LOS ANGELES — To pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao, size really doesn't matter.
The Filipino boxing hero, gearing up for a world title clash with Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto that could give Pacquiao a slice of boxing history, said he doesn't put much stock in those who say Cotto's superior size could prove too much.
"I have heard that a couple of times the past two years," Pacquiao said with a smile Wednesday, as reporters, photographers and TV cameramen jammed Hollywood's WildCard boxing club to see him train.
After all, Pacquiao's most recent victories have come against bigger opponents. Admittedly Oscar De La Hoya was past his prime when Pacquiao stopped him in the eighth round in December of 2008.
On May 2, Pacquiao knocked out Britain's Ricky Hatton in the second round of their junior welterweight clash.
"It's not about comparing size, not about comparing power," Pacquiao insisted. "Knowledge is power. You don't have knowledge, you don't have power."
Pacquiao handed Hatton his first defeat at junior welterweight. He claimed the International Boxing Organization belt to match a ring record with a title in a sixth career weight class.
Pacquiao secured his place among boxing's all-time greats, adding the junior welterweight crown to past world titles at lightweight, super featherweight, junior featherweight, featherweight and flyweight.
With the hard-hitting Cotto's World Boxing Organizagion welterweight belt on the line in a bout to be fought at 145 pounds, Pacquiao could capture an outright record by claiming a title in a seventh weight division.
"If I win it's boxing history - seven titles in seven different weight divisions," Pacquiao said. "I would be so proud - being a Filipino who captured titles in seven weight divisions."
Pacquiao's prowess in the ring has made him a hero in his homeland, and his victories over De La Hoya and Hatton have raised his profile in the United States.
This week, he appeared on US television's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" programme, impressing with his singing performance.
It wasn't such a big departure for a man who has appeared on television and in film in the Philippines, where he is also a sought-after product pitchman and a budding politician who plans to run for a seat in the nation's parliament in next year's elections.
Pacquiao also took some time out last month to devote himself to humanitarian work in the wake of a devastating typhoon in his homeland.
It's the kind of gesture that has earned the devotion of his compatriots, and is now garnering attention and accolades elsewhere.
"This kid is something that now transcends boxing," promoter Bob Arum said.
Copyright © 2009 AFP.
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