Promoter of World Boxing Association welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, Bob Arum, would like to see his fighter in against either Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Oscar De La Hoya in Cotto’s up coming bout. Arum, however, realizes that both De La Hoya and Mayweather will perhaps not being interested in fighting with Cotto at this time, and has other top fighters in mind, specifically Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, Paul Williams or Kermit Cintron.
Of the four names, Margarito appears to be the most likely available for a bout with Cotto, but for that fight to happen, it would have to be a lot of money involved, as Cotto has said that he wouldn’t fight Margarito unless the money is there. No doubt, it would be a high risk bout for Cotto, hence his interest in De La Hoya or Mayweather is much higher.
Arum is interested mainly in the winner of the Mayweather vs. Hatton bout, which takes place on December 8th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fact that Arum is bringing up Mayweather’s name first, indicates that he figures that Floyd will be the ultimate winner of the bout, which would take Hatton out of the running for a future bout with Cotto. Arum expresses doubt, however, that Hatton would want to fight Cotto, should he defeat Mayweather, because he believes that Hatton would rather take the easier – and more lucrative – bout against De La Hoya, whom has expressed a lot of interest in fighting Hatton.
However, Arum feels that Mayweather, too, will likley avoid fighting Cotto, knowing it will be a tough fight that he may not win. Mayweather has a lot of other options available to him, such as De La Hoya, a rematch with Hatton, Paul Williams or Kermit Cintron, to name just a few.
“Well I think if it’s Hatton, he would rather fight De La Hoya. You can’t blame him, it’s more money and probably an easier fight. But I don’t think Hatton can win that fight, Mayweather will win that fight and the idea of Mayweather fighting Cotto seems to me to be farfetched because Floyd ain’t fighting anybody who could beat him no less hurt him like Miguel can,” Arum said.