By Mark Vester

Top Rank's Bob Arum hopes to close a deal for Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman for June 12 in the next few days. As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, Arum expects to close the deal when he meets with both camps this week. The fight takes place in Madison Square Garden on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Several options were presented to Cotto for his first fight back since November's knockout loss to Manny Pacquiao. Cotto did not want an easy comeback bout, Arum says it was Cotto himself who made the request to fight the unbeaten Foreman at 154-pounds for the WBA title. Arum saiid the only thing left for both sides to agree upon is money. Another thing to be decided by Top Rank is whether the fight will take place on regular HBO or on pay-per-view.

"Both guys want the fight," Arum told the NY Daily News. "In fact, Miguel asked me if he could fight Foreman. It's close to a done deal."

Foreman's manager, Murray Wilson, told the paper that he doesn't see any problems with both sides reaching an agreement on the money.

"We want the fight," Murray said. "This is a different world for us. We want to make this happen. Bob has always been fair to us. I don't expect it to be difficult."

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