INQUIRER Sports

HOLLYWOOD — As a former boxer who reached the point of needing reconstructive surgery to correct the damage the sport had inflicted on his face, Mickey Rourke knows all about speed and power.

And the former ward of the eminent American trainer Freddie Roach, now a Hollywood star, knows where to find both when Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto clash on Nov. 14 for the WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas.

“Miguel is a powerful boxer and he’s naturally bigger,” Rourke said. “But Manny has the speed.

“And I believe speed kills.”

Fighting as an amateur from 1964 to 1972, Rourke compiled a record of 20 wins, 17 by knockout, and six losses. He was undefeated as a professional, piling up six wins, four by knockout, and two draws before retiring in 1995 to focus on acting.

Rourke’s presence highlighted Pacquiao’s media day Wednesday, when the Filipino ring icon drew a packed crowd to the Wild Card gym to see the shape he is in as he prepares for his date with Cotto at the MGM Grand.

“This is the biggest fight of my career and I will do my best to win this one,” Pacquiao said for the nth time, making sure no one misses the importance as he chases history yet again.

“I’ll try to win a title in a seventh weight division and no other boxer has done that yet, so this is history.”

After fielding questions, Pacquiao went through his routine for the media workout, which was more than twice as packed as Cotto’s well-attended press preview the day before.

The huge disparity in attendance was evident in the way photographers and writers jostled for prime space around the ring to catch a glimpse of the workout, which was also attended by celebrity Mario Lopez.

“Look at the press, look at the people,” promoter Bob Arum told Examiner.com’s Michael Marley, who was present at the workout. “It’s like a throwback to the days of (Muhammad) Ali—it’s incredible.”

Arum, in an informal chat with journalists, said Pacquiao’s popularity has soared that, after an appearance at ESPN’s Sports Center, there were talk of replaying the episode because of its high audience share.

Pacquiao had recently guested in his first nationally televised talk show in the United States and even sang for the audience, a performance that is making rounds in the Web and is a solid hit at online video site YouTube.

He reportedly also has an invitation to watch an LA Lakers game on Friday from the box seat of team owner Jerry Buss.

The reigning pound-for-pound champion began his workout with strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza putting him through a series of warm-up exercises.

He then worked the mitts for three rounds with Roach, who said they were starting to “taper off.” Pacquiao then hit the double end before cooling down anew on the ring.

‘Cotto doesn’t stand a chance’

Roach continued to belittle Cotto’s chances for the match dubbed “Firepower,” believing that the Puerto Rican is a goner once he steps into the ring against the rapid-punching Pacman.

“Cotto’s shot,” Roach said. “He doesn’t stand a chance.”

As confident as Roach is, Pacquiao made sure everybody understood he wasn’t taking Cotto lightly.

“He is a strong fighter with a powerful left hook,” Pacquiao said. “I have to be at my best when I fight him. I want to win so my countrymen will be proud of me and that many boxing fans will be happy.”

“A lot of people say Cotto is bigger and stronger, but I have my speed and we will use that,” he added. “We know how to beat him and like I said before, knowledge is power.”

Rourke agreed that Pacquiao’s speed will dictate the tempo of the fight because “speed is better than power. Cotto can hurt many with his power but Manny can negate that with his speed. All Manny has to do is stay off the ropes and stay away from Cotto’s reach.”

Asked, though, to rate the chances of both fighters, Rourke played it safe: “It’s 50-50.”

Rourke did say he admired Pacquiao a lot because the General Santos City-based southpaw packs “a lot of heart and a lot of aggression.”