“The thing with Margarito was 2008 the chapter that was closed in that book,” commented Cotto about the first fight in July 2008. That is a night that saw Cotto with a battered face, dethroned of the WBA welterweight title in the 11^th round. The result was talk about Cotto being done, that he no longer had it. Cotto would rebound later, and Margarito, after winning the title from Shane Mosely, would eventually see his boxing license suspended for using tainted hand wraps under his gloves.

So a lot transpired since their first encounter. Both fighters went to war with Manny Pacquiao and  Cotto, quietly had been seeking this rematch for revenge. He leaves business to the promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank and in the last year made it known that Margarito is what he wanted, and at Madison Square Garden his favorite venue where he is undefeated in six fights.

Though Cotto does admit he did have flaws in that first fight and will make no excuses or accusations that Margarito had tainted hand wraps then. But for the first time he showed writers a picture on his cell phone that was given to him earlier this year. It indicated a tear in the wrapped hands of Margarito. There was evidence of a tear with the tape and gauze. Again this was pure speculation by Cotto and he will not make accusations. However, the facts later on make one to believe that Margarito had an unfair advantage, even if Cotto that night was not at his best.

Margarito remains silent about the hand wrap controversy except when he is asked. “I never used any illegal bandages. I can’t change the opinions of everyone. I always fought clean. He claims to have paid his dues and the subject is a thing of the past.  He is also promoted by Arum and never went against his Mexican fighter when it came to the hand wrap issue. A win this time would put everything in perspective. He takes care of business in New York and Antonio Margarito indeed has the number of Miguel Cotto. Though the early line favorite is Cotto gets a commanding win and vengeance for what happened a few years ago in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Arena.

“I accept my defeat like a man,” says Cotto about that uneventful evening in Las Vegas. “It’s the first time I show the pictures to anybody,” referring to the Margarito wraps. “I over trained and won’t make the same mistakes again. I will be watching the first fight again soon to see what I did wrong.” He did not have the veteran Emanuel Steward in his corner then and he will once again have him for the third time in his corner at the Garden.

Steward was able to correct some flaws when he worked with Cotto the first time in June of 2010 at Yankee Stadium, a Cotto 9^th round TKO and defense of the WBA title over Yuri Foreman.

“He is sharp and will be ready at 154,” said Steward when reached for comment because was preparing Andy Lee for his rematch with Brian Vera. “Nothing will go wrong. We will watch the wraps and the gloves. Miguel has picked it up and learned what went wrong the first time.”

And with vengeance obviously on his mind, though Cotto will never show a vindictive trait, Margarito could see the same approach that was used in March. Ricardo Mayorga, saw enough punishment before being stopped by TKO in the 12^th round in the WBA super world light middleweight title fight. Cotto was aggressive and finally put Mayorga on the mat in that final round. It was vintage Cotto, punching with authority, and throwing combinations that propelled him to be a three division world champion.

“I’m going to give it all my body and soul to make this a great match,” said Cotto, (36-2-28 KO’s) one of those in the loss column coming to Pacquiao. He reiterated, ”It’s going to be the same as last time but the ending will be different.” Meaning of course, the punishment this time will show on the face of Margarito who is fully recovered from an injured eye socket that occurred when he lost to Pacquiao last November.

Cotto insisted also that the fight be at 153.  Margarito says that is unfair and that Cotto should be at 154. “If he is a real champion he should fight at 154,” says Margaritio. And Cotto would later respond that the weight was not an issue. His win over Margarito will tell the story that the first loss was because Margarito was with the advantage, once again briefly making reference to the hand wrap controversy.

“Boxing is a sport when you use your skills,” said Cotto. “He played with my health and that’s not fair.”  The wraps for both fighters will be placed in a suitcase prior to the fight and inspected by the New York Commission at the weigh-in. So there could be an end to the issue about Antonio Margarito and hand wraps that have tarnished his career.

Arum stated the Garden has a record advance gate for the fight with an undercard that also includes the undefeated Mike Jones, another of the rising stars in the welterweight division and junior welterweight Pawel Wolak.  And Cotto always sells out the Garden with a strong contingent of Puerto Rican fans from New York City.

But this is not about Puerto Rico against Mexico. It is the fight that Cotto wanted and he anticipates the coming months of training, saying he is a much more matured fighter with his new team under the direction of Steward.

