Pacman by K.O. - Roach

SPEED versus power. That may well be the underlying premise when Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto slug it out in an expected November 14 brawl at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

And for trainer Freddie Roach, nothing more than beats Pacquiao as far as speed and quickness are concerned.

“For this fight, speed is going to be important,” said Roach, the three-time Trainer of the Year and the man credited for Pacquiao’s rise to super stardom.

“I think if you get Cotto in a fast-paced fight, he'll tire. So we want to come out quick and set a fast pace. Speed is our biggest asset.”

Speed, the key factor in the Pacman’s last three sensational wins over David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

Against Diaz, Pacquiao scored a ninth round technical knockout win in his first crack at the lightweight division and then went on to send De La Hoya into retirement following a brutal eight round TKO.

In his last fight against Hatton, the bout lasted only two rounds, the Briton absorbing the full power of the Filipino’s left hook that left him lying cold on the canvass.

But Roach is not underestimating Cotto, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion whose title won’t be at stake during the 12-round bout to be fought at a catchweight of 145 pounds.

“I know Cotto pretty well,” Roach said. “But I haven't really studied him yet. I have a pretty good idea how we want to fight him, but until I sit down, watch the tapes and talk to Manny, we're still in the planning stage.”

Still, in the end, he doesn’t see the 28-year Puerto Rican getting past the pride of General Santos City.

“He's (Cotto) a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger,” Roach said. “But I think Manny's the better boxer, and Manny's defense is the best it's been. I think Pacquiao will stop him along the way.”