By James Slater: It seems there is a good chance the anticipated and intriguing rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito is not dead in the water after all. As fans know, “Toney” suffered eye and facial damage in his brutal loss to Manny Pacquiao when he fought him late last year, and it was recently felt the controversial Mexican’s career would be over as he had actually suffered a detached retina during the 12-round loss.
But Margarito, having read this about himself in the media, rebuked the story, claiming he did not have a detached retina and that he was “in the doctor’s hands.” Well, according to the LA Times, Maragrito recently underwent surgery to repair a damaged cataract in his right eye; surgery that was successful. According to promoter Bob Arum, Maragrito will likely be back sparring as soon as July 1st.
Also, the Top Rank boss has reportedly set aside two dates – October 1st and December 3rd – for the rematch with Cotto.
Margarito is understandably happy at the surgery’s results and he says he is hoping to fight again this year; either against Cotto or someone else.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “I’m not closing the door on [fighting] this year. Without a doubt I believe I’m ready to fight someone like him [Cotto]. I’ll fight anyone as soon as the doctor says it’s okay to fight.”
“Cotto is a huge pay-per-view draw,” Arum said. “People want to see Cotto and Margarito go at it again.”
No doubt, a rematch of the July 2008 fight, one that saw Margarito take Cotto’s unbeaten record away visa upset 11th-round TKO, would attract plenty of fans. Ever since the loss that followed his big win (a stoppage loss to Sugar Shane Mosley), fans have wondered if Margarito got the win over Cotto by fair means. In light of how he was infamously caught (or his trainer anyway) trying to “load his gloves” in the dressing room before the Mosley fight, there has been concern that the Mexican may have gotten away with such tactics in other fights; the one against Cotto included.
Puerto Rican hero and current 154-pound titlist Cotto has wondered the same thing, and now, with Margarito’s career looking far from over with and the rematch penciled in for two possible dates, “Junito” could well get the chance to find out once and for all.