INQUIRER Sports

LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Manny Pacquiao brushed aside comparisons to some of the greats of all time, saying he can't afford to think of himself as anything other than an average but hard-working fighter.

Pacquiao, who is considered the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, says part of the secret to his success is that he will never let his guard down and become smug with self achievements.

"I always think of myself as an ordinary fighter," said Pacquiao. "That is what I tell myself anyway."

Pacquiao destroyed champion Miguel Cotto Saturday to capture the WBO welterweight title and become the first boxer in history to earn his seventh world title in as many weight classes.

It was the third consecutive fight the 30-year-old from General Santos City has looked unbeatable and sparked comparisons to some of the all-time best.

Promoter Bob Arum said after the fight that Pacquiao ranks right up there with Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard.

"There has never been anything like this in the sport of boxing," said promoter Bob Arum. "This is something special."

Pacquiao isn't buying it.

"I don't want to compare my achievements," Pacquiao said. "I don't want to be compared to Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard. I am just doing my job."

Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach says his fighter is the biggest draw in the sport today and one of the top five all-time.

"He is the greatest fighter of his era," Roach said. "Right now it is hard rate somebody before their career is over but as of right now I would say he is in the top five of all time."

Pacquiao attended Saturday's post-fight news conference with his head wrapped in a white bandage after having his ear drained of blood from some of the shots he took from Cotto.

At times he rained blow after blow down on Cotto, knocking him down twice in the early rounds to take control of the fight.

Pacquiao even went to the rope-a-dope in the fourth round, daring the champion to open up on him so he could feel the full force of his punches.

"In first rounds I tried to measure his power," Pacquiao said. "His camp was saying before the fight that he was bigger and stronger. I was trying to fight toe-to-toe."

Roach said the rope-a-dope tactic surprised him because they talked about Pacquiao staying off the ropes in order to avoid Cotto's savage left hook.

"He is unbelieveable," Roach said. "In the first couple of rounds he wasn't following the game plan and then he made it look easy after that.

"Manny lay on the ropes which we trained not to do. He was determined to prove that he was the bigger stronger guy. He must have had it in his head to do that the whole time because it is something we didn't talk about."

Roach said the turning point of the fight was the second knockdown in the fourth round which seemed to strip Cotto of his confidence.

"That was the begining of the end," Roach said.

Pacquio's win over Cotto capped one of the most brilliant years of his boxing career.

"I fought three times this year and it is the best year for me," he said.

Roach said they want to fight American Floyd Mayweather next but not at any cost.

"That is the fight the world wants to see," Roach said. "But if Floyd wants 65 to 35 (purse) split then he is not going to get it."