Mayweather to fight Cotto, Pacquiao eyes Bradley

Welterweight boxing star Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. will pack on a few extra pounds May 5 to challenge WBA junior middleweight titleholder Miguel Cotto.

Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs) is coming off a controversial KO victory versus Victor Ortiz, after he knocked out Ortiz just after a referre’s break while the fighter’s hands were down and he was looking to the referee.

Cotto (37-2, 30 KOs) will get back in the ring after avenging a brutal-but-tainted loss to Antonio Margarito in 2008 (Margarito was discovered to be using illegal wraps in his next bout) with a resounding 10th round KO in December.

After obtaining a June postponement for his upcoming 87-day prison sentence related to assault charges, Mayweather had been hoping to secure a bout with fellow superstar Manny Pacquiao.  But as has been the case for the past few years, the two were unable to come to an agreement.

As far as blame goes, there’s a ton.  Mayweather’s bad behavior led to the prison sentence in the first place, severly limiting his availability for summer fights.  He also booked the MGM Grand without an opponent, taking away the chance to explore different venues.  Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, is set on constructing a temporary outdoor arena to house more seats for Pacquiao’s next fight (more seats=more money).  Arum claimed the arena cannot be completed by May 5 and offered late May and early June dates.  But with his plea agreement & MGM agreement, Mayweather had no flexibility.

Pacquiao has always maintained that he wanted the bout, but seemingly defers to Arum when it comes time to make it happen. 

Pacquaio vs Bradley?

With the potential Mayweather bout back on the shelf once again, Arum stated he’s close to finalizing a deal for Pacquiao to fight with junior welterweight titleholder Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KOs) on June 9.

While Bradley lacks the name recognition outside hardcore boxing circles, the undefeated fighter should propose a formidable challenge.  Pacquiao’s biggest concern might not be with Bradley’s fists though, as many of Bradley’s bouts have ended early due to accidental headbutts, including a bout against St. Louis’ own Devon Alexander in Jan. 2011. According to Compubox, Bradley is on pace to break Evander Holyfield’s all-time headbutt record sometime in 2015 (Ok, maybe I just made that up).

If there’s any hope of a post-prison brawl between Mayweather and Pacquiao in the winter, Pac-Man must protect his face against the vicious upperbutts of Bradley.