Fight fans can play it cool at Cosmo pool

The Cosmopolitan's first venture into boxing proved to be a huge success last month, with a sellout crowd watching junior middleweights Erislandy Lara and Carlos Molina battle to a 10-round majority draw in the main event at the 1,500-seat Chelsea Ballroom.

The Cosmo is hoping to build on that success, with its April 29 fight card moving outdoors to its Boulevard Pool, where Victor Cayo will face Lamont Peterson in an ESPN2-televised main event. The winner of the IBF junior welterweight elimination bout will face champion Zab Judah this year.

"We were thrilled with the first card," said Leon Margules, head of Warriors Boxing, which is promoting Cayo-Peterson. "Moving outside to the pool deck is going to create such a cool, cutting-edge vibe for the fans. There will be more room. We'll have a big screen set up on one side. It will feel like being in a lounge. Plus, we have an HBO-quality main event."

Cayo (26-1-1, 18 knockouts), ranked No. 3 by the IBF, was originally slated to fight fifth-ranked Tim Coleman. But Peterson, ranked No. 4, bumped Coleman by agreeing to take on Cayo. As the higher-ranked fighter, Peterson (24-1-1, 14 KOs) gets first crack at Cayo.

"I was shocked," Margules said. "At the time, I told Coleman not to worry about it because I figured there's no way Peterson's taking the fight. He turned down $300,000 to fight (Amir) Khan. Why would he fight Cayo for $10,000, and on short notice, nonetheless?

"But when Peterson said he wanted Cayo, (Coleman) had to step aside."

Coleman (18-1, 5 KOs) will still be on the card, and Margules is trying to finalize his opponent. Other fighters on the undercard include Cuban super featherweight Rances Barthelemy (11-0, nine KOs) and lightweight Hylon Williams Jr. (13-0, three KOs).

Because of the NBA playoffs and ESPN's contractual agreement with the league, the first bell is scheduled for 5 p.m., with Cayo-Peterson at 6.

■ DONAIRE DISPUTE -- WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs) has agreed to let an independent arbiter decide whether he has a binding contract with Top Rank.

Retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein will meet with Donaire, Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank next month. Donaire attempted to leave Top Rank for Golden Boy in March after his sensational second-round knockout of Fernando Montiel on Feb. 19 at Mandalay Bay. Top Rank, which claims it has a binding contract with Donaire through 2012, gained a court ruling to block the move.

Donaire's manager, Cameron Dunkin, confirmed the agreement to settle the dispute through arbitration and said he hopes the case is resolved by early June. Donaire, 28, has been with Top Rank since 2008.

Weinstein mediated previous disputes between the two promotional companies, most notably Manny Pacquiao's contract in 2007.

■ CINTRON SIGNS -- Top Rank signed super welterweight Kermit Cintron, setting up a potential fight against Pacquiao if the latter beats Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden.

Cintron (31-2-1, 27 KOs) is rated No. 4 by the WBO and No. 7 by the IBF at 154 pounds. But his co-manager, Josh Dubin, said Cintron could get down to 147. Cintron is being trained by Ronnie Shields.

Top Rank president Todd duBoef said he's looking for Cintron to make his Top Rank debut in July.

■ PACQUIAO-MOSLEY UNDERCARD -- The lightweight title rematch between WBC champion Humberto Soto and Urbano Antillon scheduled for May 7 is off because Soto did not sign a contract for the fight and has left Top Rank.

Soto (55-7-2, 33 KOs) won a 12-round unanimous decision over Antillon (28-2, 20 KOs) on Dec. 4 in Anaheim, Calif.

The rematch was scheduled to be part of the Pacquiao-Mosley undercard. Top Rank has moved Mike Alvarado (29-0, 21 KOs) onto the card to face Ray Narh (25-1, 21 KOs) in a 10-round, 140-pound bout.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.