It’s no secret that middleweight champion Sergio Martinez has been calling out the cash cows just south of his division for the last four years. The trio that most intrigued Martinez has been Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. The first two have mostly ignored Martinez. But Cotto, who’s made a career out of taking tough fights, has always been viewed as the one most likely to call Sergio’s bluff. He indeed will on June 7 when they meet on HBO pay-per-view, but there was a small window back in June 2010, following the Puerto Rican star’s WBA junior middleweight title win over Yuri Foreman, when a Martinez bout was feasible.
In April 2010, Martinez had upset Kelly Pavlik to win the middleweight strap in just his second middleweight appearance. Tipping the scales at 159.5 pounds, and then 7 months later at 157 for his signature KO win over Paul Williams, Martinez and Cotto would have made for an intriguing fight either for 154 or 160-pound title.
In his first of four Q&A discussions leading up to the June 7 clash, Cotto addresses whether he avoided the Martinez fight in 2010, and why he feels “destined” to become the first Puerto Rican fighter to win titles in four different weight clashes.
Why Fight Martinez now and not 4 years ago?
Everything happens at the time it needs to happen. I do not push destiny. Boxers take different paths in their career and those roads don’t always come together. If someone would have told me that I would be fighting for a world championship at 160 pounds four years ago I would have not thought possible. But here I am looking to make history – becoming the first Puerto Rican to win world titles in four different weight divisions.
This is the kind of fight that always has been talked about and now is becoming a reality. I think it is a perfect timing to make it happen. We both have had our moments over our careers. I feel good and satisfied that it’s happening at this stage of my career. I feel totally renewed and with a fresh mind to come in and do my job on June 7.
We as fighters always want to fight the best possible opponents and the best fights. We want the fans and media to be excited about the fights that we have. I know believe that this is a big fight and people want to see it, I no sure that was the case a few years back.
I believe that I given the fans the best fights that I can. I fought some of the best fighters at 140, 147 and 154 pounds and now here I am facing the best at 160. For me boxing has always been about challenges and competing and this one more fight that proves that point.
The fact that this fight is taking place now is just destiny, nothing to do with politics or avoidance is just the right time to do this fight and to enjoy to great fighters getting in the ring and showing, who is the best.
I am ready to make history and to prove once more that I am still one of the best fighters in the world.
Face Off: Cotto/Martinez debuts Saturday, May 17 at 12:30 a.m. ET/PT on HBO.
“2 Days: Sergio Martinez” premieres Saturday, May 24 at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 