Arum: Pacquiao-Cotto fight weight would be 144-145 pounds
Boxing promoter Bob Arum was on Olvera Street on Thursday to hawk his Latin Fury 10 card July 25 at Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico, headlined by the latest Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. bout (more on that later).
Since the boxing world's most fervent interest is in another Arum fighter, Manny Pacquiao, I asked him if there was any news on the negotiations to stage a Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight Nov. 14 in Las Vegas.
"I was on the phone with Cotto's people yesterday and I outlined to them the terms and points of the deal," Arum said. "I expect their response by the end of the week."
Arum said Pacquiao, meanwhile, has informed him again that he wants to fight Cotto. Arum has a Sunday meeting scheduled in Las Vegas with Pacquiao's U.S. business advisor Michael Koncz to discuss specifics of the deal.
"Koncz will take that information to Manny next week, we'll have further conversations then, and then likely put this thing to bed," Arum said.
Arum expressed confidence there will be none of the drawn-out drama that took place in the negotiations before Pacquiao's May 2 second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton.
One of the potential sticking points has already been defined, Arum revealed Thursday. He said a consultation with Cotto's nutritionist has made it clear the catch weight must be in the 144-145-pound range.
"Cotto is a welterweight and the nutritionist is saying the lowest he can go is 144," Arum said. "Manny will be fine with that. He doesn't want a guy to get in there and injure himself by fighting at an unrealistically low weight."
Cotto hasn't fought below 147 pounds in three years.
As for the more prickly subject of the purse split, Arum declined to discuss proposed percentages.
Meanwhile, for Shane Mosley followers, Arum said that although it continues to appear that the Pomona fighter will be deprived of Pacquiao and Cotto immediately, he'd like to arrange a title fight at Staples Center between world welterweight champ Mosley and Joshua Clottey, who fought Cotto to an entertaining split-decision Saturday night in New York.
"Nothing can be done until I finish with Pacquiao and Cotto first, though," Arum said.
Before that, there's Chavez Jr.'s upcoming super-welterweight bout against Maine's Jason Lehoullier. Chavez (39-0-1), a top-five contender by the WBC and WBO, is riding his name recognition and charisma to an estimated 75,000 to 100,000 pay-per-view buys for his Latin Fury appearances.
The July 25 show will also feature unbeaten featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa and unbeaten lightweight Urbano Antillon (26-0, 19 KOs) from Maywood.
Although the wait for a Chavez Jr. title fight is testing the patience, Arum has done something about it: He's hired West Los Angeles trainers Jon Jon Park and Todd Rushworth of Legacy Gym to make his prized prospect more fit.
The trainers' task is to keep Chavez Jr. under 160 pounds and put him on a routine that accounts for fitness, diet, rest and supplements. Next week, Chavez Jr. will be sent for the first time to train in the high altitude of Big Bear.
"He's young, but he's trainable," said Park, who added that the fighters he's worked with are 28-2. "It's an awakening for him, but he's willing to do it. That's the key."
-- Lance Pugmire
Photo: Manny Pacquiao waves to his fans. Credit: Jay Directo / AFP/Getty Images
So we pinoys can now look forward to the next Pacquiao fight, this time, defitnitely against Cotto, no longer against the ill-mannered and thrash-talking Mayweather. The only remaining issues now are: 1. at exactly what catchweight; and, at what sharing, 60-40 or 65-35, in favor of the Pacman, etc. At any rate, this is a welcome news. I'll start saving now for this fight.
Posted by: EXAMINERAUTHOR | June 18, 2009 at 05:56 PM
At the catchweight of 144-145 pounds Manny will win in the later rounds. I don't foresee Cotto getting knocked out in the 2nd round bc he can take a good punch. It takes an accumulation of power punches to stop Cotto. Cotto has the power to stop Manny but does not have the speed to keep up and defend against Manny's punches. Manny will see the openings & land the precision punches. He's just too fast. This will be David Diaz all over again. Pacquiao by TKO 11th or 12th round.
Posted by: Kid Dynamite | June 18, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Lets Go Cotto!!! Haha 4 Shane!!!
Posted by: jeffrey | June 18, 2009 at 08:29 PM
Pacquiao vs. Cotto will going to be a interesting fight, we can never tell if Manny can win this one easily Cotto got punching power and solid chin to stay in the fight for the whole 12 rounds..
