Cotto "Not Interested" in Berto, Vanes Could Be in Play

By Lem Satterfield

WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto is not interested in a fall bout with unbeaten WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto, according to a source within Cotto's camp.

Berto's promoter, Lou DiBella, was hoping to match his fighter against Cotto in the fall. Cotto has other plans, like landing a rematch against the winner of Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito, which is scheduled for November 13. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum selected Margarito as the opponent for Pacquiao. Cotto was the other frontrunner to land the November fight. Until Pacquiao approves the proposal to face Margarito, Cotto will stand back and wait for a possible opportunity to snatch the fight if the Margarito proposal is rejected.

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, sources close to the situation have named unbeaten Vanes Martirosyan (28-0, 17KOs) as being a serious consideration for Cotto's first defense of his 154-pound title. Arum wants to bring Cotto back in the winter.

Bummer if true. Berto-Cotto is way more interesting than Cotto-Vanes. Could this be Top Rank once again wanting to keep fights and money in-house?

Disappointing news I was very much looking forward to Cotto vs Berto.

again unfortunetly the same old pattern..fighters with a mindset of fighting 2 times a year.cotto to his credit has taken on top fighters in his career but i cant understand why not berto..and in 2 months from now..a statement like that at least to me shows a lack of confidence in your abilty.berto-cotto is a good matchup...

Pathetic on Cotto's part. After beating Foreman Cotto said he's only interested in big names. Vanes Martirosyan is not the "big" name I was expecting.

There are only 4-5 fighters in the game that I will not rip apart after they pass up a logical, challenging, and money-making fight. Miguel Cotto is one of those few guys.

He has faced top competition at 140 and 147. He doesn't have many fights left. I will reserve judgment until I see how it all plays out (we don't know what is going to happen right now).

Sure why not, boxing may as well continue its slide right down the sewer. Cotto is a warrior, but that is very disappointing news if true.

Have to agree with Captain, It's not like Cotto has took the easy route, throughout his career he's faced top ten opponents at Jr Welterweight and Welterweight, heck for all Foreman's flaws he was a top ten ranked Jr Middleweight.

Vanes has only just appeared on the scene but his size will present Cotto with a challenge.

Ali_1748 wrote:

Have to agree with Captain, It's not like Cotto has took the easy route, throughout his career he's faced top ten opponents at Jr Welterweight and Welterweight, heck for all Foreman's flaws he was a top ten ranked Jr Middleweight.

Vanes has only just appeared on the scene but his size will present Cotto with a challenge.

Then retire, don't pull a Leonard Lalond on us.

Although Lalond did look like this guy: