Miguel Cotto vs Antonio Margarito II set for the Garden

Junior middleweight titlist Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, who are putting the finishing touches on a deal for a Dec. 3 rematch, will meet at New York's Madison Square Garden, Top Rank president Todd duBoef told ESPN.com on Wednesday.

DuBoef said he was in New York and finalized the agreement with Garden officials.

"Everything is being finalized for the fight and when it is, we'll be at Madison Square Garden," duBoef said of the famed arena, which is undergoing a significant renovation. "Madison Square Garden is one of the most important arenas in the country and I like doing events here. Miguel has a big fan base here and we want those fans to see him again."

When Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) and Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs) met in 2008, they waged their memorable welterweight title bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where Margarito's Mexican fans were out in force. He came on strong in the fight's second half to stop Cotto in the 11th round of a bloody battle, a win later tainted when Margarito was caught trying to enter the ring in his next fight, against Shane Mosley, wearing loaded hand wraps.

Many believe he got away with wearing illegal gloves in the fight with Cotto.

When they meet in the rematch, which will be on pay-per-view and for Cotto's 154-pound belt, they'll do it in front of Cotto's passionate Puerto Rican fans.

Cotto has always drawn big crowds in New York -- for the six fights he has headlined at Madison Square Garden and when he headlined at Yankee Stadium last June, when he stopped Yuri Foreman in the ninth round to win his title.

"When you look at the electricity of previous Miguel Cotto fights that have been at the Garden and the magnitude of this event, the Garden was the perfect place to do it," duBoef said. "Both guys were open to it. It's great to be back at a big venue in a big city to keep boxing at the forefront.

The MGM Grand was the other venue Top Rank had been looking at for Cotto-Margarito II.

Cotto is coming off a 12th-round knockout of former titlist Ricardo Mayorga on March 12.

Margarito took a beating in November in a fight for a vacant junior middleweight belt against pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. Margarito has not fought since because he has been recovering from a broken orbital bone and cataract surgery in his right eye, injuries both suffered in the fight against Pacquiao.

Top Rank has not determined whether Showtime or HBO will handle the pay-per-view production and distribution of the fight.

Company chief Bob Arum has said the network he makes a deal with for Pacquiao's third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez on Nov. 12 will have the rights to both bouts. A decision on that is expected before the end of July.

gomez1012 wrote:Whats with the delay on the SHO or HBO ppv decision?

GrantZilla wrote:

gomez1012 wrote:Whats with the delay on the SHO or HBO ppv decision?

I think it's a clash between Arum and DuBoef. I think Arum is fine with going back to HBO, but DuBoef is wanting to stay with CBS-Showtime. It's DuBoef who's been pushing to get boxing on bigger platforms.

gomez1012 wrote:Whats with the delay on the SHO or HBO ppv decision?

If Yuriorkis Gamboa beats Ponce De Leon on Sept. 10, Top Rank's plan calls for Gamboa to return 12/3 on the Cotto-Margarito II PPV. #boxing

SlickMoney wrote:

If Yuriorkis Gamboa beats Ponce De Leon on Sept. 10, Top Rank's plan calls for Gamboa to return 12/3 on the Cotto-Margarito II PPV. #boxing

http://twitter.com/#!/danrafaelespn/status/95696370018684928


Hopefully its against Top 10 comp. Gamboa vs Jhonny Gonzalez would be nice.

Why not have JuanMa-Salido 2 on this too?

Suavecito80 wrote:this crap is going to be on PPV?? seriously?? I understand the first fight but not now both are on the decline. the undercard better be good.

Ali wrote:

Suavecito80 wrote:this crap is going to be on PPV?? seriously?? I understand the first fight but not now both are on the decline. the undercard better be good.

The first fight generated 500,000 buys, and there was no way Arum was never going to milk the whole plaster/revenge angle.

NJBeatdown86 wrote:It's going to be a bloodthirsty mob at MSG, will be a GREAT atmosphere for the fight.

Suavecito80 wrote:

Ali wrote:

Suavecito80 wrote:this crap is going to be on PPV?? seriously?? I understand the first fight but not now both are on the decline. the undercard better be good.

The first fight generated 500,000 buys, and there was no way Arum was never going to milk the whole plaster/revenge angle.

i guess your right but they were fighting for #1 spot in the division. now they are both on the downside and have gotten waxed in previous fights. I wont be ordering I might catch a stream though.

Ali wrote:

Suavecito80 wrote:

Ali wrote:

Suavecito80 wrote:this crap is going to be on PPV?? seriously?? I understand the first fight but not now both are on the decline. the undercard better be good.

The first fight generated 500,000 buys, and there was no way Arum was never going to milk the whole plaster/revenge angle.

i guess your right but they were fighting for #1 spot in the division. now they are both on the downside and have gotten waxed in previous fights. I wont be ordering I might catch a stream though.

Why not ? the first fight was a classic, and with each man declining they'll be forced to slug it out more.

NJBeatdown86 wrote:I heard that Rodriguez-Wolak II may be on the undercard

Ali wrote:

NJBeatdown86 wrote:I heard that Rodriguez-Wolak II may be on the undercard

Fingers crossed.

jamesa (ottawa)
Does Kirkland step up after two "confidence builders" or does he take on another easy target? .

Dan Rafael (12:36 PM)
Ann Wolfe wants him to fight a real opponent and I think that is what they will try to do. I have heard rumblings about a possible fight with Delvin Rodriguez.

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Steve (VA) You said Delvin might be next for Kirkland but arent they talking about Wolak-Delvin 2 on the Cotto-Margo undercard?

Dan Rafael (12:54 PM)
It's a fluid situation. There are a variety of possibilities, but nothing is set yet. Having spoken to Cameron Dunkin, Wolak's new manager, I do not believe the rematch with Delvin will happen at this point.

gomez1012 wrote:

jamesa (ottawa)
Does Kirkland step up after two "confidence builders" or does he take on another easy target? .

Dan Rafael (12:36 PM)
Ann Wolfe wants him to fight a real opponent and I think that is what they will try to do. I have heard rumblings about a possible fight with Delvin Rodriguez.

----

Steve (VA) You said Delvin might be next for Kirkland but arent they talking about Wolak-Delvin 2 on the Cotto-Margo undercard?

Dan Rafael (12:54 PM)
It's a fluid situation. There are a variety of possibilities, but nothing is set yet. Having spoken to Cameron Dunkin, Wolak's new manager, I do not believe the rematch with Delvin will happen at this point.

No rematch, but the rumored fights are really good
Delvin vs Kirkland & Wolak vs K9!