Mayweather to fight Cotto next, not Pacquiao

Floyd Mayweather announced at a perfuntory license renewal hearing in Nevada on Wednesday that his next opponent will be veteran Miguel Cotto.

The undefeated Las Vegas boxer will again fight in his hometown, on May 5 at the MGM Grand.

Mayweather's team cannily reserved the date months ago, which led a judge earlier this month to agree to postpone a jail sentence he has to serve in a Las Vegas domestic violence case.

The ruling by Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa willl allow Mayweather to begin his 90-day stint weeks after the fight, with his defence lawyer citing the economic boost that Las Vegas could get from the bout.

Mayweather has been fighting at welterweight for over five years, but the bout with Cotto (37-2, 30 knockouts) will be contested under the 154-pound junior middleweight limit, where the Puerto Rican holds a title belt.

Cotto avenged a previous loss to Mexican Antonio Margarito in his last bout.

Attempts yet again to match Mayweather 42-0, 26 KOs) and Manny Pacquiao in what would be the most lucrative boxing match of all time failed.

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has said that the Filipino icon will not step into the ring again until early June, thereby making the May 5 date impossible. It is believed that unbeaten American Timothy Bradley is Pacquiao's most likely opponent.