(Photos by Ethan Miller and Al Bello/Getty Images)
Last night, word from Miguel Cotto was that he wouldn't go down to 147 pounds to rematch Manny Pacquiao on June 9, and challenged Pacquiao to fight him at a 150-pound catchweight, which is where Pacquiao fought Antonio Margarito in November 2010.
Cotto indicated that Floyd Mayweather Jr, another potential opponent with whom he has been negotiating, would be willing to fight at 150 pounds. Now, Cotto says that Mayweather will fight all the way at the true junior middleweight limit of 154 pounds:
"I will not fight below 150 pounds. Mayweather Jr. said he has no problem going up to 154 to fight me. Pacquiao is the one who objected and wants me to once again come down to a weight between 145 and 147 pounds. If Pacquiao had no trouble going up to 150 to fight Margarito, why is there a set requirement for me to go down again? Does he fear me?"
Others in the comments of last night's post noted one thing that is true: Manny Pacquiao said after he fought Antonio Margarito that he'd never fight over 147 pounds again. Even though that fight was one-sided, Manny definitely felt Margarito's power in that fight, and didn't like it. Pacquiao's team also backed down on previously saying they'd fight Sergio Martinez with a 150-pound catchweight, too. They don't want to fight over 147.
Cotto (37-2, 30 KO) is, as we've said a few times, having his way in a unique position where he's not chasing the money, but the money is chasing him. More and more it seems very possible that any talks with Mayweather (42-0, 26 KO) could legitimately lead to a May 5 fight between Mayweather and Cotto, which it seems most prefer to a Pacquiao vs Cotto rematch, simply because it's something we haven't seen before.
If Cotto does not fight Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO) on June 9, it seems that top junior welterweight Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO) would be the "replacement" choice. That may be sooner than Top Rank would ideally like to make the Pacquiao vs Bradley fight, but they might not have much choice. They're running low on potential Pacquiao opponents, which is the No. 2 reason the Cotto rematch is being pursued in the first place (the No. 1 reason, as always, is money).
0 recs | 39 comments
Good for him
I’m glad to see him asserting himself. I still think I’d rather see Mayweather-Canelo and Pacquiao-Cotto II, but I’ll still pay for Mayweather-Cotto and Pacquiao-Bradley.
AndrewDM - January 26, 2012
BTW, I think my favorite thing about those three photos put together is that the man in the middle stands on his own two feet.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
perfect.
Loot - January 26, 2012
like the photo as well..good job scott
Vicmatic1 - January 26, 2012
Actually didn’t occur to me until after I did it — those were just the three most recent vertical shots in our library.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
Lets make it happen
Zfan - January 26, 2012
Might as well get the Mayweather money, Miguel
I actually think he’d have more chance with a Pacquiao rematch at 150, but never mind. T
BrianBrock - January 26, 2012
I believe Pac recent
opponents have been paid a good deal more
Elstriko - January 26, 2012 via Android app
Mosley made more vs Mayweather ($7M to $5M) but was also in a much better position vs Mayweather, too. Ortiz made a scant $2M to face Floyd, which is just…so bad, especially considering Floyd wasn’t exactly bursting with other options. He should’ve held out for $5M. what was Floyd gonna do, say no and fight…uh…???
Cotto might be able to get more from Floyd than from Top Rank here, though. It’s all about pure desperation on both sides. They need Cotto, because he’s that much more valuable than the next-best option for Pacquiao (Bradley) or probably for Mayweather (it really might be Guerrero).
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
Great stuff… I hope Cotto gets his wish. Him vs. Floyd at 154 would be a fantastic matchup. I dunno how Cotto would break the shoulder roll, esp. since floyd holds his right so high to block left hooks, but we shall see. Cotto will def. be the stronger man in the ring…
cylee1180 - January 26, 2012
Maybe Cotto will go southpaw?
cylee1180 - January 26, 2012
Yeah then he’ll totally give Mayweather problems like all those southpaws Mayweather has allegedly struggled against.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
Judah knocked him down. Corley hurt him. Ortiz banged at the body on the ropes. Thaz just my opinion holmes.
cylee1180 - January 26, 2012
it’s kinda funny. there has been so little success against Floyd that the few times he’s looked even close to vulnerable really stick in our memory (Mosley’s right, and the Judah and Corley moments). FWIW, i didn’t think Ortiz got a whole lot of work done when he had Floyd on the ropes, despite Lampley’s shouts to the contrary.
i could see Cotto eating quite a few lead rights if he goes southpaw.
Sentimental - January 26, 2012
Exactly
One good punch out of an entire fight = Mayweather struggled.
erod - January 26, 2012
Plus, Floyd’s critics never really talk about his ring IQ, his ability to adjust. Even Hatton landed a good shot on Floyd, but that fight ended with Floyd’s check hook.
