The brief Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga press tour continued today as the two fighters were spotted at B.B. King?s Blues Club in Times Square in New York. Cotto defends his WBA junior middleweight crown against the wild Nicaraguan on March 12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada in a fight that could lead to an eventual rematch with his former conqueror Antonio Margarito.
While yesterday there didn?t appear to be any ill feelings from either man towards the other, the mood was much different today as the two fighters traded verbal bombs with one another. Always one to berate his opponents, Mayorga mentioned that he saw fear in Cotto?s eyes and promised to stop him in the 4th.
<--- Slideshow: Images of the Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga press conference
?You?re a clown and your whole career is a joke!? Cotto would respond, showing a different side of himself. The proud champion also noted that Mayorga?s last and only real victory was over Vernon Forrest years ago and he didn?t appear to show any signs of intimidation on this day.
Trainer Emanuel Steward began working with Cotto for his bout last summer against Yuri Foreman and said he was proud of Cotto for standing up for himself today. Steward noted that they have to get Mayorga?s respect early and the only way to do that is to somehow hurt him. The coach also revealed that Cotto?s trademark left hook will eventually come into play in this fight.
After the presser we caught up with Top Rank photographer Chris Farina, who said there was a ?lively? atmosphere in the air today as well as a great turnout from the press. Farina noted that all parties will be flying to Puerto Rico later tonight for tomorrow?s presser on the beautiful island Cotto calls home.
