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This sucks. If they're in a doubleheader, you can bet the opposition is going to be WEAK mandatory contenders. We're talking Margarito vs. Rivera type of **** here.
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Torres was the #1 ranked WBO challenger when they fought.Comment
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From ESPN.com
Showtime for Cotto, Margarito
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Showtime boxing boss Ken Hershman cut a deal this week that will bring junior welterweight titlist Miguel Cotto and welterweight titlist Antonio Margarito to the network for a Dec. 2 doubleheader against opponents to be named.
The deal gives Cotto (27-0, 22 KOs) and Margarito (33-4, 24 KOs) -- ignored by HBO of late -- a high-profile premium cable home and it gives Showtime two of the premier action fighters in the sport.
"Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito are two of the most dynamic and exciting fighters out there today," Hershman said. "They bring speed and power with more than 45 KOs between them. We have a commitment to our subscribers to showcase the most exciting fighters in tough, well-thought out match-ups on the first Saturday of every month. These guys will deliver on that promise."
Arum said Showtime has options on future premium cable Cotto and Margarito fights, but not on pay-per-view bouts.
Arum said the deal came together quickly once a potential fight between Cotto and Arturo Gatti went out the window with Gatti's loss last week.
"What happened was Ken called us and said that he was interested in Cotto and Margarito, and the silence from the other people [HBO] was deafening," Arum said. "We realized you want to go where you have a home, where they want you."
The deal ends the possibility of Margarito facing Floyd Mayweather Jr. Nov. 4 on HBO PPV, a fight Mayweather has seemingly avoided, much to Margarito's chagrin.
"We've taken the offer off the table," Arum said of the $8 million minimum he offered Mayweather. "I am not going to take this nonsense from Mayweather anymore, all these phony excuses from him not to fight Margarito. Maybe we can do it in the future, but I need to get my guy in the ring."
Cotto is moving up to welterweight and will make his division debut in the main event.
The card will take place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Arum said he made a deal Ken Condon, the president of Bally's Atlantic City, to host the show. With Gatti, a huge draw in Atlantic City, headed toward possible retirement after being shellacked by Carlos Baldomir, Condon is looking for someone who might be able to draw big crowds the way Gatti always did.
"Ken had tapped Cotto as that guy who might be able to replace Gatti from the standpoint of crowd appeal," Arum said. "He saw how many Puerto Rican fans were in attendance when Cotto fought [Ricardo] Torres on the card with [Wladimir] Klitschko last fall.
Arum said the opponents have not been selected but that Margarito's most likely opponent would be the winner of Saturday night's HBO fight between Joshua Clottey, whom Arum promotes, and Richard Gutierrez.Comment
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**** sucks, who is to blame? Arum or HBO? Maybe HBO is mad at Arum for making the Cotto-Pauli fight the same day as the Tarver-Hopkins fight or vice-versa...But HBO is loosing one of their best young fighters in Cotto for this ****...Comment
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I'd love to see something along the lines of Margarito vs Rivera and Cotto vs Callazo.Comment
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And the Rivera I'm reffering to is Jose Antonio, not Cosme.Comment
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the card will be most likely be alot like the pac/valazquez morales/raheem card some time ago.Comment
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