MOBBED IN VEGAS

LAS VEGAS- Miguel Cotto is the reigning welterweight champion, who puts his World Boxing Organization (WBO) title on the line this Saturday (Sunday in Manila). Unfortunately, the hype and adulation centered around Manny Pacquiao Tuesday when the two superstars formally arrived at the MGM Grand Hotel, four days before they finally slug it to out in the ring and give life to a 12-round fight anticipated by many to be one of the biggest in 2009. Mobbed and his name repeatedly chanted by the huge crowd that gathered at the lobby of the luxurious hotel, the Filipino ring icon, no doubt, was the star of the show with cameras clicking and videos, rolling while Team Pacquiao that included trainer Freddie Roach, were being led from the entrance into the make shift ring at the center of the building.

Chants of Manny! Manny! Manny! and placards bearing the words "Pacman Pound-for-Pound King! were all over the place as people gathered around to see the glimpse of the boxing superstar from the Philippines, never mind that he arrived 30 minutes late for the appointed time of the welcome reception arranged by Top Rank Promotions.

An hour later, it was the turn of Cotto and his associates to be greeted at the hotel lobb. The impact of their arrival, however, was not the same.

But Cotto is unfazed.

"I expected it to like this. Everything Manny has, he has earned," said Cotto, without anyhint of disgust.

Besides, the champion stressed come fight night would only be him and the Pacman inside the ring.

"It's going to be just Manny, Miguel Cotto and the referee inside the ring," said Cotto, who scored a split decision win over Joshua Clottey in his WBO title defense last June at the Madison Square Garden in New York. "Nobody can come and give anything to Manny."

Pacquiao said he's happy with all the adulation being given him as among the faces of boxing today and the universally acknowledged top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

"I'm happy for that and understand this is part of it all," said Pacquiao during the 15-minute question-and-answer portion he had with members of the press at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

But hero worship aside, Pacquiao, who was welcomed amidst a Filipiniana-type atmosphere, said he's all geared up for the Cotto bout.

"I'm, right now, ready to go," he said. "I believe in myself. I don't want to say anything before the fight, but will wait until we meet in the ring. "My motivation? I am fighting for people who love boxing." Unlike the cheerful approach of Pacquiao, Cotto was more combative.

A 2000 Sydney Olympian, Cotto said he's ready to offset the speed Pacquiao is going to bring into the ring.

"I'm prepared for the speed of Manny," he said. "I have equal hand speed and prepared well with my sparring partners. I'm prepared for anything. We have the key to the fight," said Cotto .

"Our camp has made the difference."

SOURCE: PEOPLE'S TONIGHT

AUTHOR: GERRY RAMOS