"I have a verbal agreement from Bob Arum that Cotto will fight Sergio in September," stated Sampson Lewkowicz, world-renowned adviser of Sergio Martinez, as he gave FightHype's own Mike Juhas an update on the future plans of the middleweight champion. According to Lewkowicz, both he and Arum came to a verbal agreement that a bout between Martinez and WBA jr. middleweight champion Miguel Cotto would be much more profitable if it takes place during the latter part of 2011, after both fighters have had another opportunity to showcase their talents again.
As of now, both fighters are tentatively planning a return to the ring in March. Fresh off his devastating second-round knockout of Paul Williams last month, Martinez is targeting a March 12 stay-busy fight against the likes of Andy Lee. Meanwhile, Cotto, who last fought in June when he defeated former WBA jr. middleweight Yuri Foreman via ninth-round stoppage, is also penciled in to return on the same date, but an opponent has yet to be determined. According to his trainer, Emanuel Steward, the names they are considering are Rigoberto Alvarez (26-2, 19 KOs), Pawel Wolak (28-1, 18 KOs), Vanes Martirosyan (28-0, 17 KOs), and IBF jr. middleweight champion Cornelius Bundrage (30-4, 18 KOs).
No word yet on who the leading candidate is, but don't be surprised if it's either Martirosyan or Wolak, who are both Top Rank stablemates of Cotto. Considering that Arum will likely want to squeeze in a rematch between Cotto and Antonio Margarito in June before the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, my money's on Wolak getting the assignment. Regardless, if the plan is to set up a fall pay-per-view event, it might be a wise idea to feature both Martinez and Cotto in a March 12 doubleheader to get the hype started early for the intriguing match-up.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH SAMPSON LEWKOWICZ TO FOLLOW SHORTLY
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