Bob Arum of Top Rank spoke with BoxingScene?s David Greisman on Oct. 4 in Orlando, the day before the fight between Miguel Cotto and Delvin Rodriguez.
BoxingScene.com: While the fighters always say they?re not looking past their current opponent, what do you want to do with Miguel Cotto should he come out victorious against Delvin Rodriguez?
Arum: ?Well, I think the best fight for him would be, if at 154 or something like that, against Sergio Martinez.?
BoxingScene.com: At 154? Or at middleweight? Either?
Arum: ?Or at a catch-weight.?
BoxingScene.com: Why that?
Arum: ?That would give Miguel the opportunity to win yet another world title.?
BoxingScene.com: And how do you think he fares against Sergio Martinez?
Arum: ?I think he has a good shot. I think Sergio?s gone back a little, and I think Miguel is really terrific. And I think now that he?s with Freddie [Roach], you?ll see how good he really is.?
BoxingScene.com: How concerned had you been about Cotto after seeing his performances against Floyd Mayweather and Austin Trout?
Arum: ?I thought he did very well against Mayweather. The problem with the performances with Mayweather and Trout is his conditioning was wrong. He faded down the stretch. And I think with Freddie, he?ll be able to fight 12 real, straight-ahead, active rounds.?
BoxingScene.com: Is Cotto signed with you, or just working with you for this fight?
Arum: ?Well, it?s a combination.?
BoxingScene.com: I ask because I know there was talk after Canelo Alvarez?s loss to Mayweather about him potentially facing Miguel Cotto. Would that be possible given Cotto?s relationship with you and your non-relationship with Golden Boy?
Arum: ?What does Golden Boy have to do with it? Canelo?s contract is over with Golden Boy.? [BoxingScene has a response from Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer here.]
BoxingScene.com: How interested would you be in that fight instead of a Martinez fight?
Arum: ?Well, I think Canelo would probably want another fight before he fought somebody like Cotto. So I think down the road that could be a big fight.?
BoxingScene.com: And you don?t anticipate Canelo re-signing with Golden Boy before then?
Arum: ?Again, I have never talked to Canelo in my life. So what he does or doesn?t do is up to him. But right now, he?s a free agent.?
Pick up a copy of David?s new book, ?Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,? at http://bit.ly/fightingwordsamazon . Send questions/comments via email at [email protected]
