By Victor Salazar
New York, NY - Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach had been credited for reviving the career of four division world champion Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33KOs).
Under Roach’s guidance, Miguel Cotto became the first Puerto Rican fighter to win a world title in four different weight divisions - along with becoming the lineal middleweight champion with a 2014 knockout of Sergio Martinez.
Cotto defended his middleweight title successfully against Daniel Geale, but then he was stripped of the title prior to a November decision loss to Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. Although Cotto lost, many experts felt that he was very competitive.
Earlier this month, Roach threw out a feeler about a possible catch-weight fight with another former four division world champion, Juan Manuel Marquez.
Roach called Marquez the "perfect opponent" for Cotto's comeback. But Marquez has been inactive since a May 2014 twelve round decision win over Mike Alvarado. At 42-years-old and rehabbing a knee injury for nearly two years, Marquez may request a tuneup prior to facing Cotto.
“First I have [Jean] Pascal fighting in Montreal [this Saturday against Sergey Kovalev],” Roach said.
“I’m trying to get Miguel Cotto’s next fight in June at the Barclays Center. There’s been some talk about Juan Manuel Marquez in that fight. I think that would be a great fight. I’m trying to make that happen. HBO is on board but he (Marquez) may have to get a tune-up fight or something like that."
Roach is expecting a summer return in New York for the Puerto Rican star, and revealed a list of names that are under consideration.
"His advisor gave me a list of six guys,” stated Roach. “I did put it out there with Marquez. [WBO middleweight champion] Billy Joe Saunders is on the list, the kid Kell Brook [who has the IBF 147-pound title] is on the list. One of the Smith Brothers, [WBO 154-pound champion] Liam Smith is on the list.”
A question was posed about the circulating news that Canelo had made an offer to Smith to be the opponent for May 7th - which drew a reaction from Roach.
“Liam? I thought Canelo was supposed to fight Triple G.”