By Mark Vester
Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank has revealed that Miguel Cotto's return is being eyed for February 14, which is Valentine's Day, and falls on President's Day weekend. The fight will be the first since suffering the first loss of his career at the hands of Antonio Margarito back in July. Margarito stopped Cotto in the eleventh-round of a brutal bout in Las Vegas.
Arum confirmed the rumors that were swirling prior to the Margarito fight, a rift was brewing between Cotto and his uncle/trainer Evangelista Cotto. This past Tuesday, the veteran promoter met with Cotto, Evangelista and their legal counsel Gabby Peñagarícano to go over Cotto's return and the Margarito rematch for next June.
"The reason why Miguel lost is because he did not have good communication with Evangelista. They had their problems and during the preparation for the fight they were not speaking. But that is now behind them, they spoke and resolved their differences. Now they are on the same page", said Arum to El Nuevo Dia.
"Miguel and I we had not spoken personally since the fight [with Margarito] and we had a very positive meeting. We speak about what was wrong and the plans for the future"
Not the first time that Cotto and his uncle has been feuding. Prior to Cotto win over Carlos Quintana in December of 2006, the two were not speaking and tensions were so high that rumors were running wild in Puerto Rico that Cotto would hire a new trainer after the Quintana bout was finished. The rumors began to catch fire during the final weeks prior to the fight with Margarito. Evangelista did not travel in to the United States with Cotto and his team, adding a mountain of fuel to the rumors.
Arum said, according to what he saw on Tuesday, that both sides appeared to be very have patched up any bad feelings. Cotto's return will take place in Puerto Rico or Atlantic City .
"It is a possibility that that fight will be in Puerto Rico, but that all depends on a deal being done [locally] and what help their government will give us. If it won't be in Puerto Rico, then it will be in Atlantic City, where Cotto has fought many times and has done very well," Arum said.
There several possible opponents being looked at. Arum told the paper that he would not rule out IBF champion Joshua Clottey [who Arum promotes] and WBC champion Andre Berto. Arum initially wanted Margarito to return on the same night, with the fight being staged in a different city, but it appears that Mexican champion will probably come back at the end of January.
"The plan continues to be that Cotto and Margarito win, they will do a rematch on the first week of June. The fight could happen in New York as part of the festivities of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, in Atlantic City, or once again in Las Vegas."
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