By Mel "Sabaka" Ohlhoft
WBA 154-pound champion Miguel Cotto has a very good reason for selecting Antonio Magarito for his December 3rd return at New York's Madison Square Garden. Revenge is only a partial factor, with Margarito handing Cotto the first loss of his career, by TKO in eleven, in July 2008.
Cotto has approached by many on why he chose to face Margarito, and not WBC Diamond middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. Cotto admits that his Mexican rival presents the biggest possible payday - outside of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
"What other names are out there for me to make money against? Floyd, Manny, and Antonio. You think Sergio Martinez will make me this kind of money?" Cotto was quoted by the Los Angeles Times.
Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) is getting paid a guarantee of $5 million, with Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) making $2.5 million. Both boxers will receive percentages of the pay-per-view revenue.