Al Bello - Getty Images
Miguel Cotto has a lot of power in negotiations with Top Rank and Manny Pacquiao -- and he's using it. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Miguel Cotto has spoken, and he's spoken very loudly. The Puerto Rican star says he absolutely will not go back down to 147 pounds to rematch Manny Pacquiao on June 9, and will hold firm on wanting the fight at 150-pound catchweight.
"He had no problems in dealing with Margarito at 150. He hasn't had problems with anyone regarding weight. With Joshua Clottey, they fought at 147. I [went] down to 145. The [rematch], I'm going to do it at my weight. I will not sacrifice my body again for the benefit of another boxer. It won't happen at 147 pounds."
So that pretty much takes care of that, I guess. Cotto (37-2, 30 KO) is in a position right now, with Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr fighting over him like two dogs on a rawhide bone, where he's calling the shots in a lot of ways. And he appears to be taking full advantage of that.
Good for him. The truth is, Cotto doesn't need Pacquiao on June 9. Pacquiao's choice, apparently, is to face Miguel Cotto, but Cotto could fight Mayweather, or he could wait until July and fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr (which is a fight Top Rank wants to do), or he could pull a rabbit out of the hat and fight Canelo Alvarez.
All of these are money fights. Miguel Cotto will make a big payday for any one of them. And he has no reason to do anything he doesn't want to do. Because right now Miguel Cotto just might be, oddly enough, the hottest property in all of boxing. Everybody wants a piece of Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao vs Cotto II is the biggest money option on the table right now for Manny Pacquiao. Juan Manuel Marquez has basically talked himself out of a fourth fight with Manny, and Lamont Peterson is both not a big enough name and not signed to Top Rank. If you're going to do Peterson, and you're Top Rank, you might as well just do Timothy Bradley instead and hold all the cards.
I know many aren't as amused by this whole thing as I am, but this Cotto fever is really tickling me something fierce. I don't even know exactly what it is -- it's just fun to watch someone have this kind of power in these negotiations with Pacquiao and/or Mayweather.
0 recs | 38 comments
Good for Cotto and his team for doing this. He is correct in saying if Pacquiao went to 150 for Margarito then why not Cotto too?
Kory Kitchen - January 25, 2012
I think if you’re the world’s best, like Pacquaio thinks he is, 3 pounds shouldn’t be too much of a worry. His speed will still take Cotto.
RyanSexton - January 25, 2012
Instead of the 3 fighters making fights with each other, I get the feeling we’ll be seeing Cotto give Clottey a rematch. Pacquiao making Tim Bradley’s day. And Mayweather all of a sudden remembering who Robert Guerrero is
Eugene Banks - January 25, 2012
No money in Clottey EB
The latter two I think quite possible.
pakinpower - January 25, 2012
Cotto made Margarito fight at a catchweight
So he should let that particular boogeyman go….and just make the best fight he can.
pakinpower - January 25, 2012
This isnt a rematch Cotto wants
Because this isn’t a rematch he can win. Pacman puts his butt down again and he knows it.
PhinsAllDay - January 25, 2012 via mobile
If you think Cotto is more likely to beat Mayweather than Pacquiao
You’re fooling yourself and so is he.
Brickhaus - January 26, 2012 via mobile
I think this is just a ploy to get more money. In the BS article he’s quoted as saying “They [Pac’s team] says that money talks. We’ll see what happens”
Apprentice - January 25, 2012
Good for Cotto. He should have never gone down to 145 for the first Pacquiao fight.
mambocowboy - January 25, 2012
he didnt have a problem earning 12 million dollars that Pac helped generate for him
dasilversurfer - January 25, 2012
Cotto fought at 146 the fight before he met Pacman.
Manny is the bigger draw and already beat him by TKO. He should be jumping at the opportunity to avenge this loss.
PhinsAllDay - January 25, 2012 via mobile
He didnt have a problem dictating the weight to Margarito either
pakinpower - January 25, 2012
C’mon, we all know that was game-playing. He hated Margarito. That’s not the case here. There’s no animosity between these two.
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
I should point out that Cotto as every right not to come down to 147 if he doesnt feel comfortable
He just can’t get upset with Pacman if Manny doesn’t want to move up a few pounds. Remember after the Margarito fight Manny said he would never fight that high again.
