Sergio Martinez and Miguel Cotto don’t share many common opponents, but one man glaringly stands out among their resumes — Antonio Margarito. The Mexican slugger known as the Tijuana Tornado holds KO victories over both men, with the 2008 win over Cotto still mired by glove-tampering accusations. Although Cotto holds contempt for that defeat and will go to his grave believing Margarito used illegal wraps to defeat him, Martinez has a much more positive stance on his 2000 Margarito encounter that also served the first defeat of his career.
Less than two weeks out from the June 7 bout with Cotto, Martinez reflects on the Margarito fight and how it inspired a nine-year, 28-fight winning streak.
After your loss to Margarito in 2000, did you ever imagine that your career would be like this? Titles, celebrity status, etc.?
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 Vegas and be a champion after that loss because I had the desire to be a champion and was willing to put 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.
24/7 Cotto/Martinez Show #1 debuts Saturday, May 31 at 11:15 p.m. ET/PT on HBO.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 