Miguel Cotto is already setting his sights on a clash with middleweight kingpin Sergio Martinez following his successful comeback against Delvin Rodriguez this past Saturday at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.
Cotto put himself back in contention for another world title shot after showcasing his old form on his way to a third-round TKO win over Rodriguez in a 12-round non-title fight.
Coming off two losses at the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Austin Trout, Cotto returned with a bang as he used a repertoire of big body shots and cracking left hooks to dominate Rodriguez in all three rounds.
In the aftermath of Cotto's impressive victory, the Puerto Rican's new trainer Freddie Roach believed his prized fighter is ready for big fights - including a WBC middleweight slugfest with Martinez next year.
"(Martinez is) a great athlete. He's very fast, of course. But the thing is he does have some flaws in his armor. I think we'd take advantage of them. I think I have the right guy to do it this time," Roach said of a possible Cotto-Martinez showdown in a post-fight interview with SB Nation.
"Chavez fought one round and almost had him out. All Chavez had to do was let his hands go. got a disciplined fighter [in Cotto] who's going to follow a game plan like he did tonight. I think we can beat him," added the trainer, who's confident Cotto can match Martinez in size and power at the 160-pound weight limit.
There's little doubt that most in the boxing world want to see two of the most accomplished Latino fighters in the modern era go head-to-head against each other inside the ring.
Cotto, who captured world titles in three different divisions, will be carrying the pride of all of Puerto Rico against the man universally-recognized as the best middleweight in the world in Martinez.
According to SB Nation, HBO and Top Rank are expected to start the negotiation as soon as possible for the fight to materialize.
If everything falls into place, Cotto will have an opportunity to become the first Puerto Rican four-division world champion while the 39-year-old Martinez will cherish the chance of further improving his legacy as one of the best middleweight boxers of all time.
For more Miguel Cotto, Sergio Martinez and Boxing news update, read more at Latinos Post Sports.
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