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The proposed match-up between Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Puerto Rican icon Miguel Cotto is getting closed to being done, with camps of both parties slowly but surely softening on their earlier stance about weight issues and the purse.
Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, who earlier wanted the fight to take place at 143 lbs, yesterday appeared convinced by promoter Bob Arum that the fight should take place at 145 lbs, which the Cotto camp has been lobbying.
"Arum called me and I told him that I don't have any problems with the fight being at 145 pounds. In fact I don't care if Cotto wants to weigh 200 pounds," Roach told Primera Hora.
"I trust my fighter, so I care very little about the weight issues. I have not talked to Manny, who will make the final decision. He is a big man who makes his own decisions. All I can do is give it my recommendation," added Roach, who also earlier proposed that Pacquiao gets 70 percent while Cotto takes 30 percent share of the purse.
One recommendation is for Pacquiao to make more money than in his previous fight with Ricky Hatton in May. Pacquiao is said to have made around $12 million for that bout.
"Obviously we want to see Manny get paid higher than in the previous fight. There is no reason to step back in terms of money, so those details will be discussed," said Roach.
Gabriel Peñagarícano, the legal adviser to Cotto, told the Primera Hora that a lot of things need to be agreed upon before the deal is closed.
"I'm not surprised that [Roach] has accepted the weight of 145 pounds, but that is only one of several items that will be discussed and it's taken at least two weeks to complete. There are a list of issues are being discussed."
Meanwhile, Arum has already tendered his proposal to Pacquiao, which will be handcarried by adviser Michael Koncz this weekend to the Philippines.
Arum has hinted that Cotto is ready to accept a purse lower than the 60-40 being proposed by Shane Mosley for him to fight Pacquiao.
Either the proposal goes 65-35 in favor of Pacquiao, or 70-30, and whichever it is, Pacquiao is guaranteed a purse enough for his war chest for the upcoming congressional elections in Saranggani.
