By James Slater: Along with the quite excellent 24/7, HBO Sports has another winner in the new “Face Off” series that is reserved only for the biggest bouts out there. Who can forget the genuine tension that came through the TV screen back when rival heavyweights Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye sat just a few inches opposite one another, with just host Max Kellerman and a table between them?
Okay, the subsequent fight between the two big men proved to be a damp squib, but the “Face Off” show sure made many, many fans want to buy the Pay-Per-View. The recent Floyd Mayweather-Victor Ortiz fight had the “Face Off” treatment also, and if that fight was to prove another disappointment (albeit with a controversial, highly talked about shocker of and ending), the next fight to have the same pre-match hype figures to be as entertaining as the “Face Off.”
Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito will meet in a long awaited return on December 3rd in New York, and next week in Los Angeles, Kellerman and the HBO crew will film the two junior middleweights as they share that small and intimate space. This edition of the show will be most interesting to see.
Will Cotto, who often smoulders pre-fight, be able to keep his cool when sat opposite a rival fighter who not only beat him but is suspected by many people (the Puerto Rican legend included) to have done so while wearing illegally wrapped hands? Will Margarito, who has been all smiles so far in the build-up to the rematch of the sensational 2008 battle, remain as upbeat as he has appeared?
Cotto is an all business fighter, and it’s probable he will not enjoy this new, high-tech hyping of his next fight. In all likelihood, Cotto is a man who would rather leave all his talking to his fists and make his statement when in the ring. Indeed, it might be that Cotto barely says a word in the “Face Off,” leaving all the talking to Margarito. How much atmosphere will be lost due to the translation from Mexican to English that will be needed in “Tony’s” case remains to be seen, but this episode of the new show looks to be another hit.
The tickets have gone on sale for the big fight, with tickets costing from $600 for ringside to $50 for a cheap entry. Pay-Per-View-wise, the fight will go out at $54.95. Too expensive? Bob Arum feels he has a box office hit on his hands and to make sure he has lined up a decent (if not great) under-card.
Unbeaten Cuban stylist Guillermo Rigondeaux will make the third defence of his interim WBA super-bantamweight title against fellow unbeaten Rico Ramos of California, the regular WBA 122-pound champ. Also, against an as yet unconfirmed foe, exciting slugger Pawel Wolak will feature on the card. Also according to ESPN.com, unbeaten welterweight contender Mike Jones of Philly will meet battle hardened Sebastian Lujan of Argentina.
If Wolak faces a big name, this card will shape up as a good one.