Miguel Cotto Enlists Kevin Bizier For His Training Camp

By Richard Cloutier

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.

Michel told BoxingScene that Bizier's opportunity arose from a combination of several scenarios which stem from Cotto's recent parting of ways with trainer Emanuel Steward. Cotto hired veteran trainer Pedro Diaz, who has a contract with Michel's company, GYM. 

"It was Miguel Cotto himself who called me last week," revealed Michel. "He said he considered Pedro Diaz as the best coach in the world and wanted permission to use him to prepare for his fight. Diaz has a contract with us because he is in charge of the physical preparation of Jean Pascal. And because nothing is finalized yet for Jean's tentative return on December 10, I had to leave the door open. So [earlier this week] we came to an agreement with Miguel Cotto. If Jean has to fight on December 10, Pedro would have leave camp for a certain period to oversee the preparation of Jean."

This partnership with Cotto will also benefit a few of the boxers promoted by Groupe Yvon Michel.

"One of the conditions of our agreement, will in fact see some of our boxers head over Orlando. Some of them will even get the chance to spar with Miguel Cotto, like Kevin Bizier, who was already selected for this role. "

Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz, co-promoted by GYM and Golden Boy Promotions, will be on site.

"Other boxers in our group will also be there. Even if they do not spar with Cotto, the mere fact of working with him and participating in his training camp will be a positive experience."
 
Regarding Bizier, he returns on November 5th at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec, as part of the undercard to the super middleweight clash between Lucian Bute and Glen Johnson. Thereafter, he should be part of the year-end final of the Fast & Furious series, scheduled for December 17 at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec.