By Mark Vester

Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao has ordered his promoter Bob Arum to make the fight with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. Arum already has a date set down on paper, November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao sat ringside and watched Cotto win a split decision over Joshua Clottey in New York's Madison Square Garden.

Arum told Michael Marley of The Examiner that Pacquiao was impressed with Cotto's massive amount of support from the thousands of Puerto Rican fans at MSG.

“Manny told me what to do. Manny told me, ‘Go ahead, make that fight.’ So it will go Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand here in Vegas,” Arum said. "He was impressed by Cotto’s fan support and told me it reminded him of how the British fans stand with Ricky Hatton."

Arum said the serious cut suffered by Cotto above his left eye will not prevent the fight from going forward on the proposed date.

“No because it’s not that bad. Miguel is delighted to get a fight against Manny, trust me. Miguel very much wants this fight. It will be a sensational fight the way they attack,” Arum said.

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