If Pacquiao Won't Fight Cotto Above 147, Will Floyd Step In?

A major barrier stands in the way of Top Rank CEO Bob Arum (center)
finalizing a rematch between Manny Pacquiao (left) and Miguel Cotto.

Yikes. Looks like WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao doesn't care too much about fighting for Miguel Cotto's 154-pound WBA title and is drawing the line at 147 (funny how he didn't do that for Margarito at 150). If that holds up, then Cotto will likely fight WBC welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather, and Pacquiao will probably target WBO junior welterweight boss Tim Bradley.

It's a game of chicken now. I think Team Cotto is seeing how far up in weight they can lure Pacquiao, and they're using a potential Mayweather fight as scare tactics to leverage a better deal. I don't blame them. For the sake of avoiding any health controversies like last time, Cotto shouldn't fight Pacquiao at anything less than 152--if that.

I'll tell you one thing. I think Pacquiao-Bradley is a decent matchup, but it's wishful thinking to argue that the fight would fill the 38,000-seat temporary stadium off the Las Vegas Strip that Top Rank CEO Bob Arum described to me.

UPDATE (4:32 a.m. PST): No sooner than an hour and a half after I opined this, Cotto has told BoxingScene.com that "Floyd Mayweather Jr. said he has no problem going up to 154 to fight me." Interesting to see how Team Pacquiao responds.