By Mark Vester
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has informed Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports that WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao will move up to the junior middleweight division to challenge Antonio Margarito for the vacant WBC title on November 13. Margarito's team will once again attempt to get him a license to box in Las Vegas. If that moves fails, the fight will take place in Monterrey, Mexico.
WBA 154-pound champion Miguel Cotto was the other option for November, but his TKO loss to Pacquiao took place less than a year ago and few people were interested in the rematch.
“Cotto was beaten and even with [Hall of Fame trainer] Emanuel Steward now with him, I don’t think people believe that it’s enough to make a difference and I’m not sure they would buy it as competitive,” Arum said. “But putting aside the controversy about the wraps, the one thing you know for sure with a Margarito fight is that it will be a hell of a fight for however long it lasts.
“Margarito knows only one way to fight and that’s coming forward. They’re going to get in there and fight. That’s what people want to see.”
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