Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

[XiaNaphryz]

Cotto next for Pacman?

Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum said on Saturday night though many would like to see Manny Pacquiao face Floyd Mayweather Jr., the Filipino’s next likely opponent would be Puerto Rican puncher Miguel Cotto sometime in November or December with New York as venue.

Arum, grinning from ear-to-ear after Pacquiao’s sensational demolition of Ricky Hatton, said during the post-fight press conference that everything would all depend on the outcome of Cotto’s June 12 fight with Joshua Clottey at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Arum said Pacquiao will be on hand at the Garden when Cotto faces Clottey since he will be attending the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) awards dinner on the eve of the fight.

The BWAA has named Pacquiao as its Fighter of the Year for 2008, while cornerman Freddie Roach will receive the Best Trainer award.

This marks the second time Pacquiao will receive the award having been named as Fighter of the Year in 2006.

If everything falls into place, Pacquiao and Cotto will duke it out at the Garden, where Cotto has sold it out a few times owing to the large Puerto Rican population there.

Cotto, 5-7 a right-hander, has rebounded strongly from his knockout loss to Antonio Margarito of Mexico last year and has since made his way back into the win column, stopping Michael Jennings of the UK in five rounds at the Garden last February.

The 28-year-old Cotto, who is also under the promotional banner of Top Rank like Pacquiao, has a 33-1 card with 27 knockouts.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

There's about 4 fighters for Pacman

Marquez rematch
Cotto/Clottey winner
PBF
Mosley

Anyone else for Pac?

[JerseySuave4]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

yet everyone that hates Floyd will say Floyd is ducking Manny. While i want Floyd vs Manny, i wouldnt be too too upset if he fought Cotto at the Garden because then i could actually go to one of these megafights. Cotto fights at the Garden a lot but i havent had the money to go but now i do but will be in Saratoga Springs that weekend for a Dave Matthews Band concert so ill miss his fight vs Clottey. If he fights Manny there in Dec i could def go.

But really i want Mayweather vs Manny. And so does just about everyone else.

[aholbert32]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

The Cotto fight is easier to make because they are both Arum fighters. Arum would rather not deal with Floyd's tough negotiation.

[Vast]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

This would be a great fight!! im all about it.

[SteelerSpartan]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

Cotto would be a good fight but how can we not have a Pac-man Vs Floyd if Floyd wins

be a big disappointment to me because I already got it in my head

[acarrero]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

That would be an awesome fight. Much more entertaining than a "fight" vs the Pretty Boy. This will be a real fight. Cotto actually has a defense, unlike Hatton, and Cotto's technique and power pose problems for the much smaller Pacman.

[Bronk_Bonin]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

Who does Arum think he's kidding? He's saying Cotto now but he has PBF in his sights. It's a ploy. Cotto-Pac would be a big fight but THE FIGHT is PBF-Pac. No questions asked. It would be a huge, massive MEGAFIGHT. It would be the type of fight that would stop the sporting world and have non-boxing fans watching. It would be the biggest flight since Tyson was in his prime. It's all set up for PBF-Pac. PBF went in retirement hoping for this type of MEGAFIGHT upon his return. Think about it. He was the #1 PFP when he retired, now he comes back takes on the #2 in Marquez then is in line to take on the #1 man in Pac-Man in order to get back to #1. It's too big of a risk by Arum to by-pass PBF and risk the chance of losing the momentum Manny has now by facing Cotto. Boxing wants this fight. It would put the sport into the limelight once again. Heck, Pac and Hatton each got $12-13 million for their fight last night. PBF-Pac would each get $20 million plus for that fight. Too much money and too big of a fight to pass up for a fight with Cotto. Arum is known for this type of possum games in order to drive down PBF price. He knows the entire boxing world wants PBF-Pac. He's just playing the game. Pac Man and PBF are the two biggest names and icons of the sport. Pitting them together is a no brainer.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

Good points ^^

I agree Manny going up to fight Cotto is too big a risk. Good just to cash in now while the iron is hot etc. This is all assuming PBF beats Marquez.

