Final and non-negotiable.
That’s what Miguel Cotto said when asked about the catch weight of 145 lbs for the proposed November 14 showdown with Manny Pacquiao as the Puerto Rican puncher reiterated that he is not risking his health by going way down to the welterweight limit of 147 lbs.
“No voy a poner en riesgo mi salud. Es peso de 145 libras es final y firme (I am not going to risk my health. The (catch) weight of 145 pounds is final and firm),” Cotto told the newspaper Primera Hora.
Pacquiao has insisted that he deserves the right to dictate the terms owing to his stature as boxing’s No. 1 pound-for-pound and that since he is not a legitimate welterweight, having scaled in at 138 lbs in his last fight versus Ricky Hatton on May 2 and 142 lbs against Oscar De La Hoya late last year, he ought to be given some leeway.
Pacquiao said he’ll only agree to fight if it is at 143 lbs although when interviewed some weeks back, he told a handful of scribes that the weight is the least of his concerns, saying “whatever” to a question about the catch weight.
Owing to the sudden change in Pacquiao’s disposition, there’s been a ruckus lately concerning the catch weight and the fact that Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is still on vacation has made it even more disturbing.
Arum, however, is upbeat that everything’s going to be ironed out once he returns to the US and that will be early next week.
Arum, whose outfit Top Rank promotes Pacquiao and Cotto, wants the slugfest to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“A pound or two will not stop this fight (from happening),” said Top Rank publicist Lee Samuels over the weekend.
Pacquiao adviser Mike Koncz said he hasn’t talked about the Cotto fight with his boss because of too many commitments.
“He’s always busy and I am waiting for the right time to present it to him,” said Koncz Thursday as he was waiting for Pacquiao to wind up his TV appearance over a popular noontime show on GMA-7.
Source: mb.com.ph
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