Philippine Sports News and Updates

Cotto, however, must turn back Joshua Clottey in the first defense of his WBO welterweight title on June 13 to arrange the appointment with Pacquiao. It will be Cotto’s sixth appearance at the Garden where he has beaten Muhammad Abdullaev, Paul Malignaggi, Zab Judah, Sugar Shane Mosley and Michael Jennings.

A New York City folk hero, Cotto brought in 17,135 fans to the Garden when he decisioned Mosley two years ago. The fight generated over 400,000 pay-per-view subscriptions.

Pacquiao has never fought in the so-called Mecca of Boxing where his brother Bobby has performed twice, stopping Kevin Kelley in 2006 and losing to Humberto Soto in 2007.

The late Flash Elorde saw action twice at the Garden, beating Puerto Rican Frankie Narvaez via a hotly-disputed split decision that triggered a riot in the stands in 1965 and bowing to Carlos Ortiz on a 14th round knockout in 1966.

Rabid Puerto Rican fans are expected to come out in droves to support the Caguas-born Cotto against Pacquiao, conjuring images of the wild crowd frenzy during the Elorde-Narvaez bout.

If Pacquiao and Cotto fight, a bone of contention would be the weight limit.

“It’s really up to Manny at what weight he’d like to fight Cotto, if at all,” said Pacquiao’s boxing adviser Michael Koncz. “We are told Cotto is agreeable to fight at a catchweight limit of 144. Manny might want to bring it down to 142. Manny’s comfortable where he is right now, fighting as a lightwelterweight. Why should he agree to what Cotto wants? If Cotto wants to fight Manny, it should be at Manny’s terms. This fight would mean more to Cotto than to Manny. If a limit of 142 is agreed, let Cotto struggle to make weight, not Manny.”

The lightwelterweight limit is 140 pounds and the welterweight is 147. Theoretically, Cotto could stake his welterweight crown even if there is an agreed weight limit of 142 or 144 because either would be within the division range of 141 to 147. The fight would be significant for Pacquiao with the world welterweight title at stake because if he wins, the Filipino icon will become the only fighter ever to capture seven championships in different divisions.

During a recent visit to Manila, Arum said a Pacquiao-Cotto fight at the Garden would be a sellout. It would also be easy to arrange since both Pacquiao and Cotto are promoted by Top Rank. The bout may be scheduled in the last quarter of the year.

Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach will be at ringside to witness Cotto’s defense against Clottey. The night before, Pacquiao will receive the Edward J. Neil Fighter of the Year award and Roach the Eddie Futch-Johnny Condon Trainer of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America during the 84th testimonial dinner at the Capitale on Bowery Street in New York City.

In the undercard of the Cotto-Clottey mainer, Filipino Rodel Mayol will challenge undefeated WBO lightflyweight champion Ivan (Iron Boy) Calderon of Puerto Rico.

Cotto, 28, is a switch-hitting boxer-puncher whose most potent weapon is the left hook to the body. He recently fired his trainer Evangelista Cotto, an uncle, for personal reasons and elevated nutritionist Joe Santiago to the position.

Cotto has been decked thrice in his career, once by Ricardo Torres whom he eventually knocked out in 2005 and twice by Antonio Margarito to whom he lost by an 11th round stoppage last year.

In 2000, Cotto represented Puerto Rico at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and lost a 17-7 decision to Abdullaev in his first bout in the lightwelterweight division. Five years later, Cotto avenged the setback by halting Abdullaev in the ninth round to retain his WBO lightwelterweight crown.

Last February, Cotto knocked out Jennings to capture the vacant WBO welterweight title. The win raised his record to 33-1, with 27 KOs. He had previously won the WBO lightwelterweight (six defenses) and WBA welterweight (five defenses) crowns.

Philstar