Garcia: Margarito Will Head Straight To Miguel Cotto

By Rick Reeno

BoxingScene.com was advised by trainer Robert Garcia that former three-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito will not return to the ring until a proposed rematch with Miguel Cotto, which is likely going to take place on June 11 in New York City. Cotto is taking an interim fight on March 12 when he defends his WBA junior middleweight title against Ricardo Mayorga at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Margarito's last fight came in November at Cowboys Stadium when he took a twelve round beating from Manny Pacquiao. During the fight, Margarito suffered a fractured right orbital bone that required surgery and several days of hospitalization.

"The plan is not to fight until June. He took some time off, after the fight with Pacquiao. But he was ready to go right away. He said he would be ready for March, but I actually believe that a fighter, like he trains for two months, I think he also needs two months to recuperate from a fight that hard. His body is still healing and I want him to rest up as much as he can to let his body heal and then we'll start training for the big fight," Garcia told BoxingScene.com.