http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=34098
By Rick Reeno
Promoter Lou DiBella advised BoxingScene.com that WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto is ready to move up in weight to challenge Miguel Cotto for the WBA's 154-pound title on March 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Berto was under consideration to face Manny Pacquiao on May 7. The expected opponent, Shane Mosley, finalized a deal on Tuesday to face Pacquiao on the May date.
Cotto's promoter, Top Rank, is considering three opponents for his March return, which includes Vanes Martirosyan, Pawel Wolak and Ricardo Mayorga.
"Obviously when Mosley and Pacquiao finalized their deal, we lost two possible options at welterweight. Once you get past Mosley and Pacquiao, there are very few options at 147 and very few of these guys at 140 are willing to move up. I would make the fight with Cotto in a second. I would not overprice Berto for that fight. Meeting Cotto at 154 is not a dealbreaker. Cotto's promoter [Top Rank CEO] Bob Arum knows my number. We can easily get that deal done, but I don't think Arum wants to make that fight," DiBella said to BoxingScene.com.
By Rick Reeno
Promoter Lou DiBella advised BoxingScene.com that WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto is ready to move up in weight to challenge Miguel Cotto for the WBA's 154-pound title on March 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Berto was under consideration to face Manny Pacquiao on May 7. The expected opponent, Shane Mosley, finalized a deal on Tuesday to face Pacquiao on the May date.
Cotto's promoter, Top Rank, is considering three opponents for his March return, which includes Vanes Martirosyan, Pawel Wolak and Ricardo Mayorga.
"Obviously when Mosley and Pacquiao finalized their deal, we lost two possible options at welterweight. Once you get past Mosley and Pacquiao, there are very few options at 147 and very few of these guys at 140 are willing to move up. I would make the fight with Cotto in a second. I would not overprice Berto for that fight. Meeting Cotto at 154 is not a dealbreaker. Cotto's promoter [Top Rank CEO] Bob Arum knows my number. We can easily get that deal done, but I don't think Arum wants to make that fight," DiBella said to BoxingScene.com.