Roach's Weight Demand Could Collapse Pacquiao-Cotto

If trainer Freddie Roach sticks to his demand, a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto could collapse. Roach wants Cotto to come down to a catch-weight of 143-pounds for a fight with Pacquiao. Cotto's nutritionist told Top Rank's Bob Arum, who promotes both fighters, that Miguel could only make a "safe" weight of 144 to 145-pounds at most. The Cotto camp would rather have it at 145. Roach wants to get Cotto down as low as possible.

"I spoke with Bob and I told him I want it at 143-pounds," Roach told the Manila Bulletin-Tempo . "The lower I can get him (Cotto), the better. Cotto is still a great fighter. Very strong, and very dangerous. He’s a champion. No way (he’s past his prime). (Manny’s going to have a) hard, hard fight."

Top Rank wants to make the fight for November 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Arum held a phone conference with Cotto and his team on Wednesday. He plans to present a deal to Pacquiao's team on Sunday and hopes to get a tentative deal locked in by Monday.

Pacquiao is reported to have asked for a weight of 144 but Roach is a big influence on his fighter and may talk him into a demand of 143. Cotto can't get down to 143 without killing his body. When the fight was first presented to him, he balked at the idea of a catch-weight. Later on he said a weight of 145 was fair. He won't agree to 143.