• Welterweight

Manny v Cotto possible as Marquez v Bradley talk grows

Miguel Cotto lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr earlier this year © PA Photos

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Juan Manuel Marquez remains in pole position to face Manny Pacquiao towards the end of this year - but if that fight falls through, a new scenario has come into the light: Marquez v Timothy Bradley, and Pacquiao v Miguel Cotto.

It emerged on Wednesday that Marquez is set to meet Pacquiao for a fourth time in either November or December, with the Filipino apparently overlooking Bradley and Cotto.

Cotto was widely considered the least likely of the three options because he is penciled in for a return on December 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York - whereas Pacquiao will appear at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. However, the date seems to fit Pacquiao's schedule, and a compromise may be reached, judging by Arum's comments.

"If it's Cotto and Pacquiao, then Bradley and Marquez will fight each other. That is correct. That's not wrong," he said to ringtv.com. "That's logical, and the fighters have agreed to that.

"The question is, Manny is not reluctant to fight Cotto, but Cotto may be reluctant to fight Manny. That's what we'll have to see. The Cotto people will get back to me tomorrow or Friday."

Arum insists Pacquiao will make a choice by the end of the week - although he has proposed a few decision dates recently, all of which have passed without confirmation.

Reports continue to indicate that Marquez, who has never beaten Pacquiao in any of their three meetings, will get the nod.

"I spoke in length with my promoter Fernando Beltran and we discussed all of the possible scenarios for my next fight," Marquez told boxingscene.com.

"The first scenario is to face Pacquiao again and that's almost a fact, but in this business anything can happen. If for any reason Pacquiao does not materialise, we will go against Timothy Bradley in November."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.