MANILA, Philippines - Pera pa rin ang pinakamalaking dahilan kung bakit pinag-uusapan ang laban ni Pacquiao sa Nobyembre 14.
Andiyan si Pacquiao at ang kanyang master promoter na si Bob Arum sa kabilang banda at ilang pares ng welterweight champions sa kabilang dako.
At sa pagitan nila ang milyung-milyong dolyares.
“There’s a ton of mo-ney involved,” ani Arum na itinutulak na matuloy ang labang Pacquiao-Cotto, hindi lamang dahil kapwa niya hawak ang dalawang boksingero kundi higit sa lahat naniniwala itong magiging isang ‘terrific fight” ang magaganap.
At hindi naman pumapayag si Mosley na nasa kampo ng Golden Boy Promotions.
“I’m frustrated by the situation, that Bob Arum’s just trying to put more money in his pocket,” pahayag ni Mosley kay Lance Pugmire ng The LA Times. “If he wants the fight that’s going to make the most money for Pacquiao, then that’s a fight against me.”
“Cotto doesn’t deserve that chance now, but Arum only has one more fight (in) with Cotto, and he needs to put him in a big fight to keep him. So he’s using Pacquiao for that -- to throw Cotto a bone.
“Bob Arum makes out, he clears all the money and Cotto will get his $4 to $6 million. This is a fight for Bob Arum, not a fight for the fans or for Pacquiao,” wika ni Mosley, na pakiramdam niya ay mas mabibigyan niya ng magandang laban si Pacquiao at higit na mas maraming pera.
Nagaganap na ang negosasyon at payag si Pacquiao na harapin si Cotto sa 144 o 145 lbs at hindi sa 142 lbs na orihinal na gusto ng kanyang trainer na si Freddie Roach, matapos mapanood ang ipinagmamalaki ng Puerto Rico noong nakaraang Linggo.
Mukhang mabagal si Cotto kontra kay Josh Clottey at nanalo ng dikit lamang. At kung makakakuha ng laban kay Pacquiao, malamang na matulad ang 28 anyos at 5’7 na si Cotto kay David Diaz na bugbog-sarado.
Isa sa adviser ni Pacquiao, si Wakee Salud, ay nagsasabing hindi tatagal ng pitong rounds si Cotto kay Pacquiao at isa pa ang nagsabing mananalo ang Pinoy lightwelterweight champion kahit na luma-ban ito sa 147 lbs.
“My point is, let’s make the best fights. What would make more money than Pacquiao and I? Cotto has a Puerto Rican audience in New York, that’s where it stops. I’m big everywhere. A fight with Pacquiao and I would be crazy,”dagdag ni Mosley.