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MANILA, Philippines – It’s a choice between Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather Jr. as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent.
And the good choice, according to a Team Pacquiao insider, should be Cotto, the welterweight from Puerto Rico.
“Manny should go for Cotto. It’s the wise fight. It’s the better fight,” said the Pinoy icon’s adviser from Cebu, Wakee Salud, yesterday.
“For one, he’s a straight-up fighter. Papasok ‘yan (He’ll come in). And that’s what Manny wants, someone like Ricky Hatton,” said Salud, finding a couple more reasons why Cotto should be next.
“I think we have a better chance against Cotto than Mayweather who will run away from Manny inside the ring. Yakap at takbo ang gagawin ni Mayweather. Not a beautiful fight,” Salud said.
He added that Mayweather has mastered the style of winning without throwing too many punches.
“He can dance the whole fight and beat Manny on points. Magulang masyado (Too wiry). And even if Manny wins, he may not look good. Pangit ang laban,” he said.
Pacquiao is running for Congress in the May 2010 elections, and a victory over Cotto will serve him in good stead. He said he’s ready to return to the ring in October, but his handlers are looking at November or December.
“So why fight Mayweather this year and maybe affect your chances in the elections. Manny should take on Cotto, beat him, then run for Congress, and face Mayweather later on,” said Salud.
Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, also has a hold on Cotto, who suffered the only loss of his career (33-1 with 27 knockouts) against Antonio Maragarito in July last year.
It was stunning 11th round knockout which many believe may have damaged Cotto’s strong reputation. But he bounced back with a fifth round KO of Michael Jennings last February.
On June 13, Cotto faces Joshua Clottey at the Madison Square Garden in New York, and Pacquiao wants to be at ringside along with his trainer Freddie Roach.
The night before, they will receive their Fighter of the Year and Trainer of the Year awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America.
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