Comments Thread For: HBO's Grasp of Cotto Fight Raises Industry Eyebrows

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Miguel Cotto is in charge of his career, not Lou DiBella. How can Lou DiBella come to HBO with a fight involving two guys he has NO control over? Please answer that. Sergio is not even physically able to fight this year, so having preliminary discussions about a fight pending Miguel Cotto defeating someone in October is not relevant to what Sergio, DiBella, and HBO discuss among themselves. You are portraying that you were a witness to negotiations. You weren't. End of story.

Now you are reaching. HBO went to DiBella with the idea of making Martinez-Cotto, not DiBella going to HBO. How can HBO come to Top Rank to make a fight involving two fighters they have no control over? A fighter that refused to give HBO and Top Rank future options. And HBO paid more than $1 million more than Showtime was willing to offer against a tougher opponent. Who will Cotto fight are this when all of the guys at 154 are across the street, and the biggest fight for him, against Canelo, is across the street. Even his dream of a Mayweather rematch is across the street.

[BafanaBafana]

Now you are reaching. HBO went to DiBella with the idea of making Martinez-Cotto, not DiBella going to HBO. How can HBO come to Top Rank to make a fight involving two fighters they have no control over? A fighter that refused to give HBO and Top Rank future options. And HBO paid more than $1 million more than Showtime was willing to offer against a tougher opponent. Who will Cotto fight are this when all of the guys at 154 are across the street, and the biggest fight for him, against Canelo, is across the street. Even his dream of a Mayweather rematch is across the street.

Here (10:00 minute mark) Steve Kim said he was told Top Rank signed a 3 fight deal with Cotto.

There's also a video here on boxingscene where Arum said they signed Cotto. It would be strange to use word "signed" for just one fight.

So is Cotto now signed with Top Rank or not? I think that might be the most relevant question here.

[MrRolltide91]

let cotto cook

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

So is Cotto now signed with Top Rank or not? I think that might be the most relevant question here.

Not true. Cotto's legal adviser came on BoxingScene to specifically state there was no contract agreement or options with Top Rank or HBO. And this was confirmed with Cotto's team before this article ran to ensure that information was still accurate.

[chill4500]

As I understand it, since Cotto was a free agent, any promoter can come up to Cotto and offer him fights, including Dibella. Dibella tried making a Cotto and Rodriguez fight (with Gaby Penagaricano's consent I imagine), but HBO said no. Then TR did the same, and HBO said yes. The issue has nothing to do with Cotto controlling his own career. It's HBO offering money when TR wanted to promote a Cotto tuneup, but not when Dibella wanted to do the same.

Miguel Cotto is not that unrefined. Top Rank is not that unrefined. HBO is not that unrefined. If Lou DiBella was to do an interview to clarify the REAL issue, with Cotto also offering his input, I'm all ears. But again, this is creating something that shouldn't even be an issue.

[BafanaBafana]

Not true. Cotto's legal adviser came on BoxingScene to specifically state there was no contract agreement or options with Top Rank or HBO. And this was confirmed with Cotto's team before this article ran to ensure that information was still accurate.

Alright, thanks! I thought that needed to be clarified.

[anonymous2.0]

well

I'm stumped, can anyone explain what's going on?

[JmH Reborn]

well

I'm stumped, can anyone explain what's going on?

Cliff note version of the story as I see it:

-DiBella wants to match Cotto-Martinez

-DiBella approached HBO (and presumably Team Cotto) about a two-fight deal. Cotto vs Gary Russell's longtime rival; and if he wins that fight, Cotto vs Martinez.

-HBO says "no, f**k Cotto, he can fight Gary Russell's leftovers on Showtime"

-Fast foward a few weeks...

-Cotto vs Rodriguez, co-promoted by Top Rank and Cotto Promos with a sizable site fee of $3.2 millies is announced

-DiBella is now saying WTF, I want a piece of the pie too

[285Kid]

So that why Ward wanted to jump ship to top rank early in the summer

[-PBP-]

Miguel Cotto is his own boss. Miguel Cotto promotions the past, present and future of sports and entertainment.