Posted by: cheap jordan shoes | June 18, 2009 at 09:06 PM
Chavez who is fighting at 160 lbs., was challenging pacman after he demolished hatton early may, wants the golden egg this early.. i think he should fight mosley, cotto or margarito.. guys who are at welterwieight, not a guy whose 140 and is much smaller than him.. GPB wants money then put mosley on him..
Posted by: dobol | June 18, 2009 at 10:21 PM
THE FIGHT IS ON 147 WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION IN A DESCENT "CATCH WEIGHT" MATCH OF 144.
EVEN THOUGH COTTO HASNT FOUGHT BELOW 147 IN THREE (3) YRS. HE DID MAKE WEIGHTS IN HIS LAST FIGHT WITH JUSHUA CLOTTEY AT 146. SO ITS A LITTLE EASIER FOR HIM TO TAKE TWO (2) POUNDS OFF HIS SWEAT TO MAKE 144.
IS THAT SO HARD TO DO? I GUESS NOT!
MAKING A LOT OF MILLIONS IN JUST 5 MONTHS SURE IS, A LOT TO DO!
PACMAN VS ANGEL! 2009 BIGGEST FIGHT OF THE YEAR!
4TH TIME LINEAL CHAMPION..
6TH TITLES IN
6TH WEIGHT DIVISION (2ND TO OSCAR)
A WIN AGAINST COTTO WILL SEAL HIS LEGACY AS ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREATS TO HAVE LACED A GLOVES!!
JOINING THE LIKES OF SUGAR RAY ROBINSON
HENRY ARMSTRONG, FOR HAVING 3 TITLES IN 3 WEIGHT DIVISION IN ONE (1) YEAR.
MUHAMMAD ALI FOR SUCH AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD
AND BY FAR THE ONLY FIGHTER IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF BOXING TO HAVE WON SEVEN (7) TITLES, IN SEVEN (7) WEIGHT DIVISION!
112, 122, 126, 130, 135, 140, 147
Posted by: james | June 19, 2009 at 04:01 AM
Definitely, Miguel Cotto was the next big thing for Manny Pacquiao. He is the best opponent for Miguel Cotto and no one should take it away about this upcoming mega-fight fight. Manny proves that he was the best pound per pound king in the catch weight limit of 147lbs over the drained golden boy Oscar last Dec. 6, 2008 in their Dream match. Everyone says that Manny got lucky in winning that fight. In this fight over the WBO welterweight champ Miguel Cotto. I was expecting that Manny will defend his throne and retain king in the ring magazine pound per pound lists. A fight with Miguel Cotto in the catch weight limit of 143-147lbs, no one will say or can predict who should be the winner and who should what it takes to be the greatest pound per pound king in this era. Who's gonna be your bet buddy???
Posted by: Harizon | June 19, 2009 at 07:03 AM
MY GOODNESS MOSLEY!WHYNOTTAKE PAUL WILLIAMS/WHY ARE TRYING TO INSISTS FIGHTING PACQUIAO?
Posted by: XboX777 | June 19, 2009 at 10:37 AM
HOLD IT! HOLD IT! HOLD IT PEOPLE!!! I THINK ITS MUCH PRETTIER IF MOSLEY WOULD FIGHT FIRST IVAN CALDERON BEFORE MAKING UP WITH PACQUIAO!!! MOSLEY IS NO MATCH AGAINST CALDERON!!!! THATS FOR SURE!!!
Posted by: ABU BAKLA | June 19, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Amen to that, Mr. James. I adopt your opinion in toto. Go, go Manny go!
Posted by: alagad | June 19, 2009 at 11:05 PM
Cotto for some reason has a glass chin when he gets hit with a solid left straight or left hook. Unfortunately for him, Manny throws strong left straights and left hooks on the move without loss of power all night long. Manny has better lateral movement on offense and defense and his fast right jabs will neutralize Cotto's left jabs/hooks. For Cotto to win he needs to land left hooks to the body (don't think he can) and straight rights (he will). But I see Manny by stoppage in round 10. If Cotto lands straight rights effectively then Cotto in 5 rounds.
Posted by: AK46um | June 21, 2009 at 06:04 PM
I will let you know that Manny is a great fighter. He is too small to fight Cotto, especially with Cotto being one of the biggest punchers in his weight class. Letting it be know that Cotto's weight class is two classes above Pacquiao. I love Pacquiao and Cotto both, but lets be serious Cotto will shine over Pacquiaou.!! BIG TIME!
Posted by: G- Money | July 13, 2009 at 02:20 AM
pac should man up and fight cotto at 147 lbs. but same day weigh-in of the fight.
Posted by: guess | July 13, 2009 at 10:35 PM