By Edward Chaykovsky

In a very interesting twist, Manny Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38KOs), through his adviser Michael Koncz, has requested to move his fight date from November 10th to December 1st, which is likely still going to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

"Bob Arum has moved the date now to Dec. 1, and he's done that at our request due to conflicting schedules with the boxing and Manny's personal affairs," Koncz told Lem Satterfield of RingTV.com.

Richard Schaefer, CEO for Golden Boy Promotions, advised BoxingScene.com several weeks ago that his company is going to help co-promote Miguel Cotto's return - which is also going to take place on December 1st, but at New York's Madison Square Garden.

The two reported frontrunners to face Pacquiao are Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley. Cotto is also under consideration, but the issue of weight has been a big problem in staging a rematch. Cotto feels comfortable at 154-pounds, who he's been fighting for the last few years - and Pacquiao, at least earlier this year, refused to face Cotto above the welterweight limit and even turned down the possibility of a catch-weight of 150-pounds.

Pacquiao is going to return on HBO pay-per-view. If Cotto is not the opponent of choice for December, will this set up another high-stakes head to head battle of events? No promoter would even consider going head to head with a Pacquiao or a Floyd Mayweather event. One has to wonder if Cotto, should he not get selected by Pacquiao, will remain on his December course or push his ring return back.