CEBU, Philippines - Reigning WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30KOs) of Puerto Rico said a return bout with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38KOs) is not going to happen if it will take place at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.
Cotto is among the four high-profile fighters being eyed as Pacquiao's next opponent, but the Pacman had earlier indicated he won't fight above his comfort zone of 147 lbs.
During their first encounter for the WBO welterweight title won by Pacquiao via 12th round TKO on November 14, 2009 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Cotto dropped to 145 pounds just to slug it out with the Filipino ring superstar.
This time, Cotto is decisive enough not to give in.
"He had no problems in dealing with [Antonio] Margarito at 150. He hasn't had problems with anyone regarding the weight. With Joshua Clottey, they fought at 147. I drove down to 145. The [rematch], I'm going to do it at my weight. I will not sacrifice my body again for the benefit of another boxer. It won't happen at 147 pounds," Cotto told boxingscene.com.
"We are waiting for the offer to come and dedicate ourselves to train and win. In the next two weeks, we hope to have a response on the whole thing," Cotto added in the same internet report.
Earlier, Cebuano topnotch promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud has hinted that there's no way Cotto would lock up horns with Pacquiao at 147.
"In their first meeting, Pacquiao and Cotto fought at a catchweight of 145 pounds. Cotto in now fighting under 154 lbs. and I don't think he will step down to 147 just to take on Pacquiao. In the worst case scenario, they will fight under 150 lbs. and I don't think Pacquiao would go for that because he would be too small for that weight bracket," said Salud, Pacquiao's confidant and close associate.
As of the moment, the Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather superfight is still in the works although it is likely to fizzle out because of Mayweather's unreasonable demand of a 70-30 purse split.
Whoever he's going to face next, Pacquiao will formally announce it next week. (FREEMAN)