[Bronk_Bonin]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

By the way, the above remarks by me are no disrespect JMM, who I think is a fantastic, fantastic boxer. Heck, he gave Manny all he could handle twice and arguably should have won both fights. IMO, JMM is the best technical boxer in the world. He usual comes out slow as he's feeling out the other boxer, looking for holes and weakness in the defense. He then counters you all night and drops bombs on you. The guy is world class and pfp # 2.

I just don't think he's as good as Floyd. Floyd's the bigger AND faster man with a longer reach. That leaves JMM in trouble because in his battles with Manny, Manny would slug toe-toe and allow JMM to counter and land shots. PBF will not swap punches like a street fight. JMM won't be able to catch him and keep up with his speed. The same thing happened with Juan Diaz. JMM got rocked early, figured Diaz out, and rocked him as he countered him from round 3 on. PBF is not going to play into that kind of fight. Plus, I saw at the press conference that Floyd is a much bigger man than JMM. Marquez was only at PBF's mouth and nose. I don't think JMM will put on the weight as easy as Pac Man has on his rise up the ladder. Pac Man is a thicker built man. I don't see JMM putting on "good weight".

Again, no disrepect to JMM as I would love to see the Trilogy with Pac Man. Just not now, it wouldn't generate the excitement of having PBF and Pac Man in a Super Fight. The sport needs the Super Fight and only Manny and Floyd can bring that. The story's too big to ignore.

[XiaNaphryz]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

Roach on Mayweather Jr.:

The problem with Mayweather is that he signed Friday to fight Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18. The move surprised the Pacquiao camp, who say they are unlikely to rest until the super-fight.

"A busy fighter is a good fighter, we're not going to wait around," Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said. "Mayweather just had to wait one day and this fight could've happened. I think he's scared of Manny."

Privately, the Pacquiao camp said Mayweather Jr. harmed his leverage in future Pacquiao negotiations -- perhaps for a bout early next year -- by agreeing to fight Marquez in a bout expected to struggle for pay-per-view buys.

[Parasight]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

Roach on Mayweather Jr.:

I think it's less being scared and more Mayweather wanting to tune-up in his first fight coming out of retirement. No one wants to hear him use it as an excuse if he went straight to Pac.

[XiaNaphryz]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

I think it's less being scared and more Mayweather wanting to tune-up in his first fight coming out of retirement. No one wants to hear him use it as an excuse if he went straight to Pac.

I know, it's just Roach trying to stir things up again. Just fun to see sometimes.

[eko718]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

Who does Arum think he's kidding? He's saying Cotto now but he has PBF in his sights. It's a ploy. Cotto-Pac would be a big fight but THE FIGHT is PBF-Pac. No questions asked. It would be a huge, massive MEGAFIGHT. It would be the type of fight that would stop the sporting world and have non-boxing fans watching. It would be the biggest flight since Tyson was in his prime. It's all set up for PBF-Pac. PBF went in retirement hoping for this type of MEGAFIGHT upon his return. Think about it. He was the #1 PFP when he retired, now he comes back takes on the #2 in Marquez then is in line to take on the #1 man in Pac-Man in order to get back to #1. It's too big of a risk by Arum to by-pass PBF and risk the chance of losing the momentum Manny has now by facing Cotto. Boxing wants this fight. It would put the sport into the limelight once again. Heck, Pac and Hatton each got $12-13 million for their fight last night. PBF-Pac would each get $20 million plus for that fight. Too much money and too big of a fight to pass up for a fight with Cotto. Arum is known for this type of possum games in order to drive down PBF price. He knows the entire boxing world wants PBF-Pac. He's just playing the game. Pac Man and PBF are the two biggest names and icons of the sport. Pitting them together is a no brainer.

Seems that Arum stands to get more money from Cotto vs. Pacman regardless, being that he promotes them both. Looks to me like he's trying to milk his cow for what its worth before putting Manny out to pasture against PBF.

[Vast]

Re: Bob Arum - Cotto next likely matchup for Pacman

Seems that Arum stands to get more money from Cotto vs. Pacman regardless, being that he promotes them both. Looks to me like he's trying to milk his cow for what its worth before putting Manny out to pasture against PBF.

this is true. I know we all want that Floyd vs Pacquiao fight to happen but IMO Pacquiao vs Cotto is also a super fight. A superfight that will be much more entertaining than floyd vs pac.