MANILA – Despite being the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, Manny Pacquiao said he has to prove himself as he is the challenger to Miguel Cotto’s WBO welterweight belt on Nov. 14 in their “Firepower” bout in Las Vegas.

“Kinakailangan kong dalhin ang laban sa kampeon at dapat lang na maipakita ko ang aking kahandaan upang makopo natin ang ikapitong magkaibang dibisyon na siyang magiging bagong world boxing record, kung tayo ay papalarin,” he said in his Oct. 11 “Kumbinasyon” column on PhilBoxing.com.

He is also aware the Cotto is no pushover because the Puerto Rican boxer is bigger and stronger than him.

Pacquiao also said that Cotto is not a slow fighter. He also fights intelligently.

“Hindi madali ang laban na ito,” he commented.

“Matinding pagsubok ito dahil bukod sa malaki, mabilis at malakas si Cotto, inaasahan ding matindi ang kaniyang resistensiya dahil mas bata siya sa akin ng kaunti,” he added.

Pacquiao is 30 while Cotto is 28. “Magandang bakbakan ito,” Pacquiao said of his match-up with the WBO welterweight champion.

Calamity-stricken countrymen

Pacquiao, meanwhile, took the time in his column to sympathize with those who were affected by flooding and landslides caused by rains brought by the storms “Ondoy” (international code name Ketsana) and “Pepeng” (international code name Parma).

With his tough challenge against Cotto just weeks away, Pacquiao said he keeps in mind the toughest challenge that calamity-stricken Filipinos are facing at the moment.

“Matinding pagsubok pa ang ating haharapin sa daraan pang mga araw dahil na rin sa mga magkasunod na bagyong dumating sa ating buhay… Talagang marami pa tayong dapat gawin upang maibalik natin ang dati nating sigla.”

Pacquiao is currently training in Baguio City, one of the areas affected by tropical depression “Pepeng.”

He is set to go to the United States on Oct. 24 to continue his training.

“Alam kong walang bagyo o kalaban ang makakapagpatumba sa magiting na Pilipino at asahan ninyo, palagi ako sa inyong mga tabi upang maibigay ko ang kahit na maliit na tulong na nagmumula sa aking puso,” he wrote.

“Sa labang ito, kayong lahat ang aking inspirasyon. Let us continue to pray for each and everyone,” concluded Pacquiao