Cotto ready for Pacquiao after bloody split decision

NEW YORK (AP) — Every once in a while, Manny Pacquiao would lean over to Top Rank boss Bob Arum and whisper something, perhaps giving the promoter a blow-by-blow analysis of Miguel Cotto’s welterweight title defense against Joshua Clottey.

Then again, the pound-for-pound king may have been describing how he’d handle Cotto himself.

The pride of Puerto Rico bruised his way to a split decision over Clottey on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden, with Pacquiao seated just a few feet from the ring. Cotto’s bloody win may set up a big-money fight between them this fall, although there will be others lining up for a chance at one of the most exciting fighters in the game.

“The people have to wait until I rest a little bit,” Cotto said after the fight, a deep gash over his left eye heavily bandaged. “I’m on vacation.”

Cotto was evasive in discussing the myriad of potential opponents lined up before him, leaving that task to Arum, who made it clear that Pacquiao is at the head of the pack.

“This fight showed me that Cotto and Pacquiao is a dead-even fight,” Arum told a group of reporters seated ringside. “I think it’s a very competitive fight. Cotto-Pacquiao is the fight I want to make. It’s the fight I really want to make.”

It’s a fight that should be quite simple to make, considering both are promoted by Top Rank. But there are still plenty of details to be decided: when the fight will be held, where it will take place, how the purse will be split, and at what weight they’ll meet.

Arum said November is a possibility, but the venue is another matter. Cotto has fought mainly on the East Coast and didn’t fare well out west, losing a now controversial bout to Antonio Margarito in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao has made Sin City his home-away-from-home. He’s waged his last five fights there, including his destruction of Oscar De La Hoya and brutal knockout of Ricky Hatton.

Both fighters will feel as though they’re the marquee attraction, which could make the negotiations sticky, but the weight appears to be the other big hangup.

Cotto is a strong welterweight, and hasn’t fought below 140 pounds since 2006. The former junior welterweight titleholder would have a considerable size advantage over Pacquiao, whose first title more than a decade ago was in the flyweight division.

“People think this would be like leading the lamb to the slaughter,” said Arum, who confided that they might agree to fight between 142 and 145 pounds. “I don’t see that.”