By Rick Reeno
The return of former four division world champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33KOs) is being worked on, according to Roc Nation Sports President Michael Yormark.
Cotto, who turns 36 years old in October, has been out of the ring since losing a competitive twelve round decision to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez last November at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
After a two-year sting in the middleweight division, Cotto is reportedly moving back to junior middleweight for his next fight.
He moved up to the middleweight division in 2014 and became the first Puerto Rican fighter to win four world titles in four weight divisions with a knockout of Sergio Martinez. Cotto retained the title a year later with a knockout of Daniel Geale and then vacated the title, due to a dispute with the World Boxing Council, a few days before his scheduled meeting with Canelo.
None of Cotto middleweight fights took place at the division limit of 160-pounds. For his last two outings he weighed in below the junior middleweight limit of 154.
"We are hoping to have Miguel back in the ring before the end of the year. We are working on that now. We are hopeful to have some type of announcement over the next couple of weeks," Yormark said.
One of the rumored opponents was Juan Manuel Marquez, but there were issues with the weight limit. Marquez took a hard line with having the fight take place at the welterweight limit of 147-pounds. According to Marquez, he was offered catch-weights of 150 and then 149 - and he rejected both proposals.
Several names are being considered. Yormark refused to disclose the candidates at this time.
"We are looking at a couple of opponents, but I think it's too early to disclose who we're talking to," Yormark said.