“Pacquiao can fight Mayweather as many times as he wants after I beat him,” says Cotto

MANILA – Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto may be the co-headliner with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao in the Nov. 14 “Firepower” bout, but Floyd Mayweather’s name surfaces every now and then as boxing fans wonder if a Pacquiao-Mayweather match will ever push through.

Pacquiao said it might not happen because Mayweather thinks it is all about the money, the Associated Press and Los Angeles Times reported.

His adviser Mike Koncz, meantime, told abs-cbnNEWS.com that it could take place “if the economics of the fight is right.”

American trainer Freddie Roach told DoghouseBoxing.com that he would want Pacquiao to take on Mayweather, adding that it is about what fans would definitely want to see.

Cotto, for his part, also shared his two cents on the matter.

“He can fight Mayweather as many times as he wants after I beat him,” Cotto told Agence France-Presse.

The Puerto Rican will put his WBO welterweight championship belt on the line when he faces Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The boxers will also fight for the WBC diamond belt.

Toughest guy

Despite his pronouncements that he will prevail over Pacquiao, Cotto still made known that he respects the Filipino boxing superstar because of what he has achieved.

“He has earned everything he has," stated Cotto. “Manny looked good against Oscar De La Hoya and (Ricky) Hatton. But I'm not Oscar or Hatton. Manny chose the right time to fight Oscar.”

Cotto, meanwhile, reminded that he only has 1 loss (34-1, with 27 knockouts) while Pacquiao has 3 defeats (49-3-2, with 27 KOs).

“It is the most important fight of my career, but we'll have to see on the 14th if he is the toughest guy I have fought in my career,” remarked Cotto.

Dead-set

Cotto earlier told ABS-CBN News that his training camp for “Firepower” was probably the best he has ever had.

“The communication between team members, all the focus I have for this fight make this the best ever,” he said.

In his media day at the Pound-4-Pound Gym in Los Angeles, California, Cotto reportedly looked “dead serious in his preparation for the biggest fight of his life,” according to PhilBoxing.com.

He did not even clown around with the Latino media. In addition, the welterweight champion looked “extremely fit.”

Cotto and Pacquiao have agreed to fight at a catch weight of 145 lbs. – With reports from Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com, Ed de la Vega, PhilBoxing.com, and Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News