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HBO has provided a training blog taken from an interview with Sergio Martinez in advance of the RING/WBC middleweight champ's June 7 title defense against Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Martinez (51-2-2, 28 knockouts), who turned 39 in February, is 35-1-1 with 22 knockouts since being stopped in the seventh round by Antonio Margarito in February 2000.
The Argentine veteran has been champion for four years since defeating Kelly Pavlik by unanimous decision in April 2010, and has not lost since falling by majority decision in December 2009 during a "Fight of the Year"-caliber brawl with Paul Williams that featured first-round knockdowns by each fighter. Martinez is 7-0 with four stoppages since falling to Williams, a loss he avenged by stopping Williams in the second round in November 2010.
Martinez has not fought since last April when he rose from an eighth-round knockdown for a unanimous decision over Martin Murray in Buenos Aires.
Question for Sergio Martinez: After your loss to Margarito in 2000, did you ever imagine that your career would be like this?
"My loss to Margarito was probably the best thing that happened to me. It humbled me and made me realize that this is a serious sport, and I needed to mature as a fighter and as a person. It also made me realize that I needed to change.
"I had to cut out the negative people that surrounded me at that time and find people that would be positive for my career. I knew that I would return to Las Vegas and be a champion after that loss, because I had the desire to be a champion and was willing to put in the time and effort to get to that level.
"I never would’ve imagined reaching this level of notoriety. That has to be attributed to my current team of Sampson Lewkowicz, Miguel Angel Depablos and Nathan Lewkowicz, who have worked very hard in furthering my career. Without having a solid team behind you, then it would be difficult to get to this level and sustain it."
COTTO ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A FOUR-DIVISION TITLEWINNER.
HBO has provided a training blog taken from an interview with Cotto in advance of his fight with Martinez.
In rising to face Martinez, Cotto (38-4, 31 KOs) ascends to a catchweight of 159 pounds to target a title in his fourth weight class. The three-division titleholder scored a third-round knockout over Delvin Rodriguez in his last fight in October.
Question for Miguel Cotto: How important is it for you and Puerto Rican boxing you win this title and become a four-division champion?
"Puerto Rico has been a hot-bed for boxing for a long time and has given the Island some of its most memorable moments in sports. The people there love their boxing and their boxing history, from the first world champion in Sixto Escobar to the more than 50 champions that have come after him. The people of this tiny island have supported us without reservation.
"My beautiful Puerto Rico, for a long time, has been one of the greatest boxing nations in the sport. We have a big legacy from big fighters that were the inspiration of many generations. I have always wanted to write my own history with my own hands. I will never pretend to be better than anyone. I just want to be the one who accomplished a feat that other legends could not.
"Some of our best fighters are not only Puerto Rican greats, but all time-greats of the sport. Carlos Ortiz, Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfredo Benitez and Felix 'Tito' Trinidad and many others have made Puerto Rican boxing what it is today, and I am only an extension of their greatness. So to have an opportunity to become the first four-time world champion in different division is very special to me.
"This feat would not only be a great achievement for me, but for all Puerto Rican greats that have come before me and for the great fans that have supported me throughout my career and the many that love their boxing history and tradition in Puerto Rico. This is for all the fans boxing in my country, and to have the opportunity to do it in New York in Madison Square Garden, my second home, will make it even more special. June 7 will be night to remember for Puerto Rican boxing."
HBO TO AIR SERGIO MARTINEZ-MIGUEL COTTO 24/7 ON SATURDAY
HBO's telecast of 24/7: Cotto-Martinez will air on Saturday at 11:15 ET/PT in advance of their fight, the network announced on Monday.
Martinez (51-2-2, 28 knockouts), who turned 39 in February, is 35-1-1 with 22 knockouts since being stopped in the seventh round by Antonio Margarito in February 2000.
The Argentine veteran has been champion for four years since defeating Kelly Pavlik by unanimous decision in April 2010, and has not lost since falling by majority decision in December 2009 during a "Fight of the Year"-caliber brawl with Paul Williams that featured first-round knockdowns by each fighter. Martinez is 7-0 with four stoppages since falling to Williams, a loss he avenged by stopping Williams in the second round in November 2010.
Martinez has not fought since last April when he rose from an eighth-round knockdown for a unanimous decision over Martin Murray in Buenos Aires.
Question for Sergio Martinez: After your loss to Margarito in 2000, did you ever imagine that your career would be like this?
"My loss to Margarito was probably the best thing that happened to me. It humbled me and made me realize that this is a serious sport, and I needed to mature as a fighter and as a person. It also made me realize that I needed to change.
"I had to cut out the negative people that surrounded me at that time and find people that would be positive for my career. I knew that I would return to Las Vegas and be a champion after that loss, because I had the desire to be a champion and was willing to put in the time and effort to get to that level.
"I never would’ve imagined reaching this level of notoriety. That has to be attributed to my current team of Sampson Lewkowicz, Miguel Angel Depablos and Nathan Lewkowicz, who have worked very hard in furthering my career. Without having a solid team behind you, then it would be difficult to get to this level and sustain it."
COTTO ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A FOUR-DIVISION TITLEWINNER.
HBO has provided a training blog taken from an interview with Cotto in advance of his fight with Martinez.
In rising to face Martinez, Cotto (38-4, 31 KOs) ascends to a catchweight of 159 pounds to target a title in his fourth weight class. The three-division titleholder scored a third-round knockout over Delvin Rodriguez in his last fight in October.
Question for Miguel Cotto: How important is it for you and Puerto Rican boxing you win this title and become a four-division champion?
"Puerto Rico has been a hot-bed for boxing for a long time and has given the Island some of its most memorable moments in sports. The people there love their boxing and their boxing history, from the first world champion in Sixto Escobar to the more than 50 champions that have come after him. The people of this tiny island have supported us without reservation.
"My beautiful Puerto Rico, for a long time, has been one of the greatest boxing nations in the sport. We have a big legacy from big fighters that were the inspiration of many generations. I have always wanted to write my own history with my own hands. I will never pretend to be better than anyone. I just want to be the one who accomplished a feat that other legends could not.
"Some of our best fighters are not only Puerto Rican greats, but all time-greats of the sport. Carlos Ortiz, Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfredo Benitez and Felix 'Tito' Trinidad and many others have made Puerto Rican boxing what it is today, and I am only an extension of their greatness. So to have an opportunity to become the first four-time world champion in different division is very special to me.
"This feat would not only be a great achievement for me, but for all Puerto Rican greats that have come before me and for the great fans that have supported me throughout my career and the many that love their boxing history and tradition in Puerto Rico. This is for all the fans boxing in my country, and to have the opportunity to do it in New York in Madison Square Garden, my second home, will make it even more special. June 7 will be night to remember for Puerto Rican boxing."
HBO TO AIR SERGIO MARTINEZ-MIGUEL COTTO 24/7 ON SATURDAY
HBO's telecast of 24/7: Cotto-Martinez will air on Saturday at 11:15 ET/PT in advance of their fight, the network announced on Monday.
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