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Banned
Miguel Cotto should soon have a dance partner for his first bout of 2016.
A person involved with the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports that Cotto and Lamont Peterson are in talks for a Dec. 3 bout. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because nothing is official yet.
Cotto was originally in talks for a summer fight in New York, but a proper opponent wasn’t secured.
The Puerto Rican star then was in discussions for a matchup with Juan Manuel Marquez, but disagreements on the contracted weight killed the talks.
USA TODAY Sports contacted Andre Johnson, spokesperson for Lamont Peterson/Headbangers Promotions, who said he could neither “confirm nor deny” that his client and Cotto are in talks.
Michael Yormark, president and chief of branding strategy for Roc Nation Sports, told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday that the company would officially announce Cotto’s Dec. 3 fight next week.
Yormark said New York, home of many Cotto fights and a large Puerto Rican population, is the target location.
Lamont Peterson, left, Against Danny Garcia in 2015. Peterson lost the fight. (Photo: Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports)
Lamont Peterson, left, Against Danny Garcia in 2015. Peterson lost the fight. (Photo: Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports)
Peterson was last seen in the ring for a controversial decision win over Felix Diaz in October. That bout was contested at a catchweight above 140 pounds (where Peterson held a title), but this fight would likely take place at 150 or above.
The D.C. native’s notable fights include a victory over Amir Khan, a controversial defeat to Danny Garcia (last year), and a one-sided loss to Timothy Bradley.
Cotto, a future Hall of Famer, hasn’t fought since dropping his lineal middleweight championship to Canelo Alvarez in November.
Miguel Cotto, Lamont Peterson in talks for Dec. 3 fight