Who's next for Cotto?

[psychopath]

Miguel Cotto won impresively again. His next fight should be a bigger named fighter. Who do you think should be his next.

I'm still rooting for a Hatton fight although we very well know that Hatton wants Kotza Tyzsu.

Your thoughts guys

[JOM'S]

cotto - hatton seems to be a good fight...any chance for this to happen next year???

[Casey]

I think Cotto will face Hatton. I dont think Tszyu will fight Hatton

[Mikie]

I think Cotto will face Hatton. I dont think Tszyu will fight Hatton

I tend to agree! I think Tszyu is awaiting the winner of Spinks-Judah so he can come up and challenge. A Cotto-Hatton-Harris ( in any combination) fight would be great, but is Hatton willing to leave the UK for either. I think not!

[neils7147933]

Hatton has never appeared on HBO. Anyone know if he's still tied to Showtime? Harris was there at the Tszyu fight and entered the ring...if he was an HBO fighter, that would not have been allowed.

I think Cotto fights 3-4 more "safe" opponent in ascending toughness in 2005. His handlers have been very, very smart bringing him along. You don't go from Randall Bailey to Ricky Hatton, let alone Kostya Tszyu.

Possible opponents for 2005: Francisco Bojado, Gianluca Branco, Mike Stewart, Ishe Smith - all decent opponents. Michael Arnaoutis could break out and be ranked by the end of the year, too, and would make a good opponent. 2006 he should look to the cream of the crop of the division, though I can see Tszyu and/or Gatti absent from the division, then. Cotto-Mayweather in 2006 would be a great fight.

He is WBO champ, though, here's the most recent rankings I could find (11/14) - he may have to fight a mandatory... (Hatton relinquished his ranking)

. Ricky Hatton
2. David Diaz
3. Henry Bruseles
4. Junior Witter
5. Andrea Kotelnik
6. Mohammad Abdulaev
7. Paul Spadafora
8. Gianluca Branco
9. Ricardo Torres
10. Kelson Pinto
11. James Leija
12. Demarcus Corley
13. Naoufel Ben Radah
14. Juan Urango
15. Mike Arnaoutis

[neils7147933]

...cont'd

This is assuming Cotto can stay at 140 the whole time. The way they talked last night he was destined for welterweight. That's where Ishe Smith is right now. They could fight where someone's '0' had to go for a shot at a Spinks, Judah, Margarito, etc.

[DLT]

It has to be Harris. Why would you want to put two young fighters who havent faught a big name in with eachother. Let them each fight someone else and then if they win a fight or two then they can fight eachother. The fight would be much bigger then.

[PRboxingfan]

Hatton has never appeared on HBO. Anyone know if he's still tied to Showtime? Harris was there at the Tszyu fight and entered the ring...if he was an HBO fighter, that would not have been allowed.

I think Cotto fights 3-4 more "safe" opponent in ascending toughness in 2005. His handlers have been very, very smart bringing him along. You don't go from Randall Bailey to Ricky Hatton, let alone Kostya Tszyu.

Possible opponents for 2005: Francisco Bojado, Gianluca Branco, Mike Stewart, Ishe Smith - all decent opponents. Michael Arnaoutis could break out and be ranked by the end of the year, too, and would make a good opponent. 2006 he should look to the cream of the crop of the division, though I can see Tszyu and/or Gatti absent from the division, then. Cotto-Mayweather in 2006 would be a great fight.

He is WBO champ, though, here's the most recent rankings I could find (11/14) - he may have to fight a mandatory... (Hatton relinquished his ranking)

. Ricky Hatton
2. David Diaz
3. Henry Bruseles
4. Junior Witter
5. Andrea Kotelnik
6. Mohammad Abdulaev
7. Paul Spadafora
8. Gianluca Branco
9. Ricardo Torres
10. Kelson Pinto
11. James Leija
12. Demarcus Corley
13. Naoufel Ben Radah
14. Juan Urango
15. Mike Arnaoutis

First of all, Ishe is a prospect and they won't put him in with Cotto just yet. The fights being talked about are Chop-Chop and Hatton (Frank Warren had a meeting with Bob Arum Saturday morning to discuss it). I hope it's Chop-Chop because I think Cotto needs the experience against a southpaw but I won't be mad if it's Ricky. Actually, I'd love to see Sharmba but I doubt it.

[WillieW]

Hatton has never appeared on HBO. Anyone know if he's still tied to Showtime?

I believe Hatton is on a fight by fight basis with Showtime. He does have a contract with Sky (European) but I don't think that would negate a contract with HBO.

[mic573]

A fight with Chop Chop would be a good fight for him but a lot of people will critcize him for it. I'd say go for Hatton which would be a good tough fight for him. Then go for Harris or Mitchell.