Pacquiao set for his biggest test against Cotto

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Manny Pacquiao, the biggest drawcard in contemporary boxing, will face the toughest challenge of his career when he takes on holder Miguel Cotto for the WBO welterweight title on Saturday.

Although Filipino Pacquiao is widely viewed as the favourite in his bid to win a seventh world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class, the scheduled 12-round bout has whet the appetite of fans and boxing insiders alike.

Renowned trainer Angelo Dundee predicts "a great, great fight" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena while former heavyweight champion George Foreman has backed the bigger and more powerful Puerto Rican to win on a split decision.

"You have a perfect blending of style in this fight," Dundee told reporters in the build-up to Saturday's clash. "If I ever had a fighter fighting Pacquiao, I would implement the things that Cotto brings to the table.

"Cotto is a pressure fighter and he's going to be on Pacquiao from the get-go. He's got a great left hook and he's a good body puncher.

"I see a very tough distance fight, and there is going to be blood," added Dundee, who has trained Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Foreman.

"Pacquiao takes it to you all the time but in this fight he is going to have to back up. He's smart, slick, and has great hand speed, but Cotto counters those things."

Pacquiao, regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, has a glittering record of 49-3-2 with 37 knockouts but Foreman believes he could fall victim to complacency.