“We accepted 153 because we don’t want Antonio Margarito to make any excuses,” says Cotto. Indeed this looks like it could be another chapter though this time a different and better one for Miguel Cotto.

So there they were in New York City Tuesday afternoon. Froch the WBC Super Middleweight champion facing off with the WBA champion Andre Ward, two of the major title holders in the division at the Highline Ballroom in Chelsea. It was the second of a three-day press tour in London, New York, and tomorrow in Oakland California, and for Showtime and the sport the final could not be a better match.

Even if it means that the winner gets a silver cup and unofficial title as the best at 168, what is more significant is both titles are on the line. And for boxing, unifying something always means something. They say that Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City on October 29^th will be a sellout, and that there is more anticipation there for a fight since the last time the late Arturo Gatti fought at the historic venue.

Froch expects to have the support. Similar to Ricky Hatton, he has a contingent of fans that follow him. There won’t be 40,000 or more fans at Boardwalk Hall, and that does not matter to Ward who had no objection to the final being held on the east coast. “His comfort zone is in the ring,” said Dan Goosen, Ward’s promoter. Ward and Froch fought three bouts apiece against opponents in the field in the points-based group stage of competition.

It has been a tournament that many say has run its course, and perhaps it has, but   never envisioned that the final would include two champions in the 168-pound weight class. Goosen said the other major sports can’t compare to what this tournament has accomplished. Well, maybe that was putting a little extra on what Showtime has accomplished, though there is anticipation as two of the premiere fighters in the world will fight for something more significant than a silver cup.

“Losing does not epitomize not being great,” said Ken Hershman Executive Vice President and General Manager of Showtime Sports. Froch lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Mikkel Kessler on April 24 of last year. This has not been a normal formula to determine supremacy, nevertheless, Ward (24-0, 13 KO’s) the last US Olympic Gold Medalist from Oakland California , got to the final with a unanimous decision win over former champion Arthur Abraham on May 14^th.

“Froch is a competitor and wants to feel he is better and wants to win the tournament,” said Ward. “I feel the same way. I felt I had to best to take on to be here. “You need a scorecard to remember how Ward got here, and some of the original Super Six entrants were out of the picture because of injuries or via elimination. Maybe that is why Goosen and Showtime were so enthusiastic that Ward and Froch made the final.

Ward defeated Kessler for the WBA championship in the first stage with a dominant win in the 11^th round in November of 2009. A year later he went on to defeat Allan Green in stage 2 in his hometown of Oakland. In between the merry-go-round Kessler was gone, the undefeated Arthur Abraham was eliminated, Andre Dirrell did not continue after a loss to Ward, and Green replaced Jermain Taylor who was knocked out by Abraham in the first stage of competition.

Glen Johnson, the former light heavyweight champion got the call to replace the injured Kessler and won his first bout over Green in stage 3 last November. Froch defeated Johnson with a 12-round unanimous decision on June 4^th at Boardwalk Hall that got him to the final.  Yes, very confusing but it does not matter now because the final should be a good one.

Froch, 28-1, 20 K0’s, sustained his only loss to Kessler, a controversial unanimous decision in Denmark. “It’s high stakes, it’s all business,” he said. There’s respect before and after,” he claimed about Ward, “But not during the fight. If there is a knockout in this fight it is coming from me, for sure. Best he can do is get, points on a decision. I’m looking to take him out.”

And Showtime is hopeful, as expected, that this final showdown to determine something will be a knockout for boxing fans.

E-MAIL Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

It is the championship fight of the other Showtime tournament, the other being the “Super Six” Super Middleweight tournament that has brought a boxing fan to a brink with all the changes and fixtures that go along with a long and dragged out tournament. However, no matter how one views the Showtime concept of tournament boxing to determine who is number one, it seems this final bout with Agbeko has gathered interest and anticipation.

Because like the competitive and not so well publicized featherweight division, the bantamweights suffer the same dilemma. A boxing fan does not get to appreciate what they can do, that is, sustain interest and give some respectability to the sport.

