Will Cotto Return to Junior Middleweight?

“If Cotto decides to fight for that title, the winner of that fight would have to face Erislandy Lara.” (Jake Roth/US PRESSWIRE)

WBA president Gilberto Jesus Mendoza is continuing his campaign to limit the amount of titles in each weight class within his organization. Per Miguel Rivera of Boxing Scene, Mendoza revealed that he offered future Hall of Famer and Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Angel Cotto an opportunity to fight for the WBA’s super championship at 154 pounds.

Cotto last held a title at 160 pounds, but none of his bouts at the weight class had official weight limits that matched the division standard. Instead, Cotto fought at catchweights closer to the junior middleweight limit. For example, his last fight against Canelo Alvarez in November was contested at a 155-pound catchweight.

Cotto has previously held the WBA 154-pound title, but he lost it to Floyd Mayweather Jr. back in 2012. With Mayweather retired, the championship has been vacated.

Mendoza is looking to do away with the “super” and “regular” title distinctions, but allowing Cotto to fight for the “super” title would be a move towards establishing one recognized champion in the weight class within the WBA.

“I said that our goal is to minimize the number of titles. Currently the super championship at 154 pounds is not available and it is closed. The only way we could re-open the possibility [of that title] is if Cotto decides to fight for that title and then the winner of that fight would have to face Erislandy Lara,” Mendoza told ESPN Deportes.

“He could face Lara right now. The other option is to re-open the title of super champion simply because I am a man of my word and the offer was made to Cotto prior to my decision to reduce the number of title.”

Lara is the No. 1 contender at 154 pounds in the WBA and many would still regard him as one of—if not the—best junior middleweight in the world.

The previously announced WBA heavyweight tournament was the first initiative that Mendoza put into place to move toward a single champion in each weight class. Fans can watch as this should continue in other weight classes as well throughout the WBA.

This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.