The official challenger to the middleweight title of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Marco Antonio Rubio, is training in Orlando, Florida, side by side with Puerto Rico's WBA 154-pound champion Miguel Angel Cotto, who prepares for a clash with Rubio's countryman Antonio Margarito on December 3rd. Cuban trainer Pedro Diaz is helping Cotto and Rubio.
Former three time world champion, Antonio Margarito has been training hard in Temoaya, Mexico. The city of Temoaya offers both the solitude, as well as the altitude that Antonio believes he needs for his December 3rd rematch with WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, which takes place at New York's Madison Square Garden. Antonio is currently doing is morning runs at the Otomi Ceremonial Center and training in the afternoon at The Temoaya Municipial Gym.
It was roughly a year ago that Passaic, New Jersey’s Glen Tapia garnered some valuable notoriety as a chief sparring for Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, who was then getting ready for an assignment against the always-rugged Antonio Margarito. An undefeated junior middleweight prospect with a 7-0 (5) record at the time, Tapia held himself well while going heads up with Pacquiao in his native Philippines, impressing Top Rank CEO Bob Arum enough for him to offer a co-promotional contract for his future services.
A few weeks ago I spoke with Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward and was a bit concerned that my old friend was ill, his schedule was forcing increased travel abroad, his stable of fighters that he was training continued to grow, and frankly he sounded a bit under the weather. When the news broke that both Chad Dawson and Miguel Cotto had sought new trainers I grew more concerned.
Christian Martinez, a junior welterweight from the Bronx, is intent on fighting on the Dec. 3 undercard of Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito at Madison Square Garden. Although his left hand is sore, and may require surgery Martinez, who hasn’t fought since October of last year because of the injury, wants to fight on the big stage, even if he might be limited to just one hand.
WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto is very happy with his new trainer, Luis Diaz of Cuba. Cotto recently replaced Emanuel Steward with Diaz. The Puerto Rican champion is training in Florida for his December 3rd rematch with Antonio Margarito of Mexico. The rematch takes place at New York's Madison Square Garden. On July 26, 2008, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) stopped Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) in eleven rounds.
Promoter Yvon Michel confirmed to BoxingScene.com that unbeaten Canadian Kevin Bizier (15-0) will soon travel to Orlando, Florida, to spar with Miguel Cotto (36-2), the current WBA junior middleweight champion. Cotto has already started his preparation for his upcoming fight on December 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Cotto faces Mexican rival Antonio Margarito (38-7-0) in a rematch.
Glen Tapia will return to action Dec. 3 on the non-televised portion of the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito undercard at Madison Square Garden. Tapia’s opponent has not been chosen. The junior middleweight prospect improved to 10-0 on Sept. 16 in South Bend, Ind., by scoring a unanimous decision win against Marcus Thompkins (5-5-1, 2 KOs) in a six-round bout. For tickets ($50-$600) to the card featuring the grudge rematch between Puerto Rico’s Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) and Mexico’s Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs, 1 NC), call 800-736-1420 or visit ticketmaster.com.
On Tuesday, it was officially announced by Miguel Cotto that he would be working with a new trainer for his upcoming December 3rd rematch against Antonio Margarito, set to take place at Madison Square Garden in New York. The man tabbed for that coveted role will be Cuban trainer Pedro Luis Diaz Benitez, who happens to be a Doctor in Pedagogical Sciences while holding a Master’s in sports training and a Major in Physical Culture and Sports.
Today I am very happy to announce that my trainer for my December 3rd fight [against Antonio Margarito] in New York will be legendary Cuban boxing trainer and expert Pedro Luis Díaz Benítez. Pedro Luis is a Doctor in Pedagogical Sciences. He holds a Master's degree in sports training and a Major in Physical Culture and Sports. He is also specialized in boxing training's planning and control. He was a professor and investigator for the University of Sports in Cuba. He has also worked with and trained several Olympic Gold Medalists and professional world champions.