Gaby Penagaricano defends Miguel Cotto’s decision of not fighting Manny Pacquiao – Boxing News
Gaby Penagaricano, Miguel Cotto’s attorney and adviser, has shrugged down allegations from Top Rank’s Bob Arum. In an interview with ESPN.com, Arum revealed that he offered approximately $15 million to Cotto through Gaby, but the word never reached the Puerto
Rican fight sensation. According to Arum, Gaby had his own agenda and so he did not convey the message to Cotto.
Gaby declines all allegations made by Arum, saying that he has always been sincere to Miguel Cotto. According to Gaby, Arum does not understand the fact that Cotto makes his own fights and he is popular enough to do so.
“It's not true,” said Gaby commenting on Arum’s statements. “As I have always done for the last seven or eight years in Miguel's career, I conveyed to my client every single piece of information I got from Top Rank about a potential Pacquiao fight and it
was ultimately Miguel's decision not to take it.”
“I think what Bob doesn't understand is the position Miguel is in. Normally any fighter would jump at the possibility of fighting Mayweather or Pacquiao. It's a lot of money. But Miguel is in a different position. He can make a lot of money fighting other
people as well. He can constantly say no to a Pacquiao or Mayweather if the deal is not structured how he wants it.”
Miguel Cotto was Manny Pacquiao’s first choice for a rematch in December. However, the deal apart and Cotto went for a match against Austin Trout for December 1, 2012. In a recent press conference, Cotto revealed that he was only offered $6 million by Arum,
which an insult to him as he is worth more. Moreover, Cotto also noted that he would not go for a catchweight rematch with Pacquiao again, as it gives the Filipino an edge over him.
Cotto lost his WBO welterweight title to Pacquiao back in 2009. It was the second defeat of his career and the first technical knockout defeat. Now, Cotto wants to face Pacquiao on his terms. According to the Puerto Rican star, if Pacquiao wants to fight,
he will have to come up to his weight.
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