“I love the tournament,” commented Agbeko (28-2, 22 KO’s) the native of Accra, Ghana who recaptured the IBF crown from Yonnnhy Perez in the semifinal round in November. It was the first loss for the (20-1-1) Perez who will be in the consolation bout opposing former two-division world champion, the 35-3-1, Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan.  It was Perez who remained undefeated in a close fight with Agbeko taking a unanimous decision in 2009.

This has been more of four of the best type of elimination determining the best that is brief and not cluttered. There were no problems with fighters pulling out, making weight, partly due to the limited top 10 names in the division that leaves little acclaim this division receives. “It gives a lot of exposure to the division and what we can do,” said Agbeko as he prepared for another workout close to home.

“The winner of this fight is the best bantamweight in the world,” he says with a heavy accent similar to welterweight contender Joshua Clottey. He and Clottey are from the same country, and also train together when possible, residing a few minutes apart in in the vicinity of Yankee Stadium which is in proximity to the old and revamped gym in the South Bronx.

The fight with Mares will be a test. The bantamweights can throw a lot of punches, have speed and offer some power.  The forum of being seen by millions on Showtime won’t hurt, and Agbeko, a Don King promoted fighter, with, a resounding win could put this division on the map. Though there are those in boxing who will never look at the bantamweight king as a division that propels the sport.

“That’s what they may say that we are not popular,” he says. “I feel happy to be in the final of the tournament. The only prediction that I know is that I am going to come out of the ring as the winner of the night. I’ve really prepared for Mares. I don’t know if he will take the strength and the skills I bring to the ring.”

Agbeko, 32-years old did not watch Mares defeat Darchinvan. It does not concern him claiming that the southpaw Darchinvan would offer nothing to study the possible next opponent. He goes about his business and depends on experienced advisor and cut man Len DeJesus and trainer Adama Addy.

They also have seen the talent that Agbeko brings to the ring. Addy, who has trained Agbeko 18 years, going back to their days in Ghana keeps his fighter in the Bronx to avoid distractions back home. “There is no girlfriend here,” he said with a laugh. But the serious business has been taking place in the gym with a realization that Agbeko will be considered an elite fighter if he indeed prevails over Mares.

“We have no particular style going into this fight,” he says. “With him (Agbeko) you don’t know. As for the question of how Agbeko can make the division more prominent, Addy commented “The power he has makes this division popular.”

Take that to the bank because power from guys coming in at 122 is something to admire.  Mares also can be dominant but may not offer the strength and power to his opponent. Though he did go down in the seventh from a Darchinyan punch to the body and came back to floor his opponent in the seventh with a vicious left that had Darchinyan dazed.

As for the ultimate question of moving to the ever more competitive featherweight division, Agbeko said he has no problem in taking another step. The money will never be huge in his division and there is a young champion Yuriorkis Gamboa taking charge at 126 and destined to be around a long time

To that he said, “I’m thinking of moving up to featherweight to take on the big guys. I’m thinking of Gamboa, Lopez (Juan Manuel) and I’m thinking about being in the league with them. After this fight, if I don’t get any good competition then I’m going to move to featherweight. I want to fight them I want to prove to the world that I’m the best.

And to many, Agbeko is the best, at least for now among the bantamweights.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

Both men had no interest on waiting that long to settle their differences. As the press conference got underway, Mayweather and Mosley were both introduced separately to the crowd. After the introductions, both guys went toward the center of the stage for a face to face showdown. The two fighters started to trash talking and things nearly took a turn for the worse when Mayweather put his hands on Mosley.Sugar Shane would respond with a shove and then charged right after Floyd. The two would engage in a mini scuffle/wrestling match.

Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaeffer rushed the stage to make sure the whole fiasco didn’t get any worse.Both camps would follow on stage as things started to settle down.Laughter ensued when Mayweather’s CEO,Leonard Ellerbe, came rushing to the scrum, slipped, and fell on his butt. All this stuff going on and the press conference had not even started!!  While some may think this is a stunt to promote the fight even more, this is just a case of two fighters that just don’t like each other.

They are promoting this fight as ” Who R U Picking”, which is one of the more clever slogans that any boxing promoter has come up with. The buzz surrounding this fight had started long before today. While this has been a fight that has been years in the making, the turning point came after Floyd Mayweather’s last fight against Juan Manuel Marquez. As everyone remembers, Mosley jumped the ring after Floyd’s win and challenged Mayweather face to face right after Floyd’s victory over Marquez.

