Brandishing a new trainer in Hall of Famer Emanuel Steward and fighting at a heavier weight class, Miguel Cotto has a brighter chance of exacting payback against Manny Pacquiao.

As hopes begin to fade in efforts to stage a November super fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., a key adviser of Pacquiao told The Bulletin on Thursday that in the event Mayweather decides to ignore an ultimatum to make a decision by the end of the week, he will recommend that the Puerto Rican Cotto be tapped instead of Margarito, the tall and rangy Mexican hitter.

"Although Manny had won over Cotto last year, people should remember that the fight was at a catchweight of 145 lbs," said Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal.

"Cotto may have had difficulties dropping down to 145 and in the event they fight again, it will be in Cotto's own weight."

Cotto is the reigning World Boxing Organization super-welterweight (154 lbs) king, while Pacquiao is the WBO welter (147 lbs) ruler.

Gacal noted that Cotto is now being trained by a topnotch taskmaster in Steward, who has replaced Joe Santiago, heavily criticized for his mishandling Cotto's corner during the Pacquiao fight that ended on a 12th round knockout.

Now that Cotto is now under him, Steward said the fighter has shown tremendous improvement in balance, something that was terribly missing when he faced Pacquiao.

Gacal said the lure of winning an eighth world title is a big plus in getting a Pacquiao-Cotto fight being made for November 13.

"Manny has won seven (world titles), an unprecedented achievement and should Manny win an eighth (title), that would make it even more difficult for the other boxers to match – let alone surpass – it.”