By Miguel Rivera
Freddie Roach, who trains former four division world champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33KOs), says the Puerto Rican star is likely unable to squeeze down to the welterweight limit for a fall showdown with Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez (56-7-1, 40KOs), who also captured four world titles in four weight divisions.
Marquez is focused on doing two more fights, tentatively in May and then in the fall. He says a Cotto fight could take place as late as November.
Marquez, 42-years-old, has been out of the ring since winning a twelve round unanimous decision over former WBO junior welterweight champion Mike Alvarado at the Forum in Los Angeles. Since then Marquez has been dealing with a knee injury and rehabilitation to properly recover.
During his most recent appearance on Golpe a Golpe, Marquez explained what he would require in terms of the weight for a potential Cotto fight.
"If they want to do the fight, it would have to be at welterweight and have a clause where he can not rise above 152,153 pounds the following day. To me that's an important point. I'm not a natural welterweight and that would help me a lot, because there would be little difference in the weight [on the day of the fight]," Marquez said.
Cotto has not made the welterweight limit of 147 since June of 2009 and he's not weighed less than 153.5 since 2011.
At most, Roach says his boxer can squeeze down to 150-pounds.
"No [I don't think Cotto can make 147], but maybe 150. It would be a good fight. But can he make 147....I don't think so," Roach said.
Cotto has been out of the ring since last November's twelve round decision loss to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. He weighed 153.5-pounds for the fight.
