Boxing Champs Spar with Wits

By Connor Syracuse

Four-time world champion in three divisions, Miguel Cotto and WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez continued promoting their heavily anticipated June 7 fight on Tuesday in New York City with a press conference in the brand new Chase Square in Madison Square Garden.

Aside from the cheering Argentinian fans proudly displaying their nation’s flag and the ring girls with smiles painted on, the conference was somewhat uneventful.

A high low-point was the cringeworthy performance by Sampson Lewkowicz of team Martinez, whose failed attempt to rile the crowd ended in laughter at his own expense. After poking fun at the lack of cheering heard from the Puerto Ricans supporting team Cotto he was promptly shut-down.

“What happened to the Puerto Ricans?” Lewkowicz asked.

Bob Arum of team Cotto simply said “They’re working” to the amusement of the crowd.

After the sponsors finished force-feeding the crowd how much tickets cost, when they were on sale and where you can watch the fight on pay-per-view, the boxers were both able to address the audience.

Cotto opened first with the usual press conference gladiatorial rhetoric.

“I’m just looking forward to starting my camp, looking forward to train as hard as I can each day and being here on June 7th to become the first Puerto Rican to be a champion in four different divisions.” said Cotto. “I’d like to say to Sergio good luck in your camp. Try to do your best and I’m going to do my best. At the end of the road, the winners are going to be the fans.”

Martinez, who was visibly agitated had a lot more to say about his opponent.

“Don’t forget one thing: we are going to fight because I am the champion and I’m coming into the ring first and he’s coming in second, otherwise there would be no fight,” said Martinez in Spanish through an interpreter. “I go to the blue corner and I really don’t care because I’m the champion and if it wasn’t for that, he won’t fight. I will be introduced first in the ring, because if it wasn’t that way, Cotto would not fight me.”

Boxing tradition has the challenger  introduced first, coming into the ring first and taking the blue corner. Even though Martinez is defending his title, he had to concede his rights as champion so the fight would happen.

The usually reserved Martinez pulled no punches when calling out Cotto’s demands and even took an early jab at him when he finished his statement.

“I can imagine on June 7th he’s gonna ask for rose petals, otherwise he won’t walk into the ring,” said Martinez. “No more excuses. On June 7th, I’m gonna win, Argentina.”