INQUIRER Sports

IT WILL COST MIGUEL COTTO a fortune, at least $1 million, if he exceeds the agreed catch weight in his Nov. 14 battle with Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao?s chief trainer, said Cotto will have to shell out $1 million for every extra pound over the 145-pount limit during the weigh-in for his defense of the World Boxing Organization welterweight crown.

And if Cotto exceeds the 147-lb welterweight limit, the much-awaited pay-per-view bout at the MGM Grand would be called off.

But if the Puerto Rican tips the scales at an exact 147, Roach told GMA news that he?s inclined to let Pacquiao?s quest for a record seven world titles proceed.

Roach has cleared the weight issue to prevent a repeat of what Floyd Mayweather Jr. did in his comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez in August. Floyd came in at 146 instead of the catch weight of 144.

Mayweather reportedly paid the smaller and lighter Marquez $500,000, whom he beat by unanimous decision.

After training for four weeks in Baguio City and a week in Manila, Pacquiao is winding up his preparations for Cotto at Roach?s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

According to a report by Reuters, Roach has insisted that Pacquiao will knock out Cotto because of his fighter's impressive work in training camp.

?Camp is going very, very well and we are 100 percent ready for the fight,? Roach said on a teleconference call with Pacquiao on Wednesday.

?I feel like Manny, the way he is punching right now and with the power has at this weight, is going to knock Cotto out. I am very confident and I look forward to the win.

?I just think Miguel Cotto?s defense isn?t good enough. He?s hittable and people that Manny can hit, he knocks out.?

Pacquiao, who has a career record of 49-3-2 with 37 knockouts, spent a month training with Roach in the Philippines before returning to Los Angeles this week to complete his preparations.

Although their time in Manila had to be cut short with Pacquiao being distracted by tremendous local attention, Roach described their trip to Asia as a great success overall.