Report: Mayweather dangles $40M to Cotto for rematch

MANILA, Philippines – The camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. has reportedly offered $40 million to Miguel Cotto for a rematch next year.

According to a report by El Vocero de Puerto Rico, Mayweather made the move in an effort to lure Cotto out of a possible showdown with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on May 2 next year – the same date Mayweather plans to fight on.

The undefeated American outpointed Cotto in 2012, but the Puerto Rican made a good account of himself. And Cotto’s adviser, Gaby Penagaricano, recently told thesportpress.com that they’re also open to a rematch with Mayweather.

"The reality is that there is no agreement yet, none, for any fight. We are in talks, but to say that an agreement has been made is not true," Penagaricano told Rey Colon of thesportpress.com.

While Mayweather defeated Cotto via unanimous decision, Pacquiao stopped the Puerto Rican star in the 12th round of their 2009 tussle. Cotto has since rebounded from those setbacks and now holds the WBC middleweight title.

That championship belt could be appealing to Mayweather, and Cotto’s camp isn’t discounting another meeting with him.

"A fight with Mayweather has not been totally ruled out. We must see first what will happen with this fight [Mayweather vs. Pacquiao], but it [rematch with Mayweather] could be a possibility. It's an interesting fight," he added.

Incidentally, the $40 million Mayweather reportedly offered to Cotto was the same amount dangled to Manny Pacquiao by the American a few years ago. Pacquiao rejected it.

If the offer is true and Cotto ends up accepting it, this will effectively take the highly anticipated duel between Mayweather and Pacquiao out of the picture. The Filipino icon had been calling out Mayweather since destroying Chris Algieri in Macau last month, and talks are reportedly ongoing between the two camps to make the mega bout happen.

Mayweather, for his part, responded by challenging Pacquiao to fight him on May 2, the same date reportedly penciled for Cotto-Alvarez.

Now, it seems the fight the world badly wants to see faces another roadblock. – Dino Maragay