No one this side of the pond knows, nor did anyone bother to upload a video to YouTube for this scribe to find out-that’s who. Despite the Brit’s assertion that he’s coming to fight, unless the American media can get glimpse of what he can do then I’ll have to file the statement under “famous last words.” Many of you reading this are familiar with the romantic term “slump buster” and some of us (not me because I’m a sweetheart) aren’t very picky when it comes to getting back into “circulation.” Bob Arum is a genius who can never be accused of taking his eye off the ball. He knew even when Cotto glanced at his corner with that “look” (of resignation) that it would take New York to rebuild him. Only at the Garden in front of 10,000 screaming “New Youricans” will Michael Jennings be waived a background check. With the “Puerto Rico Oh!!” chant rocking the future address of the NBA’s “King James,” Miguel Cotto will feel the love and be reminded of his open invitation to New York’s third largest parade. Saturday night for Miguel Cotto will be a celebration, a validation of his standing as a Boricua icon and a 2009 filled with triumph. Yet, as with us all scars remain, and even if we negotiate and do minor deals in certain areas of our minds, the original hurt is somewhere deep in our hard drive. Can we erase it?

When you're all alone, sometimes you Google that ex who betrayed you whether life is good or not. Margarito’s shadow is long because we all know that even though someone gets what they had coming to them, it is much better they didn’t mistreat you at all. The great fighters are like great NFL cornerbacks, short memories that allow them to function at a high level after getting burnt. But if there’s an “air” of injustice, foul play that resulted in physical damage that can't be washed off with a hot shower and rest, what then? Bob Arum is in an precarious position, he has to put back together two careers that were probably impacted for the same reason. Anyone who saw Miguel Cotto’s face after 11 rounds last summer and did not ponder if he was victimized is naïve. Miguel knew what he felt and he described it as a brick. Who wouldn’t want to be a fly on the wall when he meets with his team to discuss his future with Top Rank? Unlike Mosley, Miguel Cotto has no BALCO cloud to consider when he is asked to speak about Margarito and he hasn’t been kind. “It seems like Top Rank isn’t thinking about the welfare of a human being and is only concerned with money,” he was quoted as saying to a reporter from Primera Hora.

There is precedent for dissension from Top Rank by its biggest stars and this Margarito situation is not a closed issue with Cotto by any stretch. As a warrior, there must be some part of him that benefits mentally by even the intimation that it may have taken something like loaded gloves to beat him. Is Margarito by the default of pride guaranteed a pay day in the future even if his conduct implied he is undeserving? Would any one of us, after being hit with brass knuckles in what we thought was a fair fight be able to resist the urge to confront that guy sans the brass? Passion is funny, malleable even; if the Puerto Rican fans call for it and mandate it (remember Cotto is not a sequestered athlete), revenge will be unavoidable. On June 12-14 there will be a party in New York City's Fifth Avenue and if  Boricuas “represent” like we all know they will, Miguel Cotto can't serve them another Michael Jennings.

Did I see Cintron beating "Maravilla" Martinez last week? Uhhhm, no! Did he even deserve the draw? Hell no!  Can he be sold as an opponent for Cotto this summer? Of Course. Look at it this way, now that Margarito’s welterweight accomplishments are under a microscope you can rehabilitate the run that Cintron had as WBA champion. Supposedly, Cintron was run out of the hottest division in boxing by his inability to beat Margarito. Now, like Alex Rodriguez is about to find out-  public perception (what we think) is more powerful than ever and it is the muscle behind many of boxing's events. When the public is stuck on a “name” but is uninformed about what is going on at this moment, you can sell that name. How else do Roy Jones and Evander Holyfield have the gall to fight on PPV? Without saying (that’s what people like me are for) you can sell a big fight at MSG as the “rightful” return of two “wronged” Boricua champions. Margarito will unwittingly become a promotional “tool” (insert joke here) for the card without even receiving payment. This should add sting to an already embarrassing exile from the sport. If Cintron had beaten Margarito and all of this controversy with the wraps hadn’t occurred, he would not be as viable as he is RIGHT NOW.  If he can back off of the crazy talk about beating Martinez and move down to 147 (which he has stated he will), then I see no reason why this won't pack the Garden in a “win –win” scenario for Puerto Rican Fans.

And then there’s the rough and tumble terrain of the “Legacy” route...

The Case for Shane Mosley

Shane Mosley, fresh from his destruction of Antonio Margarito, is on the hunt for big fights. His narrow November 2007 loss to Cotto was wildly exciting; it was also the bout that gave many the idea that Cotto was too versatile for Margarito. I don’t believe in the “need” theory when it comes to situations like this one. Beating Mosley again after Mosley undressed the man who beat him would have its value if Cotto decided to put the Margarito part of his life to rest. Since Mosley became “the Man” at Welter, Cotto would be positioning himself for future “events” against Pacquiao or a come backing Mayweather. The problem I have is this; if a great coach in a team sport is worth X number of games through the course of a season, how many rounds is a great trainer worth? Miguel was barely holding on towards the end of the first Mosley bout wining by narrow margins on 2 out of 3 scorecards. Would Top Rank stake Cotto’s future on Evangelista Cotto outwitting Nazim Richardson in a fight against a guy they barely beat the first time? Luckily for us, they would, because Miguel Cotto was groomed to be a “great one” and Mosley (especially with belt) is the kind of fight “great ones” on the mend take.

No matter how it goes down in '09 the eyes of New York and Puerto Rico will be watching one of their favorite sons. The island responsible for an inordinate amount of fistic legends (per capita) -and women with beauty bordering on felonious- will expect a renaissance from Miguel Cotto starting Saturday night.  With Juan Manuel Lopez nipping at his heels, there is no room for “slippage” from Cotto, the hearts of Boricua’s are jewels of any fighter of Puerto Rican bloodline. If he shows positive signs that he is restored, the crowd will pulse with conga drums, and percussion-calls for Mosley, Pacquiao or Mayweather may blend in with the salsa. The work is done now, and Miguel Cotto will resume his path to greatness; redemption for most fighters can come in many forms but for a proud Boricua, New York in June is the only route.

Yo Soy Boricua!