Manny Pacquiao will fight in November and not in October, and hopefully against Miguel Cotto.

That’s what Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum wants next after watching Cotto walk the tightrope against Joshua Clottey of Ghana late Saturday night (late Sunday morning in Manila) at Madison Square Garden in New York.

“I would like for him (Cotto) to fight Manny Pacquiao,” said Arum, moments after Cotto won by a hard-earned 12-round split decision.

“That would be a tremendous fight and I hope we can get it done for November,” added Arum, without
making it clear whether there’ll be a catch weight since Cotto had announced that he will never agree to face Pacquiao below (the welterweight limit) 147 lbs.

Pacquiao was on hand to size up Cotto’s latest performance, having seated beside Arum at ringside when Cotto and Clottey tore at each other like a pair of jungle predators fighting over a chunk of meat.
With the win, Cotto kept his name afloat for a chance to battle Pacquiao, who is regarded today as boxing’s No. 1 fighter, pound-for-pound.

Others in the running are the July 18 bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez and even Shane Mosley.

It’s not certain if Pacquiao will delay his decision about who to fight next after having been booked by Arum to resurface on Oct. 14.

Arum obviously mentioned November to allow Cotto to recover from the hideous cut on his left eye, the result of the vicious pounding he absorbed from the rugged Clottey.

Promoter Wakee Salud, who spent some time with Pacquiao prior to the fighter’s last-minute decision to fly to New York not only to watch the Cotto fight but to receive his second Boxing

Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year trophy, said it looks dead-certain that Pacquiao will face Cotto next.

“It’s Cotto for Manny,” said Salud yesterday from Cebu.

Salud said Cotto’s earlier pronouncements that he will never agree to a catch weight with Pacquiao is all for show.

“Cotto just wants to get more money but eventually he’ll agree and settle to a catch weight with Manny,” said Salud, noting that 143-144 lbs “will be agreeable” to both parties.Pacquiao, who flew to the Empire State alongside wife Jinkee and advisers Franklin Gacal and Mike Koncz, should be back in Manila either tonight or tomorrow evening.