By Jhonny Gonzalez
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum is not exactly pleased with the circulating rumors of a possible fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Miguel Cotto. Mayweather is looking for an opponent for his May 5th date at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. In a recent article on BoxingScene.com, Cotto's legal adviser Gaby Peñagaricano revealed Miguel's willingness to face Mayweather on May 5th. He also said Miguel was willing to reach a lucrative deal for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao on June 9th, also in Las Vegas.
Discussions have taken place for both fights, and Team Cotto are planning to resolve the issue of their next fight in the coming days. Cotto became a free agent after his Top Rank contract expired at the end of December.
There are no problems with making either fight. Cotto has a very good working relationship with Top Rank, and with Golden Boy Promotions, who work with Mayweather.
Arum is going to have a meeting with Cotto and Peñagaricano, possibly this week. He will present several options, among them are Pacquiao and WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
"We are nowhere near a final agreement for a rematch. I want to meet with Miguel and Gaby to explore several options and Pacquiao is one of them. If Chavez Jr. wins his fight on February 4 [against Marco Antonio Rubio], could be a possibility. Cotto wants to fight [Chavez]. He said it on more than one occasion," said Arum to Les Jiminez.
When Arum was advised of the increased rumors of a possible Mayweather-Cotto clash in May, he wouldn't say much on the topic, but he did say dealing with Mayweather "is a waste of time."