Miguel Cotto is rumored to be sitting out the rest of the year instead of continuing negotiations to face Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr on December 4.
Both camps had been in negotiations since mid-August, when Chavez, Jr pulled out of a September 11 fight to face Pawel Wolak. Chavez, Jr simply did not begin training on time, leading many to speculate his intention was to pay Wolak step aside money and go straight to Cotto, who is a fellow Top Rank stablemate. Cotto had just picked up the WBA junior middleweight title in June with a TKO over Yuri Foreman.
According to ESPN, Cotto will sit out the rest of year. Chavez, Jr will keep the December 4 date as a headliner with Vanes Martirosyan also fighting on the card. However, due to both fighters likely facing lowly competition, Top Rank will have to do a their own PPV, as HBO will not the air the card.
In addition to Chavez, Jr, Cotto was also exploring bouts with Kermit Cintron and Vanes Martirosyan.
At press time, Miguel Cotto’s camp could not be reached for comment.
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Very interesting move by Cotto. I believe his reasoning is not because of any contract issues with Chavez, Jr, but what the result will be from November’s WBC 154 pound championship bout between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito.
Cotto has said many times he wants to rematch Pacquiao, believing under new trainer Emmanuel Steward he’s improved enough to stand a chance against the Filipino phenom. After Margarito’s illegal wrap scandal, Cotto was vehemently opposed to facing him again. However, if he pulls out of Chavez, Jr fight, it suggests he’s at least open to the idea should Margarito emerge victorious on November 13.
By opting out of the December 4 bout, Cotto would be fresher and ready to face the Pacquiao-Margarito winner very early in 2011 should Floyd Mayweather continue his latest hiatus from the ring.
We’ll see what develops. ESPN is a very reliable source, but Cotto own comments will shed better light on his intentions.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 