Cotto out to prove who's No. 1

Miguel Cotto---and not Manny Paquiao---is the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound and Cotto will validate this claim on Nov.14.

"I think both guys want to show that they are the best," said Cotto tactician Joe Santiago during a teleconference call held from Tampa, Florida.

"One is called the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and we know we have the best pound-for-pound fighter in the worldin Miguel Cotto and when that night comes and he wins, everyone will know that the Puerto Rico does have the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world," stressed Santiago, a long time Cotto training assistant who will be working for only the second time as chief second.

Santiago has been at the helm of Cotto's training at the fight Factory Gym in Tampa where they have camped out the past four weeks eating, breathing and thinking Pacquiao.

"I think Manny Pacquiao is in for a tough tonight. Cotto showed in the (Joshua) Clottey fight how much it means to him win. I think that desire is a very important thing to have, to win, and Miguel has it."

What makes Santiago and the rest of the Team Cotto beat Pacquiao is the fact that Pacquiao will be facing a "true welterweight" who is still "young" and "in his prime."

Not only that, Cotto's conditioning coach Phil Landman stressed. "(Cotto's going) to fight smarter," said Landman.