Manny Pacquiao fight with Miguel Cotto a classic in the making

The intense interest in the meeting of Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas has led Bob Arum to draw parallels between the classic fights he promoted in the Eighties.

Arum, speaking exclusively to Telegraph Sport from the Top Rank offices in Las Vegas, explained: "I see this fight as a modern version of Duran v Hagler, or a Hagler v Hearns fight. It has that feel about it, that kind of excitement.

"Two great fighters, loved in boxing. Magazine stories, unprecedented media requests, two entire countries following their fighters, I really believe that on the night this will turn out to be a classic."