By Mark Vester
According to a recent report by MaxBoxing/BoxingScene.com's Steve Kim, Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, made contact with Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank, to discuss putting together a possible fight between Oscar De La Hoya and WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto for December 6 on HBO pay-per-view.
Due to the unexpected retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr, De La Hoya announced last week that he was scrapping plans for a scheduled ring return in September. He says the December bout will be the final chapter in his career before retirement, and clearly mentioned that Cotto was the opponent of choice. Cotto would still have to get past a very tough opponent in Antonio Margarito on July 26 in Las Vegas. No word on the weight, but it's likely to take place at 150-pounds.
Another possible fight was mentioned by Schaefer, pitting former champion Bernard Hopkins against WBC/WBO middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. Top Rank was trying to land Pavlik a date with Joe Calzaghe, who passed on the fight in favor of Roy Jones Jr. Pavlik is scheduled to return in a September bout slated for Cleveland with Marco Antonio Rubio as the frontrunner to get the fight.
If a deal gets struck for Hopkins-Pavlik, the fight would take place in October or November in Atlantic City. It's hard to believe that Arum would entertain such a fight. Two-weeks ago, Arum said that he was not interested in matching Pavlik against Jones or Hopkins and said the two fighters should retire. Also, Pavlik is two weight classes below Hopkins and would have to move up to at least 170 to make the fight.
"I like Roy Jones, but fighters like Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins - enough! Let them go. Let them retire and let the young guys fight," Arum said.
In his last outing, Hopkins was beaten in a very close fight against Calzaghe in April. He appears to be serious about coming back for one last fight. Kim was informed that Hopkins approached trainer Freddie Roach to once again retain his services.
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