By Rick Reeno
Contrary to the information coming from Joe Santiago, trainer for WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, the size of the ring for Cotto's fight against Manny Pacquiao on November 14 will be no more than 20 feet. The regulations per the Nevada State Athletic Commission clearly state that every boxing match must be fought in a 20 foot ring, no more and no less. Santiago told Puerto Rican paper Primera Hora that Pacquiao's people requested a 24 foot ring.
Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer told BoxingScene.com that a promoter(s) can apply for an exception but they probably would not get it.
"That's correct. [The fight] has to be in a 20 foot ring. Any promoter can ask for an exception but they probably wouldn't get it. Nobody has asked for a 24 foot ring in this fight," Kizer said.
Top Rank's Bob Arum, promoter for both Cotto and Pacquiao, has no idea where the information first started but says it's not true.
Arum, who handled the negotiations for both sides, told BoxingScene that neither camp brought up the issue of ring size. Even if Pacquiao wanted a larger ring, he couldn't get it per the regulations in the state of Nevada.
"I don't know where this came from but it's not true. In the state of Nevada, you have to use a 20 foot ring," Arum said.
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