Ethan Miller - Getty Images
Will Floyd Mayweather get in the way of a Pacquiao vs Cotto rematch? (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Promoter Bob Arum says that while he's not close to a final deal for a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto on June 9, despite reports to the contrary (which Cotto has also denied), that is one of the fights he wants to discuss with Team Cotto.
What it appears right now -- if you're taking everyone at their word, and feel free, as it makes things more fun to discuss -- is that Pacquiao made his choice for a June opponent, and it is indeed Miguel Cotto, but Cotto has not been quite brought into the fold on all of this yet.
There are rumors that Cotto could be Floyd Mayweather's May 5 opponent in Las Vegas. Cotto, as we all know well by now, is a free agent with no paper ties to Top Rank. He has said he'll be loyal to Top Rank, but they're not working with a contract and Miguel Cotto wants the most money. If Mayweather offers more money, that's a legitimate fight that could very well happen.
Arum says that Cotto negotiating with Mayweather is "a waste of time," but I think he's smart enough to know that it isn't -- but it won't involve him, so maybe he'll try to get into Cotto's ear and sway him away from that. It may be a waste of time for Arum, but Cotto won't go into a Mayweather negotiation with Arum at his side.
My gut feeling is that Arum and Top Rank will go out of their way to appease Miguel Cotto in this instance. For one thing, I don't think they'd much mind putting the screws to Mayweather, who quickly needs to find an opponent for his date, and for another thing, Cotto is sort of a perfect opponent for Pacquiao in June. They've fought before, so we know for a fact Manny should be considered close enough to a sure bet that the fight won't really be perceived as dangerous, and for another thing, no matter what happens in June if they do rematch, Top Rank would surely still like to use Miguel Cotto after that fight, perhaps later in the year against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
It is kind of fun to experience someone besides Mayweather or Pacquiao having good cards when they sit down at the poker table these days, I'll say that.
0 recs | 33 comments
I think, as much as anything, Arum wants to do this fight to ensure he has a future with Cotto. And I wouldn’t doubt that maybe part of the “terms” Cotto hasn’t agreed to is some sort of guarantee that Arum gets to promote at least Cotto’s next bout.
Brent Brookhouse - January 23, 2012
don't gb/mayweather have the same leverage with canelo?
they could promise cotto canelo
nickfoxx - January 23, 2012
If Cotto’s brother almost had Canelo out, I think Miguel Cotto vs JCCJ seems like the better match up. He probably will beat both, but Canelo really isn’t ready for these bigger fights.
RyanSexton - January 23, 2012
I Love It
I hope Mayweather does step on Arum’s toes and is the reason why Pac-Cotto dont rematch. Mayweather-Cotto would be much bigger and much more anticipated than Pac-Cotto. That would leave Arum reeling.
Maybe he’ll call out Mosley for a rematch now.
Zfan - January 23, 2012
Or Margarito.
Clove_art - January 23, 2012
I’ll believe this when I see it… Cotto has always been faithful to Top Rank and even if he says he’s exploring his options, I fully expect him to stay loyal. This is just wishful thinking… probably using it to get even more money from TR for a Pac rematch.
Apprentice - January 23, 2012
Cotto after a good check here, Cotto will go down to 147lbs losing his power in the process, which would give Pacquiao/Mayweather a huge advantage.. Cotto vs Manny he will be running all fight, Cotto vs Floyd he will be getting hit all fight..
Long Tower Jr - January 23, 2012
I think it really depends on how much Manny has lost. If he’s lost a lot of athleticism and hunger we might be in store for a major upset. If he’s only lost a little then the match-up should still be pretty favorable to him. I know Cotto has a real trainer now, but I don’t think that will be a huge factor IMO.
Sammlung - January 23, 2012
I hate the fact
That we are even talking about Manny vs Cotto again.
younggunzvt - January 23, 2012
Cotto wants money
He gets a lot for fighting JCC and/or Manny. And now he has leverage.
Frankly, virtually everyone at TR has options coming out the wazoo as a function of the size, composition and strength of their stable. Cotto especially.
That alone gives Cotto and others leverage with Floyd who, more than the others, has to have an opponent named within a certain time frame. The big question is who he chooses and how much he is willing to pay (and/or let them make) for facing him.
The rest will sort itself out soon enough.
pakinpower - January 23, 2012
Manny doesn’t seem to have a lot of tremendous options…
Sammlung - January 23, 2012
The bridges that Arum as burned, will hurt Manny soon enough, if not already.
