• Light-middleweight

Cotto leaning towards Mayweather - not Pacquiao

ESPN staff
January 27, 2012
Manny Pacquiao beat Miguel Cotto at 145lbs during 2009 © Getty Images
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WBA light-middleweight champion Miguel Cotto appears to be favouring a battle against Floyd Mayweather Jnr over one with Manny Pacquiao, due to concerns about the Filipino's weight demands.

Cotto, a champion at 154lbs, is unwilling to drop below 150 to meet Pacquiao; the pair fought at 145 during 2009, and Pacquiao won via 12th-round stoppage. Cotto cannot understand why Pacquiao chose to fight Antonio Margarito at 150lbs in November 2010, yet now is unwilling to make a similar concession.

"I will not fight below 150," Cotto said to boxingscene.com. "Mayweather said he has no problem going up to 154 to fight me. Pacquiao is the one who objected and once again wants me to come down to a weight between 145 and 147.

"If Pacquiao had no problem going to 150 to fight Margarito, why is there a set requirement for me to go down again? Does he fear me?"

Two dates have been earmarked for the potential bouts: Mayweather v Cotto on May 5, and Pacquiao v Cotto on June 9, both in Las Vegas.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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