Clove_art - January 26, 2012
And he won every single fight with room to spare after making adjustments.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
Except one. Castillo I
Otherwise that is absolutely true
pakinpower - January 26, 2012
He won that one too.
Dafs - January 26, 2012
That fight had more to do with Floyd’s busted hands, than Castillo taking advantage of a “struggling” Floyd.
Clove_art - January 26, 2012
I hadn’t realized that Castillo was a southpaw.
bachwards - January 26, 2012
He isn't today nor was he
He’s fights orthodox
pakinpower - January 28, 2012
The response was too
He won the Castillo fight but hardly with no room to spare
pakinpower - January 28, 2012
The discussion was about Floyd’s specific success against southpaws (thus the references to Ortiz, Corley and Judah) and Scott was obviously referring to those 3 fights alone. Sorry you missed that.
bachwards - January 28, 2012
Let's see what happens when they talk about money
I want to run for President. The campaign is phenomenally expensive. But I don’t have any money.
See the problem.
pakinpower - January 26, 2012
Maybe you need some of Bob Arum’s investor-friends.
Oli Goldstein - January 26, 2012
I have them but they arent giving me enough to run for president
They are regularly buying art however.
pakinpower - January 26, 2012
Forget about the promoters for a second and forget about a fight between Pac and Mayweather. Who would you like to see Mayweather and Pacquiao face regardless of money, regardless of promoters?
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
Me
I already said Bradley for Manny
Floyd I think could expose Martinez at 154 and win loads of respect and burnish a real legacy.
Cotto. I dont care. His battle days are behind him so it’s all about cash now.
pakinpower - January 26, 2012
If Cotto is serious about the weight issue, and it’s not just another money ploy (which I suspect it is), Pac/Cotto 2 won’t happen. Cotto, in a lopsided loss, ruptured Manny’s eardrum and I’ve read that Manny himself said that Cotto hurt him. Now, that was at 145. I suspect Manny, after his experience with Margarito at 150, is not going to go anywhere near a 150 pound Cotto. I still think Manny would beat Cotto, but maybe he believes he could be hurt.
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
If Cotto/Mayweather had happened earlier in their careers, maybe Cotto could have used Calderon as a sparing buddy haha. If he could catch a tiny Calderon, I’m pretty sure he could catch a bigger Mayweather. But using Calderon now would not be all that useful…
Who could be Cotto’s sparring partner?
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
Doesn’t matter there is no blueprint 42* have tried 42* have failed there is no blueprint
And honestly no one can really replicate Mayweather. I’m sure Steve Forbes would be part of his camp. Maybe Mosley since he’s known as a guy who can imitate the styles of others pretty well.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
All I ask is that Cotto can make it a fight. I know it’s probably almost impossible to beat Floyd right now, but I would be proud if people could say “Cotto gave a hell of a fight…”
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
I think the only “blueprint” that exists for beating Floyd at this point is having serious knock-out power and a great chin. If you can eat dozens of Floyd’s counter-rights and manage to land a few shots that hurt him, you MIGHT have enough time to get in and finish him in a way that Mosley utterly failed to do. You’re just not going to outpoint him.
But…not really, nah. I suppose it’s possible to beat Floyd, but even if you catch him with a great shot and hurt him, he’s so good at wrapping up and protecting himself that I just don’t see anyone being able to capitalize on the opportunity. I really only see someone like Pacquiao, who (theoretically still) has the combination of power, speed, and accuracy to do him some damage being able to get the job done. But I’d still probably pick Mayweather.
AndrewDM - January 26, 2012
Seems like Floyd
is much more content to just back up, step out, and roll out of punches than he used to be; I don’t think he will be so hard to catch. He is just hard to hit because he rolls, counters, and ties up before you can throw combinations. He is able to control distance and pace as well as anyone in the sport.
younggunzvt - January 26, 2012
Besides the actual fight, I would be really excited to see how the pre-fight antics went down between Cotto and Mayweather. Floyd has a penchant for getting inside his opponents heads but I can’t imagine Cotto getting flustered or outside himself if Floyd were to start in on him trash talking.
Manuwar - January 26, 2012
Mayorga kinda got to him in the pre-fight. Cotto has been more willing to engage in “controversy” as of late… he began talking more than usual in the first Pac fight and then, he’s been quite chatty in the Mayorga and Margarito fights.
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
It’s not that I don’t think he won’t engage (unravel all those negatives) it’s just I doubt that Floyd will be able to fluster him, and I think that could fluster Floyd a little.
Manuwar - January 26, 2012
That would be interesting
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bad Left Hook to post a comment.