by Jhonny Gonzalez
WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto is counting the numbers on the check. Puerto Rico's biggest star told Raul Alzaga that his final decision, regarding his next opponent, will be determined by money. Cotto and members of his team are evaluating two possible scenarios - a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, or a rematch with Manny Pacquiao on June 9th - also in Las Vegas.
As BoxingScene.com previously reported several times, the agreed-upon weight is an issue with the Pacquiao rematch. When they first met in 2009, Cotto was forced to meet Pacquiao at a catch-weight of 145-pounds. Now a champion at 154, and being pursued by the two biggest names in boxing, Cotto will not budge from his position of refusing to fight below 150-pounds. Pacquiao is refusing to fight Cotto above the welterweight limit of 147. However, Mayweather has no problem with fighting Cotto at 150 or above.
"I will not fight below 150 pounds. Mayweather Jr. said he has no problem going up to 154 to fight me. Pacquiao is the one who objected and wants me to once again come down to a weight between 145 and 147 pounds. If Pacquiao had no trouble going up to 150 to fight Margarito, why is there a set requirement for me to go down again? Does he fear me? If Pacquiao wants to fight me again, it must be above 150 pounds. I will not continue to sacrifice my body to lose weight," Cotto said.
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