Miguel Cotto’s adviser mulls Canelo Alvarez, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Gennady Golovkin

Dec

Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank Promotions

RING/WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto has other options for big fights if a clash with Canelo Alvarez does not come to fruition, Cotto’s legal adviser, Gaby Penagaricano said during a Monday interview with RingTV.com.

Cotto (39-4, 32 knockouts) of Puerto Rico has been in talks for a May 2 title defense on HBO Pay-Per-View against Canelo Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs), the RING’s No. 1-rated junior middleweight behind RING champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Although Alvarez has agreed to his side of the terms to face Cotto, according to Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, Penagaricano characterized the deal as being only “50 percent” complete.

“We’re still talking and so there’s no deal as of yet. Whether it’s going to happen or not, honestly, I don’t know but we’re talking,” said Penagaricano.

“The reference to 50 percent only means that the most important elements of the deal – the financial element – there’s no agreement as to that yet. So it can not be more than 50 percent done. The most important factor of the overall equation is not agreed upon.”

But if there are any issues between Cotto and Alvarez, 24, then Gennady Golovkin (31-0, 28 KOs), the WBA’s 160-pound titleholder, would be that “perfect guy” to replace one or the other, said Golovkin’s promoter, Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions.

Cotto’s trainer, Freddie Roach has said of Golovkin, “I think Miguel Cotto will kick his ass,” to which Golovkin’s trainer, Abel Sanchez responded that Cotto “couldn’t go five rounds” against Golovkin. A 32-year-old from Kazakhstan, Golovkin will face Martin Murray on Feb. 21 in Monte Carlo.

Another who has expressed interest in Cotto is two-division titlewinner Tim Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs), who is coming off a disputed draw with welterweight rival Diego Chaves on Dec. 13.

Prior to Chaves, Bradley, 31, was dethroned as WBO 147-pound beltholder following a unanimous decision loss in April to Manny Pacquiao. Bradley has said he would rise in weight to fight Cotto.

Gaby Penagaricano on Cotto being the A-side and deserving the lion’s share of the purses:

“Obviously, and Canelo and Oscar’s side, they recognize that but that’s not the problem. But the question is, ‘How much of the lion’s share?’ that one guy should get and what the other should get. So that’s it.”

On the venue, given Cotto almost traditionally fights in New York in June:

“I would say that there is no leading candidate. I think that Las Vegas, Texas and New York — the three of them are the leading candidates. I would not discard any of them as far as being one of the possible venues yet.

On the date, given Cotto-Alvarez and a potential Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight are being discussed for May 2:

“The date is not the problem. I know that Canelo, being that he is Mexican, has said that May 2 he wants that date because he has a relationship to that date. I think that is a Canelo issue, meaning that, to him, it’s of utmost importance that it occurs on that date.

“I respect that. We definitely respect that because he’s Mexican, obviously. But that’s not our issue; that’s [Canelo]’s issue. We could fight in April, May or June, no problem.”

On a potential rematch with Mayweather if Cotto-Alvarez does not happen:

“We’re interested. If we end up not fighting Canelo because we can not agree on terms, then everything is on the table – and that includes Mayweather, if we can make a deal. No opponent is off the table.

“I haven’t discussed with Miguel that if we cannot make a deal with Canelo, would Floyd be next? But obviously, I know Miguel and he’s made it very clear that he would only be interested in the biggest fights possible.

“So obviously, the Mayweather fight is probably the biggest fight out there. Again, I have not spoken to Miguel about it but I would think that if the Mayweather fight was available, that he would be interested in it.”

On the rumors that Cotto was offered $40 million for a rematch with Mayweather:

“Of course, I can address that. No, the information is false. We did not get offered $40 million to fight Floyd.”

On the potential fight with Golovkin:

“My thoughts on Golovkin are that, you know Miguel; for his entire career, you don’t look at risk or anything like that. He just wants to go and to fight the best. But there are a few bigger fights than a fight with Golovkin.

“Everybody knows that and you and me know that. So Miguel will be interested in taking the biggest fights first. If not all of the big fights are there, then, he will consider Golovkin. Right now, that’s not the current scenario, so we’re not there yet.

“Certainly with Canelo and with Floyd, those two are there and those are a lot bigger than a fight with Golovkin. So as long as those two are there, then I think that Golovkin is a conversation for the near future and not for right now.”

On whether or not Bradley could be represent a bigger fight than Golovkin:

“He could be. He’s an excellent fighter. He’s class A and he’s absolutely at the top of the game. So I’m sure that, also, he would make a great fight. Sure, I would say that he would be a bit bigger than Golovkin, I would say.”