Quintana playing waiting game

http://www.boxingbuzz.com/peter-klitschko/jgon6.htm

by Jason "J-Gon" Gonzalez

Apparently Antonio Margarito isn’t the only welterweight that’s being avoided. Ever since Carlos “El Indio” Quintana (23-0, 18 KOs) easily defeated the highly touted hard-hitting Colombian Joel Julio in an eliminator for the WBA title, Quintana has been sitting on ice.

Immediately after his victory over Julio, his promotional team of Northeast Promotions was in discussion with Top Rank in hopes of making a fight with Quintana and Antonio Margarito in October. Unfortunately, HBO pulled the date from Bob Arum because of failure to lock a main event for the PPV card. Then, the plan was to fight the winner of the Ricky Hatton-Oktay Urkal fight, which would have taken place in December.

The landscape of the welterweight division has changed drastically. Ricky Hatton’s controversial win over Luis Collazo resulted in Hatton moving back down to 140 pounds and vacating WBA welterweight championship. “The most feared welterweight” Antonio Margarito will be facing Joshua Clottey in an optional defense of his WBO strap December 2 in Atlantic City. On the same card, Quintana’s fellow countrymen Miguel Angel Cotto will be making his welterweight debut. Where does that leave Quintana?

“Bring on all comers. Bring on the best boxers in the game today. I want to fight the best. I want to stay active, but I get the feeling that I might not be fighting for another eight months or so”, said the native of Moca.

It seems that he may be right. According to “El Nuevo Dia” it was reported that Quintana, along with his promotional team, rejected two separate offers from Top Rank. Top Rank was offering an undisclosed amount of money to step aside and allow Miguel Cotto to contend for the vacant welterweight belt later this year. The idea was for Quintana to temporarily relinquish his #2 ranking with the WBA, which would then allow Cotto to step in and face the #1 contender Oktay Urkal for the title. Though Quintana would have been financially compensated, he was guaranteed a shot at the winner of the fight some time next year.

Quintana, however, is only interested in doing one of two things: 1.) He fights for the title, or 2.) He fights Cotto. Considering that Quintana doesn’t have a set date to fight, and was guaranteed a shot at the title, on the surface it seemed like the prudent thing to do. But, there is more than meets eye. If Quintana steps aside and takes the money, he can be easily forgotten, especially if he loses. And if Cotto won the title but didn’t look impressive, he could either delay a fight with Quintana or simply never fight him.

About a fight with Cotto, “ It would be a magnificent fight. He is a strong, heavy puncher with great conditioning. In the same token I can do all of that too… I have the perfect style for him. It would be a great fight”, Quintana responded. “We have to continue working hard. I have faith in God that my time will come. I want to show the world that I am the best at 147 and eventually the world. It will all come to light when I become the next champion at welter.”

With respect to style match-ups, Cotto versus Quintana is as interesting as it gets. You have a boxer/puncher going up against puncher/boxer. A Puerto Rican showdown like that has Madison Square Garden written all over it. Can you think of any other site venue that would merit hosting this fight?

With the year 2007 lurking around the corner, only time will tell if Carlos Quintana is the next big thing to come out the tiny island in the Caribbean. If the cliché “Good things come to those who wait” then it will be a lot fun playing the waiting game.

As the Puerto Rican prizefighter jokingly said, “There is another Puerto Rican pugilist on the scene. But this one is a lot nicer and friendlier than those in the past. Make sure to look out for Carlos Quintana.”


I have not seen alot of Quintana,only 2 fights,but he looks very slick and silky. A very dangerous opponenet for anyone,I hope he gets his big shot against Margarito hopefully!

www.maxboxing.com

There are serious discussions about matching Miguel Cotto against spoiler Carlos Quintana on the December 2nd Showtime telecast


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Big credit to Cotto if he takes this in his first fight at 147. Urkal's had a good career but he's old, and he could never punch, he would have just had to outbox Cotto for 12 rounds and that doesn't seem likely to me. Quintana, even though he's got less experience, is a much more dangerous fight for Cotto.

I've been on the brink of being a Cotto fan for a while now and if he signs this that would only make me like him more.

I can't find the info on the maxboxing page bro! I would not want Miguel to take such a dangerous fight,what if he loses?! His reputation may be ruined,I would prefer to see him ease into the weight and then maybe take the Quintana fight. It would be awesome though,imagine the atmosphere!