By Mark Vester
Former welterweight champion Miguel Cotto has finally spoken out against the December 6 bout between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Cotto says a fight like De La Hoya-Pacquiao is the kind that brings down the entire sport. He says De La Hoya is avoiding the tough fights and instead makes Pacquiao, the current WBC lightweight champion, move up from 135 to 147 for a fight.
"This is the kind of fight where you realize how boxing has fallen. The sport is in this place because of fights like this, because of fighters like De La Hoya. He avoids a fighter that represents danger to him, and instead he prefers to take on a fighter like Pacquiao, who instead of fighting for the second time at 135-pounds, will now move up to 147-pounds where he does not present any danger [to De La Hoya]," Cotto told Primera Hora.
Cotto says the sport needs more fighters who are willing to put on a good show for the public by fighting the best.
"Back when Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard; when they were fighting each other. Those were some glorious years for the sport and that's what boxing needs right now," Cotto said.
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