by Rick Reeno

Last year, few promoters were worried when Roc Nation Sports announced their entry into the highly competitive market of signing and promoting fighters.

In January of this year, the company made their first power play by signing WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward, who is also regarded by many as the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.

Last Thursday, another power play was made when Roc Nation signed one of the most recognizable names in the sport, WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto.

Cotto was promoted for nearly his entire career by Top Rank. That promotional contract expired in December of 2011, and Cotto has been a free agent ever since. On two occasions, he worked with Golden Boy Promotions on a fight by fight basis, and then he returned to Top Rank for two fights, which were also done without a binding contract.

Cotto could have easily remained a free man. Or, he could have signed a very lucrative deal with Top Rank, Golden Boy or even Al Haymon.

But, Cotto's legal adviser Gaby Penagaricano tells BoxingScene.com that no promoter was able to come close to the overall financial package that Roc Nation put together for the Puerto Rican star.

"The deal in general is much more compact than what any other promoter can offer, because it includes the guarantees for Miguel in different areas of boxing and non-boxing - for the next 18 to 24 months - and no other offer from any other promoter can even nearly compare to what these guys are offering Miguel. Miguel will have complete financial security up until retirement and thereafter as well," Penagaricano told BoxingScene.com.

The overall package is worth a whopping $50 million dollars. The high priced deal includes three fights and financial guarantees for other items related and unrelated to boxing, over a period of 18 to 24 months. Roc Nation will assist Cotto with expanding the reach of Cotto Promotions as it relates to non-boxing ventures like promoting concerts in Puerto Rico. 

"[That monetary figure] includes the fights and other aspects of Miguel Cotto and his businesses. A big chunk of [that amount] are his guarantees for the fights, but that figure Miguel mentioned also covers guarantees [that are unrelated to] his fights. I'm not going to go into specifics, but everybody would be surprised [at the breakdown of the numbers]," Penagaricano said.

"What enticed him to do it, even though he was a free agent for several years, is the quality of the deal and the quality of the different guarantees inside and outside of boxing for the next 18 months."

And what happens to the stable of fighters who are currently under the Cotto Promotions banner?

"Cotto Promotions fighters will remain as Cotto Promotions fighters. At least, as of yet, we are not co-promoting any fighters together with Roc Nation. Obviously that could change. We are working together and we don't discount at all [the possibility of] jointly signing quality talent. We also have some talent co-promoted with Golden Boy Promotions who we have an excellent relationship with as well," Penagaricano said.

While Penagaricano was unable to discuss any specifics, Cotto's return is still being targeted for the month of June. The network has not been determined. Various sources indicate to BoxingScene that both HBO and Showtime are very interested in showcasing Cotto's next fight. And, Cotto's signing to Roc Nation has not turned away the advances of powerful manager/adviser Al Haymon, who remains very interested in matching several of his fighters against Cotto.