By Jhonny Gonzalez
Mexico's Antonio Margarito believes WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto is a scared fighter. The rematch, scheduled for December 3rd in New York's Madison Square Garden, was nearly in jeopardy when the New York State Athletic Commission was reviewing Margarito's application for a boxing license. Concerned over his surgically repaired right eye, the NYSAC ordered Margarito to get his eye examined by one of their doctors on Monday. He passed the examination, and on Tuesday afternoon the NYSAC announced their decision to grant Margarito a license.
Prior to the NYSAC's decision, Cotto made it clear that a license denial would likely kill the rematch, because he refused to fight Margarito in an alternate venue. Top Rank had venues on hold in Denver and Arizona - as alternate locations in the event Margarito's application was denied. Cotto wasn't interested in Top Rank's ideas to save the show. Either the rematch was going to take place in New York, or Cotto planned to walk away from the fight.
Margarito felt the Puerto Rican boxer displayed a further case of fear and tried to create a situation to withdraw from the fight. Margarito initially called Cotto's courage into question several months ago, when the champion requested a catch-weight of 150-pounds and a secondary fight day weigh-in that only allowed Margarito to weigh at max of 160-pounds. The two sides finally agreed to a catch-weight of 153-pounds, and no secondary weigh-in requirement.
"I was sure everything would be fine [with New York's decision]. It only took a little time but everything is good and we are ready to beat Cotto again and this time in his second home [New York City]. Now it's time to end the controversy and devote ourselves to boxing. I know I will win. He didn't want to fight me outside of New York because he knew it would be even more dangerous for him. And if he thinks it hurt me [to break camp to come to New York], the trip did not affect me. I feel better than ever, so there was no problem," Margarito told Sal Rodriguez.
