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Mayweather after his win over Victor Ortiz back in September. Eric Jamison/AP/Press Association Images

Mayweather to fight Cotto, not Pacquiao, on May 5

Boxing’s biggest fight has been put off again and Floyd Mayweather Jr will now take on the Puerto Rican junior middleweight champion.

WBC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION Floyd Mayweather is set to step back into the ring on May 5 – but his opponent will be Miguel Cotto and not Manny Pacquiao, as had been hoped.

Mayweather v Pacquiao is the most anticipated fight in world boxing right now and it looked a possibility when the 34-year-old’s 90-day jail sentence was delayed until June 1.

On Twitter, Mayweather called his biggest rival a ‘punk’ and made him a challenge, but Pacquaio’s camp have put it off, leaving few options and ‘Money’ has had to look elsewhere.

After the Nevada State Athletic Commission granted a one-fight licence, it was announced that junior middleweight titleholder Cotto will take him on in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Miguel Cotto is a world-class fighter who can never be taken for granted and continues to prove he is one of the best in boxing,” said Mayweather on ESPN.com.

“It will be a challenge for me to compete with him at this weight, but this is the type of test I thrive on and gives me the motivation to train even harder.

“I have no doubt in my mind that my title belt collection will increase once again and Cotto’s reign as champion will come to an end on May 5.”

And this is what he tweeted immediately after the announcement:

Pacquiao is now nearing a match-up with Timmy Bradley Jr, with a June 9 date being put aside. “We’re discussing the fight with both parties,” Top Rank president Todd duBoef told ESPN.com.

“We’re in the process of having the conversations with (Bradley manager) Cameron (Dunkin) and we’re also having them with the Pacquiao team. It’s a very active dialogue.”

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    Mute barry winters
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    Feb 2nd 2012, 3:40 PM

    This is great news. Forget pacman as all the hype would end in a disappointment. Although, i would love to see it, Mayweather would be to clever and too good for pacman and manny knows it. On the other hand, Cotto i really believe posses a bigger threat. When cotto was unbeaten, Mayweather was on everyone’s lips for a long time. Then of coarse cottos career was turned upside down with margarito and the cast in his gloves. Pacman then fought cotto at a bad time and destroyed him. Well cotto is back and thought Margarito a lesson he fully deserved. He’s looking good and stong like used to. Cant wait for May 5th. Mayweather by decision. As for the long awaited manny v floyd, it would really be the same result. Styles make fights as they say. Manny a great fighter. Floyd a great boxer. A boxer will win 9 times out of ten. As much as everyone hates a mouthy boxer and would love to see him smashed it great to be able to say were watching probably, the best boxer in the history of the sport. Skills pay the bills man!

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    Mute jackwigan
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    Feb 2nd 2012, 3:02 PM

    Is fight ever going to happen? :-(

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