Earlier today manager Sampson Lewkowicz met face to face with Bob Arum at the Top Rank promoter?s Las Vegas offices to discuss two potential bouts in Chris John-Yuriorkis Gamboa and Sergio Martinez-Miguel Cotto. Lewkowicz works with John, the WBA super world featherweight champion, as well as Martinez, the WBC middleweight world champion still fresh off of his one-punch knockout over Paul Williams in Atlantic City last month.
Lewkowicz was recently in Indonesia to show his support to John, who successfully defended his belt for the thirteenth straight time with a twelve-round decision over Fernando Saucedo in Jakarta. Lewkowicz claimed that he was treated very well while overseas and that he was witness to another ?A+? event.
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Lewkowicz went on to state that John is like a son to him and that the accomplishments of his distinguished career have truly meant a lot to those in his country. There were initial rumblings that John would be a suitable opponent for Gamboa, the fast and stylish WBA champion from Cuba, in March but Lewkowicz confirmed that he and Arum would prefer each man to have one or two bouts in between that time in hopes of building towards a September showdown.
?Because now is not the right time for the fight,? Lewkowicz stated during our conversation moments ago. ?Economically for both fighters, we can go up and have a bigger fight in September. We?d have a tremendous fight.?
Gamboa has electrified on several occasions because of his flashy style, fast hands and penchant for the knockout. The 28-year old has tremendous raw talent but Lewkowicz insists that the rumors of John being a few steps past his best are premature.
?Let me put it this way,? The Uruguay native continued. ?Everybody said that Sergio Martinez is older. He was 35 years old and you saw the result. Chris is only 32.?
Martinez of course is still basking in the glow that came from his destruction of Williams on November 20th and will likely secure Fighter of the Year honors for 2010, as he also holds an impressive decision win over Youngstown, Ohio’s Kelly Pavlik in April. The Martinez-Cotto rumors seemed to be on and off again on a daily basis but you could sense much optimism and excitement in Lewkowicz?s voice when discussing certain aspects of his conversation with Arum.
?I expect for Bob to make a very shocking announcement,? Lewkowicz revealed. ?This is about the announcement. We have a mutual agreement between [Martinez?s promoter] Lou Dibella and Top Rank and we need to work out the details but it looks like we can join forces.?
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Lewkowicz obviously didn?t want to reveal too many fine details and claimed he would leave it up to the promoters to settle the particulars. Gut feeling here says we could possibly be seeing a Martinez-Cotto clash either in Las Vegas or Atlantic City this coming March as opposed to the Puerto Rican bomber eyeing a heated rematch with Antonio Margarito this summer. Margarito stopped Cotto over two years ago at the MGM Grand to hand him his first defeat but the Tijuana fighter may just have to take a back seat this time around.
Martinez?s stock couldn?t be any higher and lately his life has consisted of plenty of traveling and serious adoration from those in the sport as well as people connected to his life. Lewkowicz did note that he expects the Argentinean champion to be making a return to the Vegas area this coming weekend to handle some leisurely business.
?I speak daily with his trainer,? Lewkowicz claimed. ?I don?t want to bother the champion because he receives probably ten or more calls an hour from different press and friends. He?s always busy. But I got in touch with him and he is coming this weekend to Las Vegas for a charity event. After that he will go and support his countryman Maidana. After that we are going to Mexico to show our support to Jose Sulaiman.?
Lewkowicz also handles lightweight contender Michael Katsidis, who was last seen being stopped inside of the MGM Grand by proud champion Juan Manuel Marquez. Katsidis looked to be on the verge of a huge upset after he drilled and dropped Marquez with a brutal left hook in the 3rd round but the Mexico City star would turn the tables and score a stoppage against a retreating Katsidis in the 9th.
Lewkowicz understands the loss was a hard one to swallow but insists the Australian will fight another day.
?I said from day one that Arturo Gatti has passed the torch to Michael Katsidis. And that torch is still in flames. I expect him to come back.?
