The pay-per-view boxing world is looking to pack even more punch, as HBO completed the schedule on what figures to be a boffo first half of 2014 with the official announcement of the Sergio Martinez-Miguel Cotto match in June.
Martinez (51-2-2, 28 KOs) will defend his middleweight crown against Cotto (38-4, 31 KOs) on Saturday, June 7 from Madison Square Garden in New York City, meaning there will be a quartet of major PPV boxing cards from March through June. The 33-year-old Cotto is looking to become the first Puerto Rican fight to wear world crowns in four divisions, as he looks to add to his mantle that has housed junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight titles.
Martinez-Cotto will come almost two months after HBO Pay-Per-View presents a rematch of the controversial Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley fight on April 12 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"We are thrilled to be able to provide two highly-compelling and highly-anticipated pay-per-view fights to the industry with Pacquiao vs Bradley on April 12 and now Cotto vs Martinez on June 7,” said HBO Sports senior vice president Mark Taffet. “Pay-per-view boxing fans will love both of these fights --- exciting, competitive matchups featuring four elite boxers."
Showtime will present the March 8 Canelo Alvarez-Alfredo Angulo fight card. It’ll be the first ring action for Alvarez since his record-setting, Sept. 14 PPV fight with Floyd Mayweather.
Following Pacquiao-Bradley, Mayweather is expected to fight on May 3. “Money’s” camp and Showtime have yet to announce his opponent.
Then Martinez-Cotto will tangle at the world’s most famous arena, capping first-half boxing action that could be the industry on pace to match the 4 million buys generated in both 2012 and 2013.
