In boxing, some things never change. Such is the case with the brash, obnoxious, foul-mouthed, cigarette-smoking fighter from Managua, Nicaragua named Ricardo Mayorga. After a 2-year layoff, the two-division world champion made his return to the ring last December against Michael Walker, shaking off the ring rust and stopping the outgunned opponent in 9 rounds. That one performance has already netted him a March 12th clash with current WBA jr. middleweight champion Miguel Cotto. As the press tour kicked off this week, Mayorga was already up to his old antics, insulting Cotto at every turn while doing one heck of a job at hyping up the showdown. At the latest press conference, held Thursday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mayorga took the hype to the next level, shoving Cotto during a posedown as he tried to rip the champion's belt from his hands. Love him or hate him, there's no denying that Mayorga can sell a fight as fans will undoubtedly tune in to the $49.95 pay-per-view event to see if he can backup his bravado or if Cotto will shut his mouth the same way that fellow Puerto Rican icon Felix "Tito" Trinidad did over 6 years ago.
Here's a look at some of Mayorga's more intriguing quotes thus far for this fight:
"I'm going to use Cotto as my red carpet to open the door to even bigger fights."
"I will prove to everyone on March 12 that I am the man and you are the woman."
"I will knock him out in four rounds."
"You are punch drunk – you can't take a punch anymore."
"I will retire him!"
"Like Margarito after the Pacquiao fight, you will be thinking about retiring when I am done with you."
"I will make you think twice about getting in the ring again."
"Don't let your mom or your family suffer anymore by watching you get in the ring."
"This is the first time I will fight someone that is as small as a kid."
"I think my pants are taller than you."
"Your hands are like a woman's."
"On March 12, all the Puerto Ricans are going to be wearing black for your wake."
"I see fear in your eyes. We have never crossed paths, but I have to tell you, I have never liked you as a fighter."
"I will finish you off and your mother will be in peace at last."
"This guy's not dangerous. This is not a big fight for me."
"I see him as a bad fighter. He's not what he was before. He's in bad shape."
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