By Rick Reeno
Sampson Lewkowicz, adviser to WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (51-2-2, 28KOs), has advised BoxingScene.com that his fighter would be ready to face former three division king Miguel Cotto (38-4, 31KOs), or anyone else, by the early part of next summer.
Cotto returned on Saturday night in Orlando, where he snapped a two-fight losing streak with a three round demolition job of Delvin Rodriguez. Martinez is recovering from multiple injuries that he suffered in April's decision win over Martin Murray.
Following Cotto's win, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum discussed his desire to match the Puerto Rican star against Martinez next. Cotto's new trainer, Freddie Roach, said a catch-weight is not necessary because his boxer is "big enough" to go against Martinez at the full middleweight limit . The match would give Cotto the opportunity to become the first Puerto Rican boxer to win a fourth world title in a fourth weight division.
"The one thing that I'm not going to do is negoiate the terms through the press. Because when you negotiate through the press things sometimes get f**ked up. We once mentioned the weight of 158, but I do agree with Freddie Roach - there is no reason for a catch-weight, because at 160 it would be a true middleweight fight for Cotto. But, when the time is right - Team Martinez, along with our promoter Lou DiBella, will discuss the next fight for Maravilla and we'll have a plan A and a Plan B," Lewkowicz told BoxingScene.com.
