By Mark Vester

The heat is on for a unification bout between the two top welterweights in the sport, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (39-0, 25KOs, WBC champion) and Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25KOs, WBA champion). Both camps camps have different views on the fight being made.

Mayweather, following his knockout win over Ricky Hatton last Saturday in Las Vegas, announced that he would take a long vacation from the sport, one which could last as long as two-years, according to Mayweather.

Bob Arum of Top Rank, promoter of Cotto, told the Los Angeles Times that Mayweather is avoiding a bout with his fighter because of the danger involved.

"If [Mayweather] thinks he has a chance to lose, he won't take a fight," Arum said. "He's afraid to lose, and that's a horrible, horrible thing. . . . Anyone who's not realizing that's what's happening with Floyd is moronic."

Making the fight will be difficult. Arum promoted Mayweather for a majority of his career, but in 2006, Mayweather split from Arum on bad terms. Since the split, the two men have been very critical of each other in the media.

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's advisor, says Arum is just bitter over Floyd leaving Top Rank. He doesn't dispute that Cotto is a good fighter, but tells The Times that that Cotto still lacks the star power to bring big money to the table. According to the paper, Cotto's pay-per-view with Shane Mosley generated a buyrate near 360,000, a far number from Mayweather-De La Hoya, which generated well over over 2 million buys.

Arum's "a bitter old man because Floyd outsmarted him," said Ellerbe. "A lot of people will be asking, 'Who is he?' He's a very good fighter, a warrior, but not enough people know him."

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingscene@hotmail.com