By Edward Chaykovsky

WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) advised the Manila Bulletin that he would not fight Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30KOs) at any weight above 147-pounds. Pacquiao stopped Cotto in the twelfth round in 2009. That match was fought at a catch-weight of 145-pounds. Pacquiao learned his lesson after taking some punishment to his body in a one-sided win over Antonio Margarito in 2010, which they fought at 150-pounds.

Cotto is one of the four boxers being considered for Pacquiao's next fight, which is tentative for June 9. Since the loss to Pacquiao, Cotto move up to the junior middleweight division and captured the WBA title. Cotto has said in interviews that he can still make 147-pounds easily. In the rematch with Antonio Margarito, Cotto pushed for a catch-weight of 150-pounds, but the two sides settled on 153.

Pacquiao is expected to announce his next opponent by the end of this coming week.