• Floyd Mayweather Jnr v Miguel Cotto

Mayweather went where Pacquiao wouldn't - Ellerbe

ESPN staff
February 3, 2012
Floyd Mayweather Jnr is widely considered the pound-for-pound king © Getty Images
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Floyd Mayweather Jnr's camp have aimed a subtle dig at rival Manny Pacquiao after revealing the American insisted upon fighting Miguel Cotto at 154lbs because he wants Cotto to feel "comfortable".

Mayweather put a stop to the mounting speculation over who his next opponent would be by announcing on Wednesday he is to challenge Cotto for his WBA light-middleweight title in May.

Pacquiao was in the frame to fight Cotto but was unwilling to climb to the higher weight class - instead preferring to fight at no heavier than 148lbs. The issues over weight prompted Cotto to favour a meeting with Mayweather, who had no problems agreeing to move out of his comfort zone and fight at 154lbs.

"That's one thing Floyd make perfectly clear to us," Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said. "He didn't want to fight him at a catchweight, he wanted to fight him at the weight. Sometimes, you don't get full credit when you fight at a catchweight. Floyd wanted to make sure Miguel was comfortable."

A Mayweather-Cotto showdown was in the pipeline a few years ago when both pugilists were promoted by Top Rank. However, Ellerbe said he believes Top Rank pulled the plug on a potential bout to avoid Cotto picking up a defeat.

"I think when they were with the same promoter, Miguel always thought, in his mind, that he wanted to fight Floyd," Ellerbe said. "He's in for a rude, rude awakening."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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