While it was an entertaining moment for boxing fans who witnessed it, it looked like it would be for no reason. Mosley was headed on a collision course with Andre Berto while Mayweather was trying negotiate a contract to fight Manny Pacquiao. We know what happened with Mayweather-Pacquiao but it was Andre Berto calling off his bout with Mosley two weeks before as he was trying to recover emotionally from the Haiti earthquakes. That opened the door for both men and wasted little time in signing off on the fight.

Mosley, 38, is the defending WBA welterweight champion and Mayweather, 33, is a former WBC title holder and both are considered among the top-5 pound-for-pound fighters in professional boxing. Mosley is coming off the best performance of his career when he knocked out Antonio Margarito to capture the welterweight title. Mayweather never looked better when he took apart Juan Manuel Marquez in his last bout this past September.

Here is both men’s initial response on fighting each other.

” I have always wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather and now that dream is finally coming true,” said Mosley, (46-5, 39 KO’s). ” Floyd is excellent at what he does, but my past record of beating the best competition and other great champions shows that he is just another one of my opponents.”

” Ever since I came back to the sport I said I only wanted to fight the best and Shane Mosley is one of the best,” said Mayweather (40-0, 25 Ko’s). ” Not only does he have the skills, but he is also fast, strong, and a very tough competitor. His speed and power won’t mean much that night against my will and determination to dominate him inside the square circle.

During Tuesday’s presser, both men did not have not many kind words to say about each other. Mayweather constantly reminded the crowd of Mosley’s past PED use and how they are not even on the same level in terms of star power.

Mayweather constantly reminded the crowd of Mosley’s past PED use and how they are not even on the same level in terms of star power.

” Shane is an HBO fighter. I am a Pay Per View fighter. I am the one that is making the big bucks, said Mayweather.” I have made more money in my last two fights then Shane has made in the last five years. We also know that Shane can match up with my speed or skills. We do know that when he was steroids, he was quite fast.

After these comments, one could only assume that Mosley will come into the ring on May 1st more determined than he has ever been in his 14 year career. At the age of 38, Mosley is trying to cement his legacy with a win over Floyd and try to shut down the PED talk for good.

” May 1st symbolizes something. After this fight no one gonna say it’s the CLEAR. It’s going to be clear when Floyd takes that ass whooping I’m about to give him,” said Mosley. Shane was alluding to the potion given by Balco CEO,Victor Conte,  which the fighter says he ingested without knowing it’s nature.

“Floyd is just trying to get under my skin. He knows I am a clean fighter or else he would not be stepping in the ring with me,” said Mosley.

While there is no denying the Hall of Fame credentials for Shane Mosley, this will be Shane’s first fight in 16 months since he won the welterweight title. However, Mosley does not seem to be worried at such a long layoff at his age.

” The only way for me to fight off the ring rust is by staying in the gym. I am going through a vigorous training program to keep me in shape,” said Mosley. ” I know Floyd’s style. I know what I am ready for. I just have to make sure I have the legs to keep up with him. I’m going in there in the best shape of my life. Your going to get everything”.

Mayweather was his usually cocky self when he spoke with members of the media. You can’t deny that “Money” is never boring when you get a chance to do a press conference with him. He went all over the place as he talked about how his corner never gets any love, Mosley’s admitted use of “enhancement” supplements, Manny Pacquiao, and boxing championship belts.

On Pacquiao

” I never knew a man that didn’t want to take a $25 million drug test. I have never seen a guy go from 106 pounds and then go up to 147 and just dominate the way he has. There is no way unless he is taking some steroids.Pacquiao is a cheater. He had such a hard time with Marquez in two fights I thought he lost. Imagine what I can do to him if we fought.

On Fighting Mosley

” I can adjust to any fighter. I can read an opponent when I get in the ring. I know how to adjust in the ring and I just know how to win. He never uses his jab and I am going to expose that.

On his corner/team not getting any love

Everyone talks about Nazim Richardson and Freddie Roach being the best trainers in the sport. But my uncle deserves a lot of the credit for my success. He has never won the trainer of the year once and that ain’t right. My team never gets the credit they deserve.

