By Rick Reeno

During last night's annual BWAA (Boxing Writers Association of America) awards dinner in Los Angeles, I spoke in detail with Leonard Ellerbe, adviser/manager for WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr, on a variety of topics. Mayweather was present with a hefty entourage to receive the "2007 Fighter of The Year" award.

As the conversation played out, I advised Ellerbe that few fans were interested in watching a rematch of last May's unsatisfying fight between Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya. Ellerbe was quick to point out that Mayweather and De La Hoya would probably not repeat last year's record of 2.4 million pay-per-view buys, but the rematch would perform better than any other pay-per-view in 2008, and it would sell much better than a possible fight between Floyd and WBA welterweight champ Miguel Cotto. 

Floyd is not convinced that Cotto has built himself up to a level where he generates the kind of the numbers (television viewers) that reflect a realistic demand for such a fight by the general public.

"He's a good fighter but he's not there yet," Mayweather said.

Ellerbe said Mayweather-Cotto is a fight that "hardcore" fans of the sport want to see, but not the general boxing viewer.

"That's a fight that only the hardcore fans want to see. Floyd wants to make fights that bring more attention to sport. He wants to put more eyes on the sport," Ellerbe said.

I advised Ellerbe that few experts are predicting a different outcome to rematch between Mayweather and De La Hoya. He said the outcome would be different because this time it wasn't going to a decision.

"If Oscar wants to fight Floyd again, that's on Oscar. This time it's not going the distance. I'm telling you, Floyd is knocking Oscar out," Ellerbe said. "This time there is going to be a knockout."