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Arum, however, is unhappy with HBO. Cotto has long been a staple of the network and Arum said he offered the network Cotto-Martirosyan for $1.5 million -- a reasonable price compared to what Cotto fights usually command -- and was turned down because HBO had given the date to middleweight champ Sergio Martinez, who does not have an opponent.
That did not sit well with Arum, who was seething.
"We've let them know we are going on March 12 on pay-per-view," Arum said. "If they want to do a show against our pay-per-view show that is a major development between HBO and ourselves. We announced we are going on that date. We have cleared the date with the [cable and satellite] industry and they've known it, so this is a major development.
"Cotto has been on HBO for seven years and they rejected a decent Cotto fight. I don't think they know s---. We offered it for a bargain price. They said 'no' and are going with another fight. That is going to affect all of our relationships in the coming years and I emphasize all of our relationships."
Arum was clearly intimating that by taking another fight over a Cotto fight on March 12 it would impact his business dealings with the network as it relates to his other fighters, including Pacquiao. Arum does not have a deal with HBO PPV to carry Pacquiao-Mosley.
"They won't buy Cotto, but it's their money. You can't tell them how to spend their money," Arum said. "But it's wrong that they would do this to Cotto, who has given them great ratings and great fights. Not doing a good fight with Cotto at a reasonable number and then jumping on his date? That's wrong."
That did not sit well with Arum, who was seething.
"We've let them know we are going on March 12 on pay-per-view," Arum said. "If they want to do a show against our pay-per-view show that is a major development between HBO and ourselves. We announced we are going on that date. We have cleared the date with the [cable and satellite] industry and they've known it, so this is a major development.
"Cotto has been on HBO for seven years and they rejected a decent Cotto fight. I don't think they know s---. We offered it for a bargain price. They said 'no' and are going with another fight. That is going to affect all of our relationships in the coming years and I emphasize all of our relationships."
Arum was clearly intimating that by taking another fight over a Cotto fight on March 12 it would impact his business dealings with the network as it relates to his other fighters, including Pacquiao. Arum does not have a deal with HBO PPV to carry Pacquiao-Mosley.
"They won't buy Cotto, but it's their money. You can't tell them how to spend their money," Arum said. "But it's wrong that they would do this to Cotto, who has given them great ratings and great fights. Not doing a good fight with Cotto at a reasonable number and then jumping on his date? That's wrong."
I can't believe they decided to take a Martinez fight over a Cotto fight and then put a Martinez fight on the same ****ing date. That makes 0 business sense for HBO. Cotto makes more than half of what Martinez could do for them and they screw him? Who gave them the best ratings this year? Miguel Cotto that's who.
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