“I believe Beltran will make it,” said Pacquiao, who regularly trains and spars with Beltrano.
“He is a nice guy, a good boxer and good luck to him, hopefully he can make it.”
Fight promoter Bob Arum was more cagey, however, pointing out that Burns will have the advantage of a raucous home crowd cheering him on.
“Beltran is one of our fighters and always gives a great fight,” said Arum. “Burns is a consummate warrior and the fans are in for a real treat.
“I think this is a 50-50 fight. There is an advantage to Burns fighting on his home turf but he is in with a guy who believes in himself in Beltran.”
Arum added that whoever wins the bout is set for a big-money clash against the unbeaten WBO number one contender Terence Crawford in New York later in the year.
"That is what we are talking about,” said Arum. “The winner of this fight in Madison Square Garden, against Crawford, as part of a big double header.”