By Michele Emrick
For WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, a fight with former multiple time world champion Miguel Cotto inside Madison Square Garden would fulfill one of the ultimate dreams of his career. Both sides are in early talks to try and arrange a showdown for June 7 inside New York’s iconic arena.
“They tell me that I could fight Miguel Cotto on the 7th of June in New York and I think that it will happen. I think it will be a great fight,” Martinez told Carlos Irusta.
“One of my big dreams is to fill the Garden, yes, Madison Square Garden in New York. And if I fight with Cotto, that dream will come true, because surely the Garden will be filled.”
For Cotto, such a showdown would also offer the opportunity to cement his own legacy. Should he claim the title currently held by Martinez, he would become the first fighter from Puerto Rico to win four world titles in four different weight classes.
At 38, one has to wonder how much Martinez (51-2, 28 KO’s) has left in the tank. In his last outing, he finally showed that perhaps he has some wear on his tires. Although he would score a unanimous decision victory over Martin Murray, he was far from impressive in that fight. A meeting with Miguel Cotto would certainly show if that performance was just part of an off night, or if Martinez is on his way out.
