dehydrate himself. But the fight is at 145 pounds, only one pound less Cotto’s weight in his previous fight. This makes Cotto the stronger man. He will most likely outweigh Pacquiao by about 10 pounds by the time they step inside the ring.

Being the stronger fighter means Cotto could lean on Pacquiao during clinches to tire the Filipino out and use his elbows and shoulders effectively to put Pacquiao in a position where Cotto can land his combinations.

CORNERS
Another factor that is of great importance to fighters are the people in their corners. Cotto dropped his uncle, Evangelista Cotto, as his trainer before his fight with Clottey. Reports say that Cotto and his former trainer even came to blows which led to their end of their long-term partnership.

The Pacman and his coach Freddie Roach on the other hand are working like a well-oiled machine. Pacquiao will have his trusted trainer and his confidant Buboy Fernandez in his corner while Cotto will be missing the services of his long time trainer and uncle. Pacman has the advantage.