Miguel Cotto, one of the biggest stars in boxing, signed a new contract with Roc Nation to promote his fights going forward after a long, profitable relationship with Top Rank. According to Cotto, that relationship didn't have much to do with CEO Bob Arum, whom Cotto clearly has no love for.
"First of all you ask Bob Arum, when our contract ended in February 2011 he and I never sat to talk or discuss anything related to a fight. Every time I sat down [to discuss my future was] with Todd duBoef. So all I have left to say is that the man is a big liar," Cotto told El Vocero.
"I have nothing to say to Bob Arum. He's never given me anything. What I have is a product of my effort. The money that Mr. Bob Arum invested in Miguel Cotto was recovered ten times over. This is a business and from my signing in 2001, I was a business in the eyes of Top Rank. Here is what's bothering them (Todd and Bob), that they'll no longer be seeing anything [from me]," he said in reference to what Top Rank expected to generate financially in future fights, co-promoting with Cotto."
Cotto hasn't fought since winning the WBC middleweight title from Sergio Martinez in June. He was deep in talks with Golden Boy for a fight against Canelo Alvarez that was tentatively planned for May 2, but they fell through because Cotto wouldn't agree on the financial terms.
Alvarez moved on to James Kirkland, Floyd Mayweather Jr. signed on to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 2, and Cotto's team has shown little interest in fighting WBA middleweight champ Gennady Golovkin.
The remaining options for Cotto, aside from an unlikely matchup vs. Amir Khan at a 155-pound catch weight, aren't great. That seems secondary to Cotto however, and removing himself from Arum's grasp was top priority. Cotto alluded to financial shenanigans Arum was engaging in, and leaving Cotto with far less money than he should have earned.
"One plus one is two in any language. They think I'm a moron but I'm not," Cotto said.
"They spent years doing the same practice. It has happened to three boxers who have realized that: Oscar De La Hoya, Mayweather Jr., and now, Miguel Cotto. With all three it was the same situation with the same common denominator...So in short, the hassle of Arum and Todd are simply summarized by dollars and cents."
Even though no opponent has been determined, Cotto is expected back in the ring in June.
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