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Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Showtime are sorting though possible opponents for junior welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto and welterweight belt holder Antonio Margarito to face in their Dec. 2 doubleheader in Atlantic City, N.J.
Margarito, who will open the telecast, probably will face Joshua Clottey, Arum told ESPN.com. That's the easy part. Clottey was in Las Vegas for last week's Rahman-Maskaev heavyweight title fight and to meet with Arum, who said they are close to a deal.
Cotto's situation is a little more unclear. However, the Puerto Rican star is moving up to welterweight and it is possible that his debut at the weight could be a for a world title.
Should title holder Ricky Hatton drop back down to junior welterweight to challenge Juan Urango for his old belt -- Hatton's most likely move -- Hatton would vacate the 147-pound belt he won in May rather than face mandatory challenger Oktay Urkal of Germany.
Arum said Cotto could wind up facing Urkal for the vacant belt on the Showtime card. It would be contingent upon Carlos Quintana stepping aside to allow the fight.
Quintana's June 24 victory over Joel "Love Child" Julio put him in position to either challenge the winner of a Hatton-Urkal bout or to challenge for the vacant belt.
Ron Katz of Northeast Promotions, which promotes Quintana, said they are open to making a deal with Top Rank.
"We've been entertaining offers from different promoters, Top Rank included, about the possibility of making some sort of deal with regard to Quintana," Katz said. "If it was with Top Rank, we would have to figure out a short term plan for Quintana that would allow Cotto to fight Urkal for the vacant title. Anything is possible. We're open to the idea, but it depends on the nature of the deal."
Margarito, who will open the telecast, probably will face Joshua Clottey, Arum told ESPN.com. That's the easy part. Clottey was in Las Vegas for last week's Rahman-Maskaev heavyweight title fight and to meet with Arum, who said they are close to a deal.
Cotto's situation is a little more unclear. However, the Puerto Rican star is moving up to welterweight and it is possible that his debut at the weight could be a for a world title.
Should title holder Ricky Hatton drop back down to junior welterweight to challenge Juan Urango for his old belt -- Hatton's most likely move -- Hatton would vacate the 147-pound belt he won in May rather than face mandatory challenger Oktay Urkal of Germany.
Arum said Cotto could wind up facing Urkal for the vacant belt on the Showtime card. It would be contingent upon Carlos Quintana stepping aside to allow the fight.
Quintana's June 24 victory over Joel "Love Child" Julio put him in position to either challenge the winner of a Hatton-Urkal bout or to challenge for the vacant belt.
Ron Katz of Northeast Promotions, which promotes Quintana, said they are open to making a deal with Top Rank.
"We've been entertaining offers from different promoters, Top Rank included, about the possibility of making some sort of deal with regard to Quintana," Katz said. "If it was with Top Rank, we would have to figure out a short term plan for Quintana that would allow Cotto to fight Urkal for the vacant title. Anything is possible. We're open to the idea, but it depends on the nature of the deal."
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