Will Manny Pacquiao skip Mayweather Jr. and go straight to Cotto?

Miguel Cotto had a conference call with reporters today. And while it was just Miguel Cotto on the call, the presence of Manny Pacquiao was a constant. Reporters asked Cotto in a variety of ways whether or not he would fight Pacquiao. Cotto wasn't biting, continually stating he is focused on his next opponent, Joshua Clottey. (Which is not an easy fight, by the way.)

If it should happen, a Pacquiao-Cotto fight would be a fantastic action fight, while Mayweather Jr., the man most people expect Pac Man to fight next, generally engages in dull fights.

All Cotto would say about Pacquiao, when asked about the Hatton fight, was this: "It was a very strong moment for Pacquiao."

But sometimes, silence is louder than actual words. Consider this:

1. Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are both promoted by Bob Arum. Arum made it a point to say that Pacquiao will be in attendance for the Cotto-Clottey fight. Cotto vs. Pacquiao is a win-win for Arum.

2. While the entire world knows the obvious fight is Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao refused to commit to his next opponent when he was repeatedly asked about it after the Hatton fight.

3. Will Pac Man be happy to sit on the sidelines and wait for Floyd? Mayweather Jr. fights Juan Manuel Marquez in July. It will probably be six months before Floyd fights again -- if he wins. Is that too long for Pac Man to wait? Pac Man has already stated he wants to fight in October.

4. Both Cotto and Pacquiao are not talking about fighting each other. But when two guys -- promoted by the same promoter -- start saying they don't want to fight each other, well that gives us just enough reason to be just a little suspicious. -- CASSIDY

Source: http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/boxing/blog/2009/05/will_manny_pacquiao_skip_maywe.html