By Mark Vester
WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto says the welterweight division is doing very well, even with the recent retirement of Floyd Mayweather Jr. There was a heavy buildup to a potential Mayweather-Cotto battle prior to Floyd making a decision to step away from the sport.
"If Mayweather is retired, it's alright. We have a lot of big names at 147 pounds," Cotto was quoted by writer J. Michael Falgoust. "He disappears from the list and another (replaces him)."
Cotto defends his title against Antonio Margarito on July 26 in Las Vegas. He expects the crowd to be a pro-Margarito atmosphere, with many Mexicans making the trip from nearby California, but it doesn't bother him any. He says the crowd won't be able to help Margarito in the ring.
"It don't matter," Cotto said. "The only guys in the ring are going to be the referee, Margarito and me. Now I feel more comfortable [at 147]. All the people who see my fights at 147 see another Miguel Cotto [compared to the Cotto at 140]."
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum agreed with Cotto, he says the Puerto Rican superstar was not the same guy at 140.
"They said in order to make weight he was burning muscle," Arum said. "He didn't put the muscle back on (after the weigh-in), he was tired, he was weak and getting wobbled with punches. Having him fight at 140 pounds was a tremendous disservice to Miguel."
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