By Lem Satterfield
BoxingScene.com caught up to Top Rank Promotions CEO, Bob Arum, to discuss the future of WBA junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto. Arum said that he is targeting the 30-year-old Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) for a rematch with 33-year-old ex-titlist Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs), who dethroned Cotto as WBA welterweight champion with an 11th-round knockout in July of 2008.
Arum wants to place the fight in New York City's Madison Square Garden, a venue where Cotto is very popular and sells thousands of tickets. He expects the rematch to performance very well in New York, and on pay-per-view.
BoxingScene.com: Is there a possibility that Miguel Cotto might face Kermit Cintron if Antonio Margarito is not cleared to fight medically due to the damage absored in his last fight -- the loss to Manny Pacquiao?
BA: It will probably be Miguel Cotto against Antonio Margarito, and it will probably be on Dec. 3. Antonio Margarito's eye is 100 percent.
BoxingScene.com: Do you expect to hear any media criticism for making Antonio Margarito-Miguel Cotto II, and if so, what do you see as the value?
BA: I couldn't care less about the criticism I'm going to hear about that fight, because I know that the Hispanic fans, whether they be Puerto Rican or Mexican will want to buy that fight.
There will be enough fans to make a really good number and we're looking to do the fight in New York City, to that will make a special impact being that it will be in Madison Square Garden where Cotto has been so popular.
So, I don't see any downside to that fight. Their first fight, Antonio Margarito won. Some people -- not myself of course -- but some people question or not Antonio Margarito's gloves were okay.
But I rely on the Nevada State Athletic Commission's say that they were not. Anyway, it should get a lot of ink and it should sell very well.