By Steve Kim

Sources have advised BoxingScene.com that a fight between former champions Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33KOs) and Ruslan Provodnikov (25-4, 18KOs) has been discussed by Roc Nation Sports and Banner Promotions. The fight - should it come to fruition - would take place on June 18th at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Cotto, who was last seen losing a twelve round unanimous decision to Saul Alvarez on November 21st, is most likely moving down from the middleweight division. Provodnikov, who's coming off a fourth round knockout of Jesus Rodriguez in Monaco on November 7th, is searching for a significant fight.

The word is that this potential match-up would take place at about the welterweight limit.

There has recently been talk of Cotto potentially facing Juan Manuel Marquez, but the Mexican veteran has yet to make a firm decision regarding his ring return and says he wouldn't be able to take a fight with Cotto until at least November - after having a May tuneup. There was also the issue of weight, with Marquez wanting the welterweight limit of 147 and a rehydration clause that prevents Cotto from weighing no more than 152-153-pounds on the morning of the fight.

It's not clear how the on-going litigation between Roc Nation and Banner - with respect to junior middleweight contender Demetrius Andrade - will affect the Cotto-Provodnikov negotiations.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com