3. Mairis Briedis KO 5 Manuel Charr

2. Sergio Martinez KO2 Paul Williams rematch

1. Juan Manuel Marquez KO6 Manny Pacquiao

In a sold out arena of over 20,000 fans in attendance, Miguel Cotto dominated middleweight top dog Argentine Sergio Martinez to capture WBC title and became the first Puerto Rican to capture titles in four different divisions.

Miguel Cotto dominating Sergio Martinez, at the Madison Square Garden in New York, on Saturday night, may end-up fighting marquee fighters at the 154-160 pound range. Cotto at 33 years old is just heading up to the biggest payday of his career.

Cotto, who now improves his record to 39 wins, 32 by way of stoppage and 4 losses, has rejuvenated career under the direction of trainer Freddie Roach who is also a long-time trainer of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

Here are the three possible next opponents for Miguel Cotto:

1. Gennady Golovkin (29-0, 26 KO's)

Gennady Golovkin is the WBA super world middleweight titlist. A unification bout at Madison Square Garden would be great at 160 pounds. But Cotto who weighed in only at 155 pounds against Martinez might demand for a catch-weight against Golovkin. And may imposed his "A-side, B-side" story in order to get the weight he desires inside the 160 pound middleweight limit.

I think there won't be a problem as GGG has a small frame as a middleweight and can move back down even at 154 pounds. Freddie Roach is confident that Cotto can hang with GGG.

2. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (43-1, 31 KO's)

Now, that Cotto proved he can knockdown legit middleweight---not just legit---but the middleweight champion, I believed boxing pundits changed their mind about a possible Canelo-Cotto match-up. They thought before that Canelo will kill Cotto if they ever meet in the ring.

Bob Arum likes the idea of Canelo-Cotto match-up. Arum and Oscar de La Hoya had showed signs that they will work again together. De la Hoya has regained back control of Golden Boy Promotions following the resignation of Richard Shaefer. Canelo is the most marketable fighter promoted by Golden Boy.

3. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (46-0, 26 KO's)

A rematch with the pound-for-pound kingpin Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be another possibility, and I don't see any problem, as Cotto is not under exclusive contract on either Top rank or Golden Boy. Cotto has proven to give problems to Floyd in the first fight; bloodied and bruised the undefeated Mayweather during the first fight.

Mayweather is scheduled to get back in the ring in September with an opponent yet to be identified.

Again, Freddie Roach believes Cotto will knockout Floyd in a rematch. Anyway, what would we expect to hear from the person who trains Cotto? Roach predicts like prophet about the outcome of Cotto-Martinez. I don't know if you guys give credit about his prediction if Cotto and Mayweather will ever meet again. Do you believe Cotto will fight any of the above fighters on his next fight?

Both Sergio Martinez and Miguel Cotto came in under the contracted catch-weight of 159 pounds. Martinez  (51-2-2, 38 KO's) weighs in at 158.8lbs. while Cotto (38-4, 31 KO's) weighs in at 155lbs.

The crowd cheers heavily as Cotto make his weight while for Martinez I can hear boos. Now, Martinez understand what is it like fighting in Cotto's "second home" the Madison Square Garden.

In an interview, Martinez said that it is good motivation knocking out Miguel Cotto in his own house.

When Miguel Cotto was asked what is in his mind while on that intense face-off, "I'm ready to work" replied Cotto. Cheers from the crowd erupts when they hear those words from the Puerto Rican champion who aims to be the first Puerto Rican to capture fourth title in as many weight division.

In the main under-card Filipino Marvin Sonsona looks tight and trim who weigh in at the featherweight limit of 126lbs. Wilfredo Vazquez Jr also weighs in at 126lbs. Vazquez-Sonsona is a 12 round featherweight rematch.

The rest of the weigh in results:

1. Jorge Melendez 153lbs vs Javier Maciel 154lbs


2. Andy Lee 154lbs vs John Jackson 152lbs


3. Felix Verdejo 134½lbs vs Engelberto Valenzuela 134½lbs


4. Jose Lopez 121lbs vs Raul Hidalgo 122lbs


5. Jose Pedraza 132½lbs vs Arturo Uruzquieta 131½lbs


6. Willie Nelson 157lbs vs Darryl Cunningham 156½lbs


7. Janthony Ortiz 113½lbs vs Elio Ruiz 112lbs

Miguel Cotto returns to Madison Square Garden---the arena he calls "home" to face middleweight boss Sergio Martinez of Argentina for the WBC title.

On Saturday night, Transnational Boxing Rankings Board recognized middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, defends his WBC title, against four division titlist, Miguel Cotto at the Madison Square Garden, New York, New York.

In the buildup of this fight, animosity becomes evident to both fighters. There were issues of disrespect. Sergio Martinez (51-2-2, 28 KO's) being the defending champion feels disrespected on Cotto's demands.

In this card's billing, Cotto demanded that his name should come first, although, he's the challenger. This fight is billed Cotto vs. Martinez, which is supposed to be Martinez vs. Cotto, being Martinez as the champion. Maybe to some people or fighters this is no big-deal. But for Martinez he feels disrespected. He branded Cotto a "diva".

Miguel Cotto (38-4, 31 KO's) said, in the program Face-off, hosted by HBO's Max Kellerman that he has been in this "position" before. It's not being who the champion is. But who packs the arena. When Cotto defended his WBO welterweight title against Pacquiao in 2009---that was billed Pacquiao vs. Cotto---wherein he lost via knockout.

Cotto says that Madison Square Garden is his "second home". He fought in the iconic Madison Square Garden eight times. And he has a terrific record of 7wins with only 1 loss. No wonder who packs the arena.

But Martinez wants respect. And he wants to gain respect in the ring come fight night.

The factor I see here for Martinez to win is his size advantage. An old boxing adage: A good big man always beats a good little man.

Sergio has been haunted by knee injuries since his win against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. He's sideline for more than one year. And at 39, he's no longer the same fighter who knocked out cold the taller and bigger Paul Williams in their rematch four years ago. He's power obviously looks diminished against a much bigger Chavez whom he blooded and bruised but unable to stop.

Although, Martinez' speed cope up with bigger and usually slower fighters but against a smaller but faster Cotto, it could be critical.

I think, it boils down to how Martinez will capitalize his size advantage to secure victory. Martinez used to fight much taller opponent. But he beat them with his speed and power. But with his knee issues, against a faster Cotto I think Martinez has serious problems.

I think, Cotto, under the guidance of Freddie Roach, will employ the same strategy that gives Martinez his victories in the ring---fast combinations and stay away in the pocket using foot speed.

I believed Cotto will be much faster than Martinez, so his speed will cruise to a unanimous decision.