Martinez Has Goals In Sight » “Maravilla,” the nickname of middleweight boxer Sergio Martinez (47-2-2, 26 KOs), is perhaps the most appropriate in all of boxing. The Spanish word for “wonder,” it fits Martinez perfectly… ALLEN TRIEU, msn.foxsports.com

If Not Pacquiao, Who’s Next For Mayweather? Sergio Would Be Fun; Bet On Khan » Who should Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight next? Easy: Manny Pacquiao, naturally. Outside of the fighting congressman from Sarangani, what opponent could Floyd find to make an equally big, or even bigger, statement? Why, Sergio Martinez, of course… Kieran Mulvaney, ESPN.com

The Boricua Comeback? » 2011 hasn’t been a great year for Puerto Rican boxing. • While faded boricua figurehead, Miguel Cotto, stopped Ricardo Mayorga in March, not even the fiercest of Cotto loyalists would argue that it was anything other than a trophy win from a critically weathered fighter… Paul Magno, theboxingtribune.com

Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito has officially received medical approval for a Dec. 3 rematch with WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, co-manager Francisco Espinoza said…

Former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito has officially received medical approval for a Dec. 3 rematch with WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, co-manager Francisco Espinoza said.

Additionally, Espinoza announced that Margarito (38-7, 27 KOs), who was sidelined with injuries stemming from last November’s loss to Manny Pacquiao, has already begun recovery training sessions.

“What was stopping us was the medical approval but he received it from the doctor and now he can move forward,” Espinoza said. “He is already in light training.”

The bout, which is tentatively scheduled to occur at Madison Square Garden, will be for Cotto’s WBA super welterweight title (154 pounds), with no option of a catch weight.

Although Margarito is currently walking around at an estimated 165 pounds, Espinoza guarantees that the weight cut will be no issue.

“We are going to have strong sparring sessions on a steady basis. And so it’s going to even out a little with Antonio’s inactivity. And win or lose going forward, he is eager to continue and he feels completely fine,” Espinoza said. “He runs like he’s in a marathon. He likes that and he’s in perfect condition.”

Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs), who has won four out of his last five bouts, lost in the first bout to Margarito on July 26, 2008 by technical knockout in the eleventh round at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We’re going out that night to win again,” Espinoza said. “It will be a great fight.”

—Alex Neely, ROUND1MAG.COM

Following a twelfth round technical knockout loss to Miguel Cotto, former two-division champion Ricardo Mayorga announced he would retire from the sport of boxing at the post fight press conference.

“I’m going to retire. I think I need to look for a job,” Mayorga said. “I said at the start of this promotion that I would retire from boxing if I lost, and I think it’s time to retire.”

Although Mayorga expressed disappointment, “El Matador” could not hold back from taking a last shot at Cotto.

“I’m not happy with my performance. As a man, I’m not happy,” Mayorga said. “Miguel Cotto, he hits very hard, but that doesn’t scare me.”

After Cotto dropped “El Matador” with a counter left hook, Mayorga cited a thumb injury, claiming that he was unable to make a fist, prompting referee Robert Byrd to halt the fight.

“[Cotto] is a great champion and I whispered into his ear only to say I thank him for the opportunity…hurt my thumb and I wanted to continue,” Mayorga said in the ring following the fight. “I did not want it to end like that but this may have been my last fight.”

Mayorga, who most famously defeated former WBC welterweight champion Vernon Forrest twice in 2003, has not won back-to-back fights since the same year.

—Alex Neely

Nick Diaz, the consensus mixed martial arts #7 welterweight (USA Today/SB Nation) in the world, shocked many on Jan. 25 when trainer Cesar Gracie revealed a boxing match clause in his new contract.

Although Diaz re-signed with California-based organization Strikeforce, the welterweight champion added a clause that will allow him to compete in a boxing match this year.

Diaz, who defends his title this weekend against challenger Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, is expected to exercise that clause against a recognizable name, potentially earning what he and his trainer feel he deserves.

“In boxing, when you’re a superstar, you get millions of dollars,” Gracie told ESPN.com. “In MMA you’re not making that kind of money.”

“We’re in negotiations right now with [boxing promoter] Don Chargin,” Gracie disclosed, adding that, “It would probably be at super middleweight [168 pounds].”

In a recent conference call for his upcoming title fight, Diaz expressed his displeasure in fight compensation.

“I just want to get paid. [Boxing champion Manny] Pacquiao’s making $40 million…I’m over here driving a Honda because my [car] is breaking down.”

Diaz, who currently sports a record of 23-7 (12 [T]KO’s, 7 Submissions), has already had his name thrown around with potential opponents.

“There have been a few names kicked around. One of them is Fernando Vargas; another is Ricardo Mayorga.”

Vargas, who has been the object of comeback rumors over the past few months, is now 33 and has not been seen in the ring since November 2007, when Mayorga defeated him by majority decision.

Mayorga, whose foray into MMA in May 2010 was subjugated by boxing promoter Don King due to contractual limitations, is a definite possibility. However, the two-time champ is competing on March 12 with WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. Director of Public Relations for Don King Productions, Alan Hopper appears to be keeping his options open.

