Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto have tentatively agreed to fight in Las Vegas on November 14, giving the world's best pound-for-pound boxer a very challenging fight against a highly ranked opponent -- and ensuring that we won't see Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather any time soon.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Cotto, says he's close to getting contractual arrangements worked out for Pacquiao and Cotto to fight each other. The fighters would have to agree on how they would split the purse and how much they'd both weigh before the deal can get done, but Arum indicated that Cotto -- not Shane Mosley -- is Pacquiao's likely next opponent:
"I hope to put it together this week, to get an agreement on terms," Arum told The Times on Monday in a telephone interview from his Top Rank headquarters in Las Vegas. ...
"Shane's a terrific fighter, but for now he's the second choice," Arum said. "If we can't put together a Pacquiao-Cotto fight, we'll reach out to Shane."
Cotto beat Joshua Clottey by split decision on Saturday, with Pacquiao sitting at ringside. Although Cotto suffered a very serious cut on an accidental head butt during the fight, he is expected to be ready to begin sparring again in time to prepare for a November bout.
A Cotto vs. Pacquiao fight would be one of the biggest of the year in boxing. But it wouldn't necessarily be a good thing for boxing fans, because it would also be a step away from the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather superfight that everyone wants to see.
