Margarito Recovering, Will Head Directly To Cotto in June

By Rey Colon

According to co-manager Francisco Espinoza, former champion Antonio Margarito will go directly to a second showdown with Miguel Cotto, which is set for June in New York but first he must receive the approval of his doctors. However, Cotto has decided to make a defense of his WBA junior middleweight title against Ricardo Mayorga on March 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"We have an appointment on the 5th with an ophthalmologist here in Los Angeles because he had his blood checked. And the most important consideration is from the plastic surgeon from Dallas who did the surgery. By the 29th of January, hopefully he gives us the ok to start training. Tony would then be ready to face Cotto by June," he said.

During his November loss to Manny Pacquiao, Margarito suffered a dangerous injury to his right cheek which resulted fractured orbital bone near the eye. Espinoza estimates that by May or June his fighter would be in perfect condition to fight with Cotto. Margarito stopped Cotto in eleven rounds in their 2008 welterweight clash.

"By the end of January, it would be the second month [of rehabilitation]. And I think he could then go to the gym to prepare for two to three months and be fine by May or June. I've say that to make money, both should go through intermediaries, but there is no problem in waiting until June [to return]," he said.

Rey Colon covers the Puerto Rican boxing scene for Sport Press.