This was not a threat to extort more money. This was a cold and calculated decision based upon what he believed in as a man and what he felt was best for his sport. I was going nowhere else. People have to respect the commissions. It's the commissions that make the rules and who run the fights. I go by the rules and if the commission says there is no fight, that he couldn't fight, then I'm not going to fight.
This kind of a decision, can a fighter fight or not, is one that only the commission makes, not a boxer, not a promoter. If it was no, then it was no and there was no fight. Cotto had made up his mind. No longer was it "my company" that was in charge.
It was Cotto now. He would hear of nothing else. His relationship with Top Rank, always so strong, always so productive for them, is no longer the same. Cotto is incensed at Arum's passionate defense of Margarito, who six months after beating Cotto in a hellacious battle in Las Vegas was caught with an illegal knuckle pad in his hand wraps prior to a Jan. Arum launched a passionate defense of Margarito as Cotto seethed and the relationship between them became strained.
We talked to him, but he's convinced [that Margarito knew his wraps were loaded]. As a result, he's not thrilled when he sees that we're so passionately defending Margarito. We've had a long, and what I would honestly say is a great relationship.
We feel like we raised him in this business. Is he displeased that we're defending Margarito? But can it be rectified? Of course it can. We've put him in a lot of big fights in which he's made a ton of money. When this is all over, we'll sit down with him and talk and I think he'll get it.
It's just not the time as he's getting close to a fight, with all of the emotions that go into that. Cotto is as angry as any fighter has been about an opponent in a major fight.
People say that Cotto did not look good against Clottey. How many people have look good against Clottey? In history of boxing, there is always a fighter who is not considered elite, but has enough skill, determination and focus to give anyone a challenge.
Today, Clottey just happens to be one of those fighters. Even, Margarito had a tough time against an injured Clottey. I think people also underestimate the level of opponents that Cotto has faced in the past couple of years. With the exception of Jennings, Cotto has faced nothing but the best in that time span.
It is not easy to look good when you are facing the elite of the division. Imagine if Mayweather faced the same opponents that Cotto has in the past couple of years. Would he still be the same fighter? Would he still be undefeated? Myth: Miguel Cotto is too slow for Pacquiao and will be a human punching bag. Fact: Miguel Cotto has deceptive speed and has been successful against fighters who were considered much faster than him. During his fight against Mosley, there were occasions, where he seemed to be the faster man.
Thanks to God, nothing bad happened to us. Yankee Stadium was one of the best venues, if not the best, I ever fought in my whole career. In there were champions, a legendary Bronx baseball team. It made me feel awesome. I was just concentrating on my boxing fight. I remember a couple of [baseball players] arrived at the locker room — I can remember Bernie Williams was there — but I kept myself occupied. I never talked about it, but I ripped off my left-hand rotator cuff in the second or third round of this fight.
I never complained about it. I just kept myself focused on the fight and finally I got the victory. I am not going to respect him, never in my life; he played with my health. Boxing has to be a game of strength, condition and skills, and after that, he put plaster in his hands. I cannot respect that. It was just my moment to prove to the world.
That was the fight that gives me the most satisfaction. I just wanted to be the side A of the equation against Martinez. Being a champion in four different weight classes means the world. I can do something no other Puerto Rican boxer could do in their careers. That does not make me better or bigger than them; it is only a number, another championship belt. It was just the biggest accomplishment I got in my career.
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