It seemed as though everything would be smooth sailing for the Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto bout slated this coming November: The two camps have already agreed on a catch weight of 145 pounds after initial reports that Pacquaio’s team wanted a weight of 143, and it certainly seems that— although the purse amounts were not disclosed – Miguel Cotto has already agreed to take home a smaller piece of the pie.
However, according to reports, no contract has been signed to date.
Also, in a recent interview with Primera Hora, Cotto stated that he would rather vacate the title than stake it against Pacquiao.
"The weight of 145 pounds is not a category. If the WBO is upset with my decision, I shall deliver them the title. I have no problem with that," Cotto said.
A concession, however, is Pacquiao fighting Cotto at 147.
"If Pacquiao wants to fight for the title, it will be at 147 pounds. I won the title at welterweight and that's 147 pounds," Cotto added. "The WBO has the authority to strip me as a champion and I'll give them the title, but Paco Valcarcel knows better than anyone that 145 pounds is not a division."
Pacquiao is keen on winning another world title in an unprecedented seventh weight division as he explicitly stated in his own column published in Abante.com.ph and Philboxing.com. It’s understandable why a lot of Pacquiao fans have already voiced out their protests against the planned tussle not being a title fight.
But, come to think of it, it’s also understandable why Cotto doesn’t want to stake his title. He wants to avoid paying a hefty sanctioning fee.
So, when you really look at it, Pacquiao and Cotto are only looking out for their own best interests.
Pacquiao wanted Cotto to go down a couple of pounds lighter than welterweight at 145 because he wanted to gain some advantage, being the supposedly smaller fighter. Naturally, he also wanted the bigger piece of the pie, being the pound-for-pound champion.
Cotto, who’ll be getting the smaller purse, doesn’t want his belt on the line to avoid paying sanctioning dues. Perhaps this, and his desire for Pacquiao to fight him at 147, is his own subtle way of telling the rival camp that he also has a say in the current negotiations?
So, to reiterate, the current brouhaha has come about because of both fighters’ desires to look out for their own best interests.
And, perhaps, one promoter’s too.
Remember, this match-up came into fruition because Top Rank’s Bob Arum kept pushing for it. Both fighters belong to his stable. Naturally, if one of the fighters is handled by a rival promoter (like one Shane Mosley for example, who is willing to go as low as 140), Golden Boy for instance, Arum would end up sharing the profits of the fight.
Such is the business of boxing.
Such is human nature.
