Pacquiao/Cotto Negotiations in Full Force, Deal Expected

By Mark Vester

Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank hopes to have signed contracts from Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto by the end of the week. Arum is trying to match his two fighters for November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Even before Cotto won a decision over Joshua Clottey last Saturday, Arum met with Cotto to discuss a Pacquiao encounter.

"When Miguel was training in Tampa, I met with Miguel Cotto, his father and [attorney] Gabriel Peñagarícano to discuss the possibility of a fight with Pacquiao. They asked me for a written proposal to be sent and they made some notations that we plan to discuss [this week]," Arum said to Primera Hora.

Pacquiao gave Arum the order to get the Cotto fight made. The two discussed the fight in New York during Pacquiao's recent trip to the East Coast. Pacquiao attended the Boxing Writers Awards Dinner last Friday and sat ringside the following night for Cotto's win over Clottey in Madison Square Garden. Arum sat down with Pacquiao at his hotel to discuss a Cotto encounter.

"[Manny] gave me the green light to try to reach an agreement with Miguel. So it's ideal that by the end of this week we could make all of the details. Both boxers are part of Top Rank and my interest is making money, "Arum said.

As far as Emanuel Steward coming on board in Cotto's corner, Arum was contatced by Steward but told the hall-of-fame trainer to contact Cotto directly.

"I told him to talk to Cotto, Miguel's father, and Peñagarícano on the matter. I do not want to intervene in this matter, since it's a decision for Cotto to make, " Arum said.

Source: http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=20512 (June 18, 2009)