http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=29794By Lem Satterfield
Before a fight with Sergio Mora was locked and sealed for September 18, former three division champion Shane Mosley was trying to make a fight with WBC welterweight king Andre Berto. When the two fighters were set to meet in January, they agreed on a 60-40 split in Mosley's favor. Berto withdrew from the fight to support his family members who were affected by the earthquake in Haiti.
Mosley would quickly reach an agreement to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May, while Berto fought Carlos Quintana in April. Mosley was dominated by Mayweather for twelve rounds, and Berto dominated Quintana on route to knocking him out.
When Berto and Mosley came back to the table a few weeks ago, Berto made a demand for an even 50-50 split on the money. Mosley saw no reason to move away from their previous agreement of a 60-40 split, even with the recent loss to Mayweather.
"At first, it was 60-40 when we were supposed to fight on January 30 before I lost to Floyd Mayweather. Sergio Martinez was ready to do a 60-40 split with me at middleweight. And then, this guy Berto, you know, I'm doing him a favor by even fighting him. And to agree to fight him, I was doing him a favor. I mean, it was going to be in Atlantic City, and then we were going to fight on regular HBO. I mean, come on," Mosley said.
"It was kind of ridiculous. I was like, I can fight Sergio Mora and fill the Staples Center up on Mexican Independence Day. I'm bringing [Berto] the crowd, and then we've got to go to Atlantic City or Florida to fight you there? It's all on your terms? I mean, come on. Why am I doing this for a 50-50 split? I mean, why are we even talking about this? Why are you even negotiating with me like this like you're on my level? Come on."
With Manny Pacquiao heading in the direction of a fight with Antonio Margarito, Berto is a possible candidate to fight WBA 154-pound champion Miguel Cotto. If Mosley beats Mora, he has a lot of options in front of him. He might consider negotiating again with Berto, if Berto secures the fight with Cotto and finishes off the Puerto Rican star.
"Now you have to fight Miguel Cotto and that's going to be a very tough fight because Cotto has been fighting and you haven't. Cotto's a great fighter. You're good too, but Cotto has been working out. Cotto's been fighting and he's been training. Cotto has been fighting at 154. So if your next fight is against Cotto, then you're going to have some problems. You go ahead and fight Cotto, and then, maybe we can talk if you beat him," Mosley said.
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