Cotto vs Margarito II: Margarito Questions Catchweight, Cotto Promises Different Result

Earlier we talked about Bob Arum's off-putting, WWE-style suitcase idea for the December 3 rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, and I said then that I felt that Arum or whoever came up with this idea really missed the mark on judging how boxing fans and many in the media feel about the seriousness of Margarito's past sins, and the fact that he's still fighting today.

I really can't get over how dumb I think it is to even give the impression that you're joking about the handwraps in any case, let alone the case of Antonio Margarito. But Margarito would follow Arum with a joke of his own on the topic.

Speaking of Nonito Donaire, who shares trainer Robert Garcia and was in attendance to hype his own upcoming New York City fight on October 22, Margarito said, "I think Bob Arum's going to have to bring another little case like that for the wraps for Nonito Donaire because the same person wrapping my hands is going to be wrapping his, so we need two cases." He then laughed at his own joke, which was met with no response from those in attendance, either in Spanish or translated by Garcia.

These guys really, really don't get it in this instance. But what can you expect? In the end, Margarito got what amounted to a slap on the wrist. They threw ex-trainer Javier Capetillo under the bus and Margarito sat out 16 months before returning to the ring in Mexico in May 2010, then got relicensed by Texas for a November fight with Manny Pacquiao, the biggest fight of Margarito's career.

So I guess how can we expect them to not laugh at the whole thing and treat it like just some silly little thing that happened to happen? Almost nothing really came of any of it.

Right now, let's move on to what else was said this afternoon about the Cotto vs Margarito rematch.

Trainer Garcia was first to the podium of those involved with the fight, and he was pretty straightforward.

"We are very excited to be back in the ring, and especially against someone like Miguel Cotto who has proven he is one of the best in the business," Garcia said.

"Margarito is very dedicated. He has been in the gym all this time, we just need to get into training camp to focus on his fight, and that's coming pretty soon. You can't miss this fight. We're going to have a great fight, and just like the first one was, it was a war, it was 'La Battala,' so expect the same thing in this fight."

Margarito (38-7, 27 KO) wore dark sunglasses in the building, offering no chance to get a glimpse of his surgically repaired right eye. He focused on Cotto's mind game insistence on a catchweight, and a next-day weigh-in cap.

"I want to say this and make this clear: I don't know why Cotto wanted to make this fight at 150, then it went to 152, and now 153," said Margarito. "If he's the champion at 154, I think he should defend his title at 154. If not, come down to welterweight again."

Margarito added that he felt Cotto showed "fear" by asking for the next-day weigh-in, which will not be happening. The fight has a contracted weight limit of 153 pounds, one pound below the normal junior middleweight limit.

Cotto kept things pretty short when it was his turn, speaking in his improving English.

"I can guarantee you, I'm going to put all my body and soul into my camp to make this a great event, a great fight, a great match for all of the fans of boxing around the world," said the Puerto Rican star.

He also agreed with Garcia and Margarito that the fight will be similar to the first one, but with one big change.

"It's going to be like the first time," he said, "but the last part is going to be different."