CANASTOTA, NY–Miguel Cotto, Puerto Rican superstar, and Antonio Margarito, rawhide tough Mexican mauler, thought they had the summer sizzler boxing spotlight all to themselves.
Promoter Bob Arum has them squaring off July 26 in Las Vegas in a fight that takes on added meaning and importance with the sudden if not final ?retirement? of boxing?s best pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather.
But, Boxingconfidential has learned, if triple belt lightweight champion Nate Campbell and unbeaten two-time world champion Joan Guzman get their wish, they will be fighting each other in August.
Terry Trekas, co-promoter of Campbell along with Don King, told me Saturday night at the IBHOF?s Night Of Champions banquet in nearby Syracuse that, if the WBO appoints Guzman as the #1 manadatory challenger, Campbell won?t want to delay or dance around in negotiations for that savory match.
And Campbell confirmed his desire to hurry his next fight up.
?There?s no reason to wait. I knew Joel Casamayor wouldn?t sign the bout contract, so let?s move on. I?m looking top get in two more fights this year. I am a newly married man, I got bills to pay.?
Trekas said that, ideally, Campbell would fight the Dominican Dandy and then move on to a real megafight.
?We?d like to be in a position to make a November fight against Manny Pacquiao,? Trekas said. ?I?m not taking Guzman lightly and neither is Nate. But we believe we can get past Guzman and then be in position to face Manny and possibly add on the WBC belt which is the only one of the big four that Nate doesn?t have now.?
Pacman, of course, challenges WBC 135-pound champ David Diaz June 28.
Jose Nunez, manager of Guzman, said Campbell?s and Trekas? schedule is all good.
?Joan is eager to match his skills with Nate. We respect Nate for lots of reasons. And, with Joan not having fought since last November, we can certainly be ready to roll in August. The only disagreement I have with Terry and Nate is who will win.?
WBO leader Paco Valcarcel could act as early as Monday to officially designate Guzman as Campbell?s mandatory.
Guzman recently resigned his WBO 130-pound title due to weight problems and the numerous postponements of a mandatory in Scotland against Scott Harrison.
We might have two summer sizzlers to sink our teeth into this year.
