Following Manny Pacquiao’s request to rematch him at 147 pounds, Miguel Cotto has confirmed that negotiations has improved for a May, junior middleweight showdown with Floyd Mayweather.
Cotto, a lead option to face Pacquiao on June 9 should the Filipino champion’s negotiations with Mayweather continue to stall, stated his preference for his own Mayweather bout increased after receiving word that Mayweather would be willing to face him at either a 150 pound catchweight or the full 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,” Cotto told boxingscene.com. “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?”
Pacquiao scored a dominant TKO over Cotto in November 2099 at a catchweight of 145. After he defeated Antonio Margarito by decision in November 2010 for a junior middleweight title, Pacquiao stated the bigger weights were becoming an issue and vowed to remain at welterweight for the rest of his career.
Anticipation for a Mayweather-Cotto bout was at its highest peak in early 2008 when both were undefeated. Since then, the pair have held several informal business talks in Puerto Rico.
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