MANILA, Philippines - Sa kanyang edad na 28-anyos, isa nang malaking laban ang makatapat ang kasalukuyang 'pound-for-pound' boxer sa buong mundo.
Sa panayam ng Fightfan.com kahapon, sinabi ni Puerto Rican world welterweight champion Miguel Cotto na marami na siyang napagdaanang laban at ang pakikipagsagupa sa 30-anyos na si Manny Pacquiao ay magiging isa na sa mga ito.
“My whole career has been about the biggest challenges, and a fight with Pacquiao would be just that," ani Cotto. "I have always worked that way and it has helped me to achieve all my goals."
Sinabi ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions na ang usapan na lamang sa timbang ang isyu sa pagtatakda ng laban nina Pacquiao at Cotto, ang kasalukuyang World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight king.
Gusto ni Pacquiao, ang tanging Asian fighter na nagkampeon sa limang magkakaibang weight divisions, na labanan si Cotto sa light welterweight pound limit.
"Cotto is a welterweight and the nutritionist is saying the lowest he can go is 144," ani Arum sa Los Angeles Times. "Manny will be fine with that. He doesn't want a guy to get in there and injure himself by fighting at an unrealistically low weight."
Huling lumaban si Cotto sa light welterweight class noong Hunyo 10 ng 2006 kung saan niya tinalo si Paulie Malignaggi via unanimous decision para mapanatiling suot ang WBO belt.
Hindi rin malayong pumayag si Cotto na labanan si Pacquiao sa mas mababa sa 147-pound limit.
"I feel that after nine years as a boxer I am nearing the end of what has been a great career. I am very satisfied after 35 fights to have a career like I currently have with many moments of glory," ani Cotto. "A fight against Pacquiao would be the biggest fight of my career and a victory would be my biggest accomplishment.”
Tangan ni Pacquiao, ang bagong International Boxing Organization (IBO) lightweight ruler, ang 49-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 37 KOs, habang taglay naman ni Cotto ang 34-1-0 (27KOs) slate. (Russell Cadayona)