Sergio Martinez calls Cotto a “diva”

By Boxing News - 05/18/2014 - Comments

martinez5By Dan Ambrose: Much of this past Saturday’s Face Off: Cotto vs. Martinez with Max Kellerman on HBO was preoccupied with WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (51-2-2, 28 KO’s) taking issue with him being the B side in his title defense against challenger Miguel Cotto (38-4, 31 KO’s) for their catch-weight fight at 159 lbs on June 7th fight at Madison Square Garden, in New York, New York, USA.

Martinez had a hard time coming to terms with Cotto getting a lot of the things in his favor in the negotiations for the fight, such as him being allowed to enter the ring last and other things. Martinez felt that he should be the A side because he’s the WBC champion and Cotto is just the challenger.

Cotto had to explain to Sergio over and over again that the A and the B side is based on the fighter who is the one drawing the fans, which in this case is Cotto due to the fight being staged at Madison Square Garden where he’s routinely sold it out, and with him also being a pay-per-view fighter.

What was interesting about the show was when Kellerman attempted to explain to Sergio what Cotto meant by A side and B side. Sergio said “Who are you betting on? Who?” Kellerman said “I can’t reveal that, Sergio.” Martinez then said “Yes, you can.” At that point Cotto joined in and said “No hard feelings, go ahead.” It was funny because Kellerman was squirming under the pressure that Martinez was putting on him to reveal if he had some kind of bias. It looked like Kellerman had lost complete control of the show, as Martinez had taken over the role of the one asking questions and Kellerman didn’t look cool at all. His voice was cracking and he looked pretty shaken up.

This was one of the more tactical face offs that Kellerman has shown because both guys came across as really analytical and intelligent.

Martinez: “He has made demands that a diva would make. The red corner, coming in last into the ring, being introduced last into the ring and other things. If these are diva demands then tell me what you’d call them.”

Cotto: “I was in the same position twice and that was my position. I understood I was the B-side on those occasions.”

Martinez: “Having listened to his requests, it’s almost absurd.”

Cotto: “It’s simple. There’s an equation: Side A, side B. How many times have you fought in Madison Square Garden?”

Martinez: “Never.”

Cotto: “I’ve fought in the Garden 9 times. All sell outs. And I’ve been fighting PPV.”

Martinez: “How many class A’s have you fought?

Cotto: “I’ve fought 2. ”

Martinez: “And you won both? Ah! Right, you lost. Sorry. And if you’ve never beaten a class A, how it your a class A?”



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