It's official: Pacquiao-Cotto set for Nov. 15

MANILA, Philippines -- The contract for the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto showdown has been -- as the age-old cliché goes -- signed, sealed and delivered.

This was confirmed by Pacquiao's lawyer Jeng Gacal, who also said Cotto will be putting his WBO welterweight title on the line when the Puerto Rican star collides with the Filipino ring icon on Nov. 16 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

With Pacquiao-Cotto officially a title bout, the current pound-for-pound king now has a rare chance to become the first boxer in history to win seven world titles in as many divisions.

Pacquiao had previously wrested the WBC flyweight, IBF super bantamweight, Ring Magazine featherweight, WBC junior lightweight, WBC lightweight and IBO junior welterweight crowns.

In a TV interview today, Gacal said Pacquiao and Cotto will slug it out at a catch weight of 145 lbs. Cotto had earlier insisted on meeting the General Santos City-based southpaw at the welterweight limit of 147 lbs.

Regarding the splitting of the fight revenue, Gacal said Pacquiao, as expected, will get the lion’s share at 65-35. He, however, did not specify how much the guaranteed purse is for each combatant.

The Pacquiao lawyer added that the fight will be aired over GMA Network, the same broadcast firm that aired Pacquiao’s previous outings against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

"This will be a great fight. Although Cotto is the much bigger and stronger fighter, Manny is faster and also has power," he said.


Source: philstar.com