“As long as the combatants can adhere the particular rules of the game they are participating in – in this case a boxing match – we’d be perfectly OK with that,” Hopper told ESPN.com.

“Now, obviously, we hope [Mayorga] beats Cotto and will have bigger fish to fry in the boxing world. But you never know, you never know.”

Although the Stockton native, Diaz, is not looking past his title defense this weekend, we as fans can not help but imagine the potential for what could inevitably be the one of the most marquee pugilistic leaps.

— Alex Neely

Illustration by  Chris Williams

» “I feel him and his trainer should be banned for life.” —Freddie Roach. Antonio Margarito vs Manny Pacquiao? Looks like Roach is singing a different tune now.

Yankee Stadium Boxing Revives as Foreman Defends Belt » Yuri Foreman says he sees no contradiction in being a religious scholar and a world-class boxer… Mason Levinson, www.businessweek.com

In Former Champion Cotto, Steward Sees Room For Improvement »  NEW YORK— The black SUV eased around a corner and settled into spot just in front of the Trinity Boxing Club. First out of the car was Miguel Cotto, the ex-welterweight king wearing a familiar Puerto Rican colored jacket and even more familiar cool expression. Trailing him is his longtime friend and PR boss Bryan Perez, a Big Punisher lookalike whose sheer size suggests he doesn’t share the rippled Cotto’s love for workouts. Alongside him Joe Santiago, Cotto’s longtime cornerman and one-time trainer who counts himself as one of Cotto’s most trusted advisors. • The last man out of the car is not so familiar; at least not with Team Cotto. Emanuel Steward has built a brilliant career as one of boxing’s best trainers, having worked with past legends like Tommy Hearns and Lennox Lewis to current champions like Wladimir Klitschko… Chris Mannix, sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Checking In With Andre Ward Ahead Of Allan Green Clash » On Thursday, TSS took a nice drive through Oakland and ended up at Kings Gym to watch Andre Ward train for his upcoming showdown against Allan Green on June 19th. Ward was fresh off of a 13 round sparring session when I got ahold of him… Raymond Markarian, www.thesweetscience.com

Photos: Cotto/Foreman by Chris Farina; Ward by Howard Schatz

» COTTO: ROAD TO THE BRONX, THE ARENA (EP.5)
HEAVY.com  follows along as Miguel Ángel Cotto prepares for his battle against undefeated Israeli boxer Yuri Foreman for the WBA light middleweight title on June 5, 2010 at Yankee Stadium. In this episode Cotto meets the Yankees and explores the arena for his upcoming fight.

» COTTO: ROAD TO THE BRONX, RECHARGED (EP.4)
» COTTO: ROAD TO THE BRONX,  CAMP (EP.3)
» COTTO: ROAD TO THE BRONX, JUNITO (EP.2)
» COTTO: ROAD TO THE BRONX, REDEMPTION (EP.1)

Haye Promises Historic Knockout » David Haye has vowed to produce “one of the most jaw-dropping knockouts of all-time” when he attempts to win Nikolai Valuev’s WBA heavyweight title on Saturday. • Londoner Haye is aiming to secure a portion of the so-called “richest prize in sport”, but to do that he must beat a man who stands nearly a foot taller than him at 7ft 2ins and who has never been down on the canvas in his 16-year professional career… Source: The Press Association, www.google.com

Don King And Mike Tyson Make Nice At Las Vegas Boxing Event: Boxing Insider » No one promotes a fight like Don King. • His Hairness returned to Las Vegas on Saturday — Halloween — for the first time in four years to put on the inaugural boxing card at Treasure Island. While the nationally televised show had its share of action in the ring, the real news was King making nice with Mike Tyson, a surprise commentator for the Showtime telecast… Source: www.cleveland.com

Manny Pacquiao Vs. Miguel Cotto: The Next Super-Fight » On Nov. 14th, two of the biggest stars in boxing will face-off for a PPV super-fight.  Super-fights are something special in boxing; they are the types of fights that get the general public to pay attention to the sport of boxing. • I go through a few different phases for super-fights: • PHASE 1: Going into a big fight like this I always envision an epic battle between two gladiators, blood and guts warriors, grit, sweat, anger, and any other adjectives that sound tough and manly! I blog about what an amazing ballsy, kick-butt fight it will be. I talk to whoever will listen about my expectations, scientific analysis, and true gut feelings.  This is a great phase to be in… Bryan Brennan, www.nesn.com

Tyson photo by Time/Life ©

Cloud: “My Goal Is To Destroy My Opponent By Any Means Necessary” » Tavoris Cloud understands Chad Dawson’s logic. • Though his shot at the man widely perceived as the world’s best 175-pounder has been two times delayed while Dawson sought pricier quarry, the unbeaten Florida-born slugger bears the incumbent IBO champion no ill will… LYLE FITZSIMMONS, www.miamiherald.com

Roach: Pacman Will Expose Cotto » Renowned trainer Freddie Roach believes Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto will be exposed when he tangles with Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao on November 14 in Las Vegas… Salven Lagumbay, globalnation.inquirer.net

Hector Camacho Jr.: No Fortunate Son » The 48-3-1 (27 KOs) boxer looks to step out of his dad’s footsteps; says “I am proud to be a fighter…” Ryan Bates, www.411mania.com