Last night in Las Vegas, Nevada, Miguel Cotto put on another solid performance in halting Nicagargua’s Ricardo Mayorga to successfully defend his WBA junior middleweight crown. Cottpo was patient, calculated, and in the end deadly as he chopped down the 38-year old with pinpoint shots to the body and head.
In the post-fight press conference Cotto announced that he was open to an immediate rematch with Antonio Margarito, the first man to defeat him in July of 2008. Sure enough, Margarito was present for last night’s event and even received a huge round of boos as his picture was flashed on the overhead monitor for the over 7,200 partisans inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to see.
Massive slide show: An inside look at Miguel Cotto’s destruction of Ricardo Mayorga
Promoter Bob Arum, always one to strike up interest in whatever way possible, was sure to bring Margarito to the dais after Cotto’s time at the presser. Margarito went to congratulate Cotto on his victory but the Puerto Rican seemed less than thrilled with interacting with his old conqueror.
There was some definite tension between the two men and Margarito let it be known that another bout with Cotto was his sole purpose of attending last night’s show.
“If the opportunity comes that’s what I’m here for,” said the Tijuana fighter.
Some feel that Margarito’s victory over Cotto could be tainted simply because of the hand wrap controversy that followed him in his next fight against Shane Mosley. Cotto would love another chance to even the score and it looks like we could be seeing Cotto-Margarito II this summer in New Jersey.
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at [email protected]
