By Matthew Hurley: According to promoter Bob Arum speculation as to who Oscar De La Hoya will fight next should not include his fighter, WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. Arum told boxing writer Robert Morales that the ‘Golden Boy’ is in negotiations with Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a rematch of their May, 2007 bout which broke all box office records with customer purchase reaching 2.4 million.
De La Hoya had been entertaining the idea of fighting Ricky Hatton before Mayweather knocked out their ‘Hitman’ in the December 8th bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Oscar then notified the media that his final decision in regards to his May opponent would come a few weeks after the holidays. For his part Arum never really thought that a fight between De La Hoya and Cotto would come about.
“That fight (De La Hoya – Mayweather II) is a done deal,” he said. I don’t think Oscar really wanted to fight Cotto. I think he used a possible fight with Cotto to put leverage on Mayweather in their negotiations. I knew it wasn’t going to happen because the truth is, if Oscar fought Cotto, he’d be in for a serious beating. And with Mayweather, he just plays around. It’s not a real (fight) – nobody gets hurt.”
Arum added that he understands Oscar’s apparent desire to forego a showdown with Cotto in light of his sporadic ring appearances over the past few years.
“After what he has done in his long career, why fight a beast like Cotto? I mean, it’s silly. It’s not like a guy that is campaigning like a real fighter. Oscar takes a fight here, a fight there. And it’s clear that a Mayweather fight is a much easier fight.”
Morales also spoke with Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, and he commented that nothing in regards to a De La Hoya – Mayweather is a done deal. He did, however, acknowledge that negotiations have been going on between the two camps.
“Nothing is done,” he said. “I don’t know why Bob would say that. He’s not even involved in the negotiations.”
Schaefer then went on to add that De La Hoya and his team have not been in negotiations with any other fighter for Oscar’s May return to the ring.
“The fact is, there are very many elements that still have to be worked on. I am not going to say the fight is done until it is signed. If for some reason the Mayweather fight doesn’t work out, then it’s going to be Cotto. If Cotto is already fighting somebody else, then it will be somebody else.”
As of January 14th, Boxrec.com has listed the De La Hoya – Mayweather rematch for May 3rd with a site to be determined.