It's Official, Pacquiao to Face Cotto

In what had become basically a mere formality, it was announced by Top Rank on Monday afternoon that Manny Pacquiao will be facing Miguel Cotto on November 14th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, at a catch-weight of 145-pounds.

" This is one of the most exciting fights I've done, ever," said Bob Arum, who came back from a three week vacation that saw him travel to England, Israel and then Italy." Because I think this is going to be such an entertaining, action-filled fight with the way these guys fight."

Arum worked on this fight while overseas." Everyday, pretty much," he told Maxboxing." In the beginning it was every day with the Cotto people and then once I got that straightened out and it was every day with the Pacquiao people. But it wasn't acrimonious or anything. It was normal. It's a lot of money, so this wasn't something like somebody coming in and buying a pair of shoes."

There were differing reports as to how the negotiations were coming along in the Philippines the last few weeks, which didn't surprise the veteran promoter.

" Because you gotta understand," he explained," I've been to the Philippines, I know the players and I know the people. And nobody will ever say,' No comment.' So anytime a writer- and there are many, many writers- asks somebody a question, even if they don't know the answer, they'll make up an answer."

And unlike other promotions, there is no mystery as to this fights weight limit.

" Once Freddie( Roach) signed off on 145, that was it as far as I was concerned. Some people around Manny, they'll negotiate anything just to negotiate. But Manny was always OK with it at 145," said Arum.

The main event speaks for itself, but the last two mega-fights involving 'the Pac Man' had horrid undercards. Perhaps the worst that didn't feature Butterbean and Mia St. John, but when asked what type of supporting card we can expect on November 14th, Arum boldly stated," Spectacular, spectacular. I'm going out on a limb. So I'm going to say everybody is going to be licking their chops on this undercard. It's going to be that good."

Source: maxboxing.com