By Mark Vester

WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto is refusing to fight Manny Pacquiao at any weight below 145-pounds. We recently reported that Michael Koncz, adviser to Manny Pacquiao, claimed that Cotto was willing to fight Manny at a catch-weight of 144-pounds, but the Filipino champion is likely going to ask Cotto to come down to 142. Top Rank promotes both fighters and wants to match them at the end of year. Cotto still has to get past Joshua Clottey on June 13 at New York's Madison Square Garden.

“It’s really up to Manny at what weight he’d like to fight Cotto, if at all,” said Koncz to The Philippine Star . “We are told Cotto is agreeable to fight at a catchweight limit of 144. Manny might want to bring it down to 142."

Cotto says that he won't risk his health for a multi-million dollar payday.

"Nothing less than 145-pounds. I'm not willing to fight [Manny Pacquiao] below 145-pounds," Cotto told Primera Hora .

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