Miguel Cotto leaves Roc Nation after Yoshihiro Kamegai fight falls through

Miguel Cotto has reportedly ended his partnership with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation after just two fights together. The two parted ways due to a disagreement over Cotto’s purse for a planned fight with Yoshihiro Kamegai, who had already signed a contract and was waiting for Cotto’s signature when the fight was cancelled.

The Cotto-Roc Nation Sports separation was amicable but came about because they simply could not agree on the money Cotto should be paid for the fight, a source with knowledge of the situation said. Cotto, the source said, wanted way more than Roc Nation Sports was willing to guarantee for such a marginal fight that likely would have lost money.

Kamegai, who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, had already signed a contract for the fight, but it was contingent upon Cotto signing, which he hadn't, and there being a television outlet for the bout, which there wasn't. HBO, Cotto's longtime television home, was not interested in the Kamegai fight unless Cotto had a major fight lined up after it, which he did not, according to a source.

Cotto (40-5, 33 KO) has not fought since falling to Canelo Alvarez in November of 2015 and has competed just four times in the last four years. Longtime rumblings of a fight between him and Juan Manuel Marquez had previously fallen though, as had a planned pay-per-view bout with James Kirkland after “Mandingo Warrior” suffered an injury in training.

Cotto turns 37 this year and his last two wins were over a hobbled Sergio Martinez and a drained Daniel Geale. Kamegai (27-3-2, 24 KO) is a blood-and-guts bruiser who could put on an enjoyable show against a man-sized Weeble, but it’s blatantly obvious that he’s not the sort of fighter Cotto can expect big bucks to fight at this point in his career. Hopefully, he can take this time off to practice some self-awareness.