LAS VEGAS,  (Reuters) – Challenger Manny Pacquiao  weighed in just one pound lighter than Miguel Cotto as the  Filipino was greeted by deafening cheers from his supporters on  the eve of today’s WBO welterweight title fight.

Pacquiao, 49-3-2 (37 knockouts), tipped the scales at 144  pounds in front of a boisterous crowd of about 6,500 at the MGM  Grand Hotel’s Garden Arena.

Puerto Rican Cotto, 34-1 (27 KOs), was right on the limit  for the scheduled 12-round bout which will be fought at a  contracted weight of 145 pounds.

Although Cotto has won a world title every year since 2004  and will be competing in his natural division, Pacquiao is  widely viewed as the favourite.

The Filipino southpaw, who has never previously fought  above light-welterweight, will be bidding to win a seventh  world title in an unprecedented seventh weight class.

The atmosphere was electric as the two fighters made their  way on to a raised stage for Friday’s televised weigh-in where  former boxing great Roberto Duran and undefeated WBO super  bantamweight Juan Manuel Lopez were among those attending.

Shouts of “Manny, Manny” and “Cotto, Cotto” echoed before  the tracksuit-clad boxers finally emerged and Pacquiao lived up  to his billing as the people’s champion by blowing kisses to  the fans before he stepped on to the scales. Cotto, who also wore headphones over a balaclava, then  followed. A natural 147-pounder, he told the crowd he had no  problem making the weight limit.
“I’m pretty healthy and my strength is too much for  tomorrow,” the 29-year-old said.

The Puerto Rican will be fighting for the first time since  he retained his WBO title with a split decision win over  Ghana’s Joshua Clottey in June.
Pacquiao, 30, last fought in May when he delivered a  stunning second round knockout of Britain’s Ricky Hatton at the  MGM Grand to claim the IBO light welterweight crown.