Red hot and scalding, the rumors whipped in and around Madison Square Garden and environs like an electric current. They all said the same thing, that Miguel Cotto was splitting the sheets with Top Rank and jumping in bed, so to speak, with Oscar de la Hoya and Golden Boy. This fight against Antonio “Margocheato” was going to be the finish line for Boricua Bomber Cotto’s promotional contract with Bob Arum and TR. There’s been a chasm between the promotional outfit and the Hall Of Fame caliber fighter from Caguas in the past. Past rifts were healed, egos were massaged and the prosperous business relationship rolled on. Top Rank filled its coffers with huge gates and PPV TV revenue from Cotto headlined events at MSG and the fighter got rich and richer as well. But, this time the naysayers and hellwishers said, was different. This time, Cotto had a sickening feeling, a resentment towards Uncle Bob and cohorts, believing that they stood up to support the Mexican who Cotto remains convinced used illegal handwraps to beat him in Las Vegas in 2008. Arum had to be an unwavering advocate for Margarito to get him relicensed to fight in the United States (Texas for a Manny Pacquiao bout) and to overcome the New York commision’s rightful apprenhension about a past eye injury. Maybe, as you read this and Cotto is back at home in Isla Encanta, the revived superstar, who dazzled while demolishing Margarito this time, is a promotional free agent. But, in the moments after he beat and then stared down unrepentant Margarito, Cotto swore his continued allegiance to Arum’s Traveling Fistic Circus. Cotto’s words may have been sincere but we’ll only know if he brokers a new contract with the octogenarian (Arum turns 80 on Dec. 8) and his going concern. Golden Boy, more than any other Cotto suitor, had or has targeted the Puerto Rican ring hero because the company has an exclusive boxing relationship with Bruce Ratner’s new Barclays Center, opening up next summer in Brooklyn. Barclays has served notice that it intends to compete hard with the older, established and now continuing to be refurbished Garden. (Maybe NBA BK Nets part owner Jay-Z will pen and sing a Cotto tribute song?) As many times as he’s put so many posteriors in paid Garden pews, do you think Cotto would have any difficulty selling out the BK venue?
