Brandon Rios vs. Miguel Cotto at 154 post Manny Pacquiao
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 22 Nov 2013
Macao, China - If Brandon Rios pulls off the upset over Manny Pacquiao at The Cotai Arena at The Venetian this Sunday, he might be looking at a bigger payday and bigger challenges ahead of him - literally.
Rios' trainer, Robert Garcia is not keen on staying at the welterweight division (147 pounds) if his fighter gets by Pacquiao this Sunday and is instead looking at the next class which is light middleweight, seven pounds more than this Sunday's contracted fight weight against Pacquiao.
And who exactly has Garcia have in mind? One name - Miguel Cotto.
"Whatever is out there for Brandon, be it 140 or 147, maybe 154, maybe we will go after Cotto," Garcia told the press Friday morning.
"Brandon is a little bit taller than him, who knows. It all depends what Top Rank, what Cameron Dunkin wants to do. Brandon is a very strong fighter and if everything goes the way we planned, there are many options at welterweight, at 140 and even at 154."
Garcia emphasized that Rios is "very strong, physically and mentally" and that he sees no problem if they decide to venture into the talent laden light middleweight class.
"If things go the way we want them to go this weekend, why not 154. He is as tall as any other 154 out there. Why not?"
Cotto, fresh from a brilliant victory against Delvin Rodriguez last October, is the most sought after 154 pounder in boxing.
Cotto's established name and record and most of all - his proven track record of selling fights makes him a very sound opponent for everybody - financially.
Cotto has been mentioned as a possible opponent for Mexican superstar, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and recent reports indicate that Golden Boy Promotions who handles Alvarez has made a $10 million offer to the Cotto camp for him to fight the young Mexican star.
March 8th has surfaced as the tentative fight date for the two.
Cotto who fought under the Golden Boy banner last year returned to the fold of his long-time promoter in the Rodriguez fight this year, Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions.
After Cotto's recent win against Rodriguez, Arum stated that he is looking to pit Cotto against another superstar, Sergio Martinez of Argentina.
And like his rival, the veteran promoter also has a date - April of 2014 at the Metlife Stadium in the Meadowlands of New Jersey.
Rios will be earning $4 million dollars for this weekend's fight, the biggest purse of his career and if he wins which Garcia is confident of happening, doors will open for his talent - fights and money wise.
"It's all business now, it is all business. Every fighter will be a nice payday for Brandon after this. A lot of things will change," admitted Garcia.
But before Rios and Garcia dreams of another jackpot, they will have to face the biggest test of their careers against the oddsmaker's favorite that is Manny Pacquiao in the gambling capital of Asia.
"Right now, we are all thinking about fighting Manny and that is the only fight we are thinking about."
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Photo: Rios's trainer Robert Garcia answers questions from the media at the Venetian in Macao. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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