By Chris Williams: Although WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) still hasn’t revealed who he’ll be fighting next in late May or early June, it’s thought Pacquiao has selected a rematch against WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30 KO’s) instead of a much more desired fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. that boxing fans want to see.
Pacquiao vs. Cotto
Roach says Arum gave him four names for Pacquiao’s next fight: Cotto, Bradley, Marquez and Peterson
By Chris Williams: Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach is reportedly saying that promoter Bob Arum has given him four names – Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto, Lamont Peterson and Juan Manuel Marquez – as the fighters that are in the running to be selected from for Pacquiao’s next fight in early 2012. Of the four, two of them – Cotto and Bradley – are from Arum’s Top Rank stable.
Expect to see a Cotto-Pacquiao mismatch real soon
By Chris Williams: WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 Ko’s) revealed that he wants a rematch with Manny Pacquiao after Cotto’s fight with Antonio Margarito on December 3rd in New York. After the Pacquiao rematch, which will be more of a mismatch with Cotto taking another beating like he took in losing to Pacquiao in 2009, Cotto then wants to fight WBC junior middleweight champion Saul Alvarez.
What are the odds that Pacquiao-Cotto II will be at a catch weight?
By Chris Williams: Manny Pacquiao will be satisfying his need to pick up and 8th world title when he easily destroys fellow Top Rank fighter Antonio Margarito on November 13th for the vacant World Boxing Council junior middleweight title.
After that fight, which boxing fans want to see, Pacquiao will either be facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Miguel Cotto in a rematch.
Pacquiao could fight Cotto or Margarito in Mexico or the Middle East – News
By Eric Thomas: The hopes of seeing a mega fight between World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. appear to be dying as the mid-July deadline approaches for Mayweather to say whether he’ll agree to the contract for the November 13th fight. Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, gave Mayweather a deadline of around the middle of July to speak up and whether he’ll take the fight. It doesn’t look he will, though, as Mayweather hasn’t said a word.
Why doesn’t Pacquiao fight Bradley instead of Cotto again?
By Chris Williams: There’s less than a week to go before Floyd Mayweather Jr. is ruled out as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent on November 13th, unless Mayweather speaks up before then and agrees to the contract that Bob Arum has sent to him. I’m not holding my breath on that happening, though, so it’s looking like a back-up plan will have to be used for Pacquiao.
It’s looking like Pacquiao will fight Cotto next, Margarito’s request to get boxing license not approved
By Jim Dower: If former IBF/WBA welterweight champion Antonio Margarito (38-6, 27 KO’s) wants to get a shot against fellow Top Rank fighter WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, he’s going to have to apply to get his boxing license renewed by the California Athletic Commission. Earlier today on Friday, the 32-year-old Margarito’s request to get his boxing license reinstated by the Nevada Athletic Commission was denied by a 4-1 vote. The commission said that Margarito needs to go to the California Athletic Commission and try to get his boxing license back from them.
Koncz has “positive meeting” with Cotto
By Chris Williams: Michael Koncz, the personal adviser for Manny Pacquiao, has reportedly had a successful meeting with World Boxing Association junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto about a rematch between Cotto and Pacquiao if the fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. can’t be made for November of this year. According to writer Ronnie Nathanielsz of philboxing.com, Koncz, speaking about his meeting with Cotto, described it as a “Very positive meeting.”
Cotto says he’s not afraid of Pacquiao – News
By Chris Williams: World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KO’s) could wind up as the next opponent for Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KO’s) if Manny isn’t able to get Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ring on November 13th. Even though it seems as if there’s really no point in Pacquiao fighting Cotto again because of the mostly one-sided nature of his 12th round knockout win over Cotto last November, there’s still the chance that Pacquiao can beat Cotto and win an 8th world title.
Prediction: Pacquiao’s next three opponents – Cotto, Margarito and Chavez Jr.
By Dave Lahr: This is hilarious. Instead of fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr., and giving boxing fans what they want to see, Manny Pacquiao is probably going to be put back in with Miguel Cotto in a fight that few people want to see, aside from Cotto fans. But it doesn’t end there.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has said recently that he’ll try to match Pacquiao up with Mayweather in early 2011. I don’t buy that. The last time I checked, Mayweather is an awesome fighter who is capable of beating Pacquiao and ending the gravy train all at once. Mayweather also doesn’t fight for Top Rank, so the Mayweather-Pacquiao isn’t happening in early 2011.