EVEN before Freddie Roach could say `Miguel Cotto’ 10 times, the Puerto Rican boxing star has already taken himself out of the thinning list of opponents being considered for Manny Pacquiao’s next fight.
On Saturday, Cotto announced he’s taking on reigning World Boxing Association junior middleweight champion Austin Trout in his December 1 ring comeback at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
Until the declaration, Cotto was among those being considered by Top Rank Promotions as possible foe of the 33-year-old Pacquiao when he climbs the ring again — hopefully — before the year ends.
Cotto even had the vote of Roach himself after the five-time Trainer of the Year admitted he preferred to take on the Puerto Rican, who he said he liked because he had gone the distance against unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.
But with the former Olympian out of the equation, the list obviously had just narrowed down to Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Mike Konz, the Canadian adviser of Pacquiao, admitted they’re engaged in talks with the sides of both Bradley and Marquez.
“We’re still in negotiations with both camps," said Koncz in an interview with The Ring. "But I won’t make a public comment because I don’t want to negotiate the purses in the press."
Bradley administered Pacquiao’s first loss in seven years last June, coming through with a stunning split decision to wrest the World Boxing Organization welterweight title belt.
Marquez on the other hand, suffered a pair of setback at the hands of Pacquiao—including a majority decision in their last meeting almost a year ago which many felt should have been won by the crafty Mexican.
At the same time, Konz wished Cotto well in his next outing.
"Manny and I just wish him luck in his fight," said Koncz..“Cotto’s got the right to make his own decisions, and for whatever reason, he’s decided to go and fight the WBA champion, and there’s nothing that we can do about it.”
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