Floyd admitted that the media will likely bring up Mosley’s age if he takes him down. “There’s always an excuse,” he said. ” Your always going to write about me, good or bad. No matter what happens, I am going to be criticized. The most important thing is that your writing about me.”

We didn’t get the big fight we all wanted in Mayweather vs. Pacquiao. I really could care less who’s fault it is. All I know is Mayweather drew the tougher opponent as a result of it. Mayweather-Mosley is a bigger and more anticipated fight than Pacquiao-Clottey. Even if Manny is the biggest draw in the sport, his fight is just not as compelling the public than a genuinely interesting two-way fight. After May 1st, the future will be a lot clearer for everyone involved.

Except this was a more subtle and different Mayweather from when we last saw him. After knocking out Ricky Hatton in the 10^th round in December of 2007 Mayweather stunned the boxing world and announced his retirement last June. He would surface as a dancing star, do some commercials and went in another ring, opposing “Big Show” at the WWE annual WrestleMania event last April.

But that was then and this is now. Boxing has always needed a superstar with charisma and Mayweather knows that. “Fans have been missing me from the sport,” said Mayweather in a more quiet approach. “Floyd Mayweather and boxing go together,”

The return of Mayweather and him opposing Marquez is billed as a fight of epic proportions. Because Mayweather, along with the recently retired Oscar De La Hoya, a co-promoter of the fight, have been two of the highest paid fighters in the industry the past six years.

That said, it is now official as Mayweather (39-0, 25KO’s) returns and opposes another great champion, Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KO’s) the five-time world champion in three weight classes from Mexico City, Mexico. The 12-round fight will be televised on HBO pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday July 18^th.

They will fight at welterweight, a division that Mayweather is known for handling the best, including wins over Hatton and De La Hoya.   And there is a question as to who will have the advantage. Mayweather may be an inch or so taller but Marquez has a bigger fist.

All of that won’t matter come fight time. Both fighters have already secured Hall of Fame status in the sport. They are also marketable. Mayweather, 32-years of age has set boxing pay-per-view records and after beating Hatton was officially known as the best fighter pound-for-pound.

The 25-year old Marquez won 29 of his first 30 pro fights. He is in the category as one of those great Mexican fighters with Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. His second defense of the WBA featherweight title, in 2004 against Manny Pacquiao, may have been his most memorable as he survived three first-round knockdowns and got a draw, a fight that could have gone his way.

But as Marquez says, “This fight is very important for my country and my life.”  The fact he will be fighting for the first time, in all probability as a welterweight, has him preparing to build more muscle mass and gaining for more respect. A probable future opponent could be WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto or Pacquiao again in the same weight class.

“It’s a division I am not accustomed to fighting,” said Marquez. If he stays at welterweight all depends on the outcome against Mayweather. To that, he said, “I always prepare myself mentally and physically”

Mayweather has been training for the past few months in a gym out in Las Vegas. So his return to the ring was inevitable and it was just a matter of time as to when. The opponent was also an easy pick. He wanted Marquez and the Mexican champion was honored to get the call.

“Marquez is a warrior and he represents his country well,” said Mayweather who many say will start to make noise again if indeed he prevails in this return fight.  He picked me because I deserved it,” said Marquez about being the return opponent for Mayweather.

And Marquez says about Mayweather, “He’s a great fighter, a great champion. Once in a while his ego comes out.”  Except that ego was not evident Tuesday afternoon, even when the two fighters posed for photos atop the observation deck of the Empire State Building and with Mayweather also the co-promoter with Mayweather Promotions.

“I’m expecting the best from Floyd Mayweather,” added Marquez. “Even in my mind he never retired.”  The boxing public will agree because over the past year Mayweather stayed in the spotlight and it was a matter of time for the return date to happen.

This was the second stop of a three city tour to announce the fight. Los Angeles on Monday, New York City and then off to London Wednesday They did a five-city tour last year when Pacquiao and De La Hoya were set to clash last December.

That fight had the boxing world in a buzz as Mayweather was out of the picture. Pacquiao was declared the best when he put De La Hoya into retirement. Now Mayweather is back and the question is, can he get by Marquez for a possible encounter with Pacquiao?

Marquez certainly will answer some of those questions soon for himself, the boxing public and all of his fans in Mexico.

e-mail Rich Mancuso at Ring786@aol.com