By Miguel Rivera
Nacho Beristain, trainer for former four division world champion Juan Manuel Marquez, likes the idea of a showdown between his fighter and another former four division champion, Miguel Cotto.
Apparently, Cotto's trainer Freddie Roach informed British magazine Boxing News that he was interested in having Cotto face Marquez, possibly at the welterweight limit of 147-pounds.
In recent interviews, Roach has stated that he believes Cotto is still very capable of getting down to 147-pounds. Cotto captured titles at 140, 147, 154 and 160. Cotto is not a big fighter in stature. Even during his current middleweight run, the Puerto Rican star usually weighs below the junior middleweight limit of 154.
Marquez has fought at 147 a few times.
"To me it seems good, but I don't know what Juan would say. I think it would be a great fight due to their styles. And I think Juan has a good chance of winning. Juan is smarter. Cotto has a nice style but he is not very smart in deciphering a fight, because [against Canelo] I thought that with a little more determination he could have stamped a unanimous [decision] in his favor but lacked the determination to get the decision," said Beristain to ESPN Deportes.
"I've always liked [the idea of] Marquez fighting Cotto, because of the technique of the two. Cotto is a great fighter and Juan one of a kind. It would have been a great fight, but now it all depends on Juan.
Cotto, 35 and a record of 40-5 and 33 knockouts, has one more fight with the promoter Roc Nation.
Marquez, 42, has been away from the ring for nearly two years due to a knee injury. He has a record of 56-7-1 and 40 knockouts and has yet to announced his retirement from the sport.