Diaz: Margarito Eyes March Fight Before Cotto Rematch
By Lem Satterfield
According to Sergio Diaz, co-manager of Antonio Margarito, the former three time welterweight champion is looking to take a fight in the month of March. He is not looking to go straight to a rematch with Miguel Cotto in June. To repair a fractured right orbital bone, which he suffered during the twelve round decision loss to Manny Pacquiao, the tough Mexican boxer underwent surgery on November 16.
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum would like to stage an East Coast doubleheader with Margarito facing Cotto in a rematch, and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fighting Yuri Foreman in the co-feature. He wants to tie the event to the Puerto Rican Day Parade, which takes place in New York City in the month of June.
"Tony mentioned that he would like to fight in March. He has been anxious to train again, but he is aware that he needs to rest," said Diaz. "The doctor has given him clearance to run, but no gym work for another two weeks, and no contact for another month and a half. Believe me when I say this, and that is that Antonio is counting each day that passes desperately waiting to get back into the gym."
"As of now, Bob has not mentioned this fight with Cotto to us, but we are aware that Bob has gone on the record speaking about this possible fight. But if this fight does present itself, Antonio would like an interim fight if time allows. As far as if the Cotto fight happens, I believe that it will happen in June during the Puerto Rican festivities."
When Arum meets with Cotto next Saturday in Anaheim, California, the Puerto Rican champion will also get the option of taking a fight with Chavez Jr. in March. If Margarito decides to take an interim-fight in March, it could open up the door for Cotto to face Chavez, or another opponent, around the same time period.
Lem Satterfield is the boxing editor at AOL FanHouse and the news editor at BoxingScene.com. To read more from Lem Satterfield, go to AOL FanHouse by Clicking Here.