?Revenge: The Rematch.?
That?s a big fight nickname that various and sundry promoters have used over the years.
And it?s a fitting one for what is appearing now to be a likely rematch between handwrap cheater Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto.
Officials at Top Rank are optimistic that Margarito, still licking his wounds from a pasting given to him last November by Pound for Pound King Manny Pacquiao, will in a week?s time get full medical clearance to resume training and to give the Boricua Banger Cotto his opportunity for revenge on Dec. 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“We will know for sure in a week or so but it’s looking good,” a source within the promotional company said Sunday night. “It will be great to bring Miguel back to New York, where he’s won so many fights and give him his chance to square matters with Magrarito.”
Top Rank has Kermit Cintron, also Puerto Rican, in the on deck circle should Margarito not get 100 percent doctor?s clearance.
It?s easy to decipher that promoter Bob Arum believes a clearcut victory by Cotto over Margarito, who gave him a beatdown in Las Vegas, would grease the promotional gears for a 2012 rematch between Cotto and Pacman.
On the other hand(wrap), a surprising victory by the Mexican veteran might set up or lead to Tone Loc getting a second chance at Pound For Pound king Pacman. Advertisement
Cotto has been quite vocal about his suspicions that something was ?hinky? when he got clobbered by Margarito in Nevada.
Margarito, of course, was nabbed in the dressing room before his loss to Sugar Shane Mosley with illegal handwraps. That fight took place in Los Angeles on Jan. 24, 2009, after which the California commission suspended Margarito and his then trainer.
The fight would come after Cotto?s October birthday when he will turn age 31.
His pro ring record is 36-2 with 29 big knockouts and, obviously, only the losses to Margarito and to Megamanny.
The Garden, long a Cotto stronghold, is winding up Phase One of a three year, three phase renovation designed to make the old building shine and sparkle once more.
Last June, Cotto defeated Yuri Foreman in a bout held at Yankee Stadium.
He has posted Garden victories over Joshua Clottey, Zab Judah and Paulie Malignaggi.
For those of you scoring in Brooklyn, it’s Cotto 2 and BK fighters zero to date.
