Sergio Martinez’s advisor, Sampson Lewkowicz, is telling those who will listen that the WBC middleweight champion’s June 7 title defense against Miguel Cotto to be “97 percent done” after having spoken to Cotto’s advisor, Gaby Penagaricano, on Monday in Mexico City.
RingTV is reporting that the bout will happen, and that Martinez and Cotto’s advisors still have there little issues to work out.
“I spoke very briefly with Gaby Penagaricano in Mexico City yesterday at the farewell of Mr. Jose Sulaiman, and he was very friendly,” said Lewkowicz.
“He said that he believes that the fight, even though it is not official, he told me that 97 percent is done, and that nothing else can hurt it. In the words of Gaby, he told me that the other three percent can not damage the event.”
Cotto (38-4, 31 KOs) is coming off a third-round knockout of Delvin Rodriguez last October.
Representatives for both parties agree the bout will be bigger than Bradley-Pacquiao II.
“We believe that this event, by far, will be the best event of the year as far as pay per view,” said Lewkowicz. “Those were exactly the words of Gaby Penagaricano.
“By far, I strongly believe that that it [Cotto-Martinez] will surpass all of the expectations and anticipation for the fights in April and in May, that’s for sure,” Lewkowicz continued.
“I strongly believe that it will be the best event of the year on pay per view because it is much more interesting than (the Tim Bradley-Manny Pacquiao rematch and Floyd Mayweather’s May 3 fight). That is my personal opinion, and, actually, I believe that is what many people think.”