ESPN.com reported the camp for WBC world welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather threw subtle verbal jabs at WBO world welterweight king Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao after claiming “Pretty Boy” requested to battle WBA world light-welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto at 154 pounds on May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Prior to formally announcing his bout on Cinco de Mayo, the Puerto Rican icon told boxingscene.com he was more likely to fight Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs) than Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs) this spring due to weight demands.
"I will not fight below 150," said Cotto, 31, a four-time world champion in three weight divisions. "Mayweather said he has no problem going up to 154 to fight me. Pacquiao is the one who objected and once again wants me to come down to a weight between 145 and 147.”
Cotto (37-2, 30 KOs) suffered the second loss in his professional career at 145 pounds to Pacquiao via a brutal 12th round TKO in November 2009.
Mayweather, who last fought at 154 pounds in May 2007 when he defeated Oscar de la Hoya by a narrow split decision, apparently had no problem throwing fists with the larger Cotto at a heavier weight.
"That's one thing Floyd make perfectly clear to us," Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said. "He didn't want to fight him at a catchweight, he wanted to fight him at the weight. Sometimes, you don't get full credit when you fight at a catchweight. Floyd wanted to make sure Miguel was comfortable."
Mayweather, 35, who has captured nine world titles in five different weight classes, deserves some credit for pressing a scrap with the larger, and extremely formidable, Cotto.
Roger “Pit” Perron is a respected and venerable boxing trainer from Brockton (Mass.) who now works with Mike and Rich Cappiello at their gym, Cappiello Brothers Boxing and Training.
Perron is confident that Cotto is far from being a shopworn pugilist.
“Cotto isn’t done yet,” said Perron, 75, who worked with Marvelous Marvin Hagler. “Against Floyd, tough one to pick, but I'm going with Floyd. He always finds a way to negate the opponent's strengths. Floyd by decision.”
In approximately three months, the boxing world will see if it was wise for Floyd Mayweather “to make sure Miguel was comfortable."
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