Sergio Martinez was already deserving of respect, but his accomplishments are not fully appreciated, according to his promoter, Lou DiBella, who says that it a win in the June 7 bout with Miguel Cotto that will finally get the middleweight champion more widespread recognition.
?I think he?ll get that respect, and I think that he?ll also get respect for the obstacles he?s overcome in the course of a career where he was virtually unknown until almost his mid-30s and has had a string of fights and title defenses that rival the opposition that any great fighter has fought,? DiBella said on a May 20 news conference call. ?He?s also fought through a lot of chronic injuries and fought through a lot of the politics of boxing. So I think ultimately he will get the credit that he deserves.
?He?s also proven himself time and time again. I think he?s going to prove himself again on June 7 in front of a huge pay-per-view audience, in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden. I think that his legacy keeps growing. The people that know give him the respect he deserves. Before he?s done, I think that respect will be universal.?
DiBella said he shouldn?t have needed to beat Miguel Cotto for that to happen.
?But the reality is this is a huge fight,? he said. ?This is in the biggest arena, the most famous arena in the world. It?s against the most proven pay-per-view fighter that he?s ever fought, the biggest name fighter he?s ever fought. So in terms of Sergio?s legacy, I?m not going to pretend ?this fight is huge.?