Clove_art - January 23, 2012
interesting point
out of the BLH ranked fighters from 140 to 154, by my count top rank only has:
140: tim bradley, mike alvarado, lamont peterson-free agent
147: mike jones, shane mosley-free agent
154: miguel cotto-free agent, vanes martirosyan
and of course there’s always marquez, who’s also a free agent
nickfoxx - January 23, 2012
Guys will gain weight, lose weight, cut off arms or legs
To fight Manny. For the money.
He has more options than fights left in him.
pakinpower - January 23, 2012
He's burned so many that Donaire is back
Bradley has joined. Rios is becoming a star. Peterson may be coming.
You waste a lot of time hating in life. Sometimes it’s just better to roll with the reality that certain big entities do things that their competitors cannot do and/or do as well.
Right now, Top Rank has the best company in boxing. Goldman after a bad year still rules the roost on Wall Street. CAA in talent , Gagosian in Art ,and so forth.
You can learn a lot more watching what these companies do right than you can standing around hating them and picking on what they do wrong.
But hey, to each is own. Haters gonna hate
pakinpower - January 23, 2012
I’m not hating, I couldn’t care less what kind of company TR is. I’m no shareholder, but I am a customer. And promoters, despite the leverage they have over boxers, are in a service industry. You put on fights that I as a fan pay for. And if boxing fans want to see Manny against better competition, then that’s their right to complain. We don’t want to hear some kind of PR spin bullshit on a fight that we have seen before. How many rematches do have lined up for Manny, so Arum can keep the money rolling in?
Look make your money I don’t care, I just want to see a good fight, not a PPV event where 90% of boxing fans knows the outcome before the bell rings. Why don’t you spew you PR spin job at someone who cares, please.
Clove_art - January 24, 2012
Manny has four great ones plus Floyd
Every one makes him money.
With a few years left in his career, Cotto has two BIG money fights with Manny and Junior.
Bradley is going to get a lot more exposure and a shot at Manny money.
pakinpower - January 23, 2012
*has burned
Clove_art - January 23, 2012
Did someone delete my post?
Boss Man - January 23, 2012
If so, why?
Boss Man - January 23, 2012
you used an offensive racial slur
nickfoxx - January 23, 2012
I have never done that in my life. What was it?
Boss Man - January 24, 2012
email me it
Boss Man - January 24, 2012
I have very bad vision as a result of an explosion many years ago (44 to be exact)- My typos are
legendary and I refuse to use spell-correct because I view that as apologizing for the explosion I was in — if you catch my drift.
Boss Man - January 24, 2012
I don't have a racist bone in my body, WTF
Boss Man - January 24, 2012
You had a typo that made it look “racist” and I didn’t want to try to convince everyone that I could guarantee it was a typo. By the way, everyone: I guarantee it was a typo.
Scott Christ - January 23, 2012
email it to me, please.
Boss Man - January 24, 2012
Maybe there should be a new business model in which the elite fighters promote their own fights thus eliminating the middle men. I believe Camacho did this and saved himself a bundle of money. Arum, GBP, and the rest better be very careful here.
Boss Man - January 23, 2012
Brick has mentioned this before, but I’m really not sure Golden Boy is going to be able to keep a handle on Canelo Alvarez. He seems abnormally smart about the business end of boxing, is already promoting legit cards under his banner in Mexico, and is worth a whole truckload of money — he was worth money before Golden Boy inked him, too. It sort of seems to me like he’s used them to give himself US TV exposure. I think in the end he gives them the short end. And good for him if he does.
Scott Christ - January 23, 2012
For every one Canelo
There are countless other kids without a clue as to how to create and manage themselves and their market.
pakinpower - January 23, 2012
Correct, but I said the "eliite fighters."
Boss Man - January 24, 2012
Those that can, will.
Those that can’t, won’t.
Me thinks boxing is a very full time job and that promoting and marketing two very full time jobs … for the most part seperate but equal.
The world is made up of some folks who are entrepeneurial and cannot and/or do not work for others and conversely the majority of those that do (work for and/or under the umbrella) of others.
I see more artists work successflly inside the gallery/museum world that the very few who choose to work outside of it. The latter more often than not come back inside the system because it allows them to do what they do best; in this case, make Art.
But there are always exceptions.
pakinpower - January 23, 2012
Writers are depending less and less on publishers. Not a great analogy, but times and
terchnology have changed. If Manny and Floyd decide to propmote themselves, guess who will be left holding the empty bag? Not Manny and Floyd. It’s time someone talkd to Camacho about the way he did it. It’s time someone stepped up and said “srrew you Arum and GBP.” It’s time.
Boss Man - January 24, 2012
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