PhinsAllDay - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Indeed I do.
pakinpower - January 26, 2012
Agreed. If Pacquiao doesn’t want to fight over 147, then that’s how it is. One-sided as it was, Pacquiao DID feel Margarito’s strength in that fight.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
He felt Cotto’s strength in their first bout too so it’s no wonder that Pac wouldn’t be crazy about fighting a stronger, and most likely with his new trainer, a more sound Cotto.
Manuwar - January 26, 2012
Love this
Can only hope he sticks to it. Any chance Cotto-Canelo could still happen? I have no doubt it’d be the better fight for fans.
geraldmcgrew - January 26, 2012
Cotto chavez is more likely
pakinpower - January 26, 2012
Im hearing. Cotto vs Mayweather May 5th
And Paquiao vs Bradley June 9th
PhinsAllDay - January 26, 2012 via mobile
Snore on the first (though I guess I'll have to watch it)
2nd (Paq-Bradley) more attractive to me, though obviously not the most compelling matchup with either fighter.
geraldmcgrew - January 26, 2012
Snore
(relative to Cotto-Canelo)
geraldmcgrew - January 26, 2012
I’d love to see Chavez get a taste of what it is to really fight at the elite level instead of pretending he’s already there with the guys he chooses now.
Manuwar - January 26, 2012
Normally i don't care what fighters do outside the ring...
But in Cotto’s case, this is great. Finally another boxer is stepping up and taking control over his own career. Big props to Miguel for no longer being a sacrificial fighter for Manny.
Cotto-Mayweather or Cotto-Canelo is fine with me. Let Bradley headbutt his way to another belt…lol i kid.
Clove_art - January 26, 2012
Miguel should fight whoever pays him the most
pakinpower - January 26, 2012
And I'm betting it won't be Floyd
pakinpower - January 26, 2012
He should fight who ever respects his demands.
Clove_art - January 26, 2012
Does anyone find it funny that PBF will take Cotto @ 54' but Martinez @50' if at all?
rantcatrat - January 26, 2012
I guess, but Martinez isn’t worth as much money as Cotto. I also don’t really have a lot of interest in seeing the corpse of Sergio Martinez boiled down to 150 pounds.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
Neither do I. None at all. Makes me think of Rios at the Murray weigh-in, maybe worse.
Manuwar - January 26, 2012
It makes sense
Not that I agree with it. But Floyd and Cotto at 154 are still probably the same size. Sergio will be a lot bigger than Mayweather at any weight, so he’s looking for some other advantage.
Brickhaus - January 26, 2012 via mobile
In pure height, Martinez is two inches taller. I guess the problem would be the re-hydration
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
I think he’d probably be bigger than two inches, really. Those listed measurements are always well off.
Oli Goldstein - January 26, 2012
Cotto generates so much more money than Martinez. Also Cotto is a small 154 pounder and really no bigger than Floyd. I doubt that Martinez could really make 154 and perform at the same level, let alone 150. Martinez hasn’t made 154 in a good while now. Its not a million miles from the Paul ‘I can make 147 easily’ Williams position.
On topic, I’m glad that Cotto is not going to be dictated to. I think that he is aware that he probably not beat Mayweather or Pacquiao, but he at least wants to give himself the best possible chance.
Eoin_not_ian - January 26, 2012
good for cotto
i applauded him with he said no ny no fight..i applaud him now but money talks and im sure of bob throws 1 or 2 more mil at him in guarantees 147 might not be a problem. i hope he doesnt budge cuz i really prefer other fights at the moment and if they do fight 150 would make it a bit more interesting.that said i wanna see cotto vs canelo or mayweather if the pac fight is a no go for mayweather which seems more and more like it will be
Vicmatic1 - January 26, 2012
God, Kayne West is possibly the worst emcee I’ve ever hear alongside Tyga and Lil Wayne. I didn’t know West sampled King crimson, jeez I hate Kanyezzy.
36_chambers_ofdeatH - January 26, 2012
huh?
honorablecbm - January 26, 2012 via iPhone app
ahaha as cotto is one of my favs in the business, has been for many years i find this hilarious and as someone said earlier there was kudos to him when he said if its not in ny no fight (whether that would be true or not we’ll never know) but respect to this statement too. ofc i believe with enough money cotto will drop to 147 but he’s in a position where he can and should play these guys off each other for the best deal and kudos to him
sparky_mufc - January 26, 2012
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