Promoter Bob Arum says that if welterweight world titleholders Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito win their upcoming fights, it is likely that they will meet in a 147lbs battle for supremacy before the end of the year.

“Antonio has agreed that if he beats Paul Williams and if Miguel defeats Zab Judah that he will face Miguel in the fall,” he said. “So hopefully we now have the benefit of seeing a whole group of welterweight fights. Antonio will fight Paul Williams on July 14 on HBO. If Miguel and Antonio win their fights, sometime November, maybe early December, they will go at each other. So, it’s just a plus, the way it’s turned out for boxing fans.”

26 year-old Cotto 29-0 (24) from Puerto Rico defends his WBA world title this Saturday night against 29 year-old Zab Judah 34-4 (25) from Brooklyn, New York in front of what is expected to be a sold out Madison Square Garden in New York on HBO Pay-Per-View. 29 year-old Margarito 34-4 (24) from Mexico, who holds the WBO world title, will face 25 year-old No.1 contender Paul Williams 32-0 (24) from Augusta, Georgia at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Arum praised the fighting style of Cotto and the manner in which he approaches his career.

“Miguel Cotto has developed a tremendous following,” said Arum, “and the reason is simple, he is a no nonsense fighter. He doesn’t come to dance. He doesn’t come to do business in the sense of I’m coming in, I won’t throw punches, if you don’t throw punches and leave in the same condition or leave his opponent in the same condition as when he came into the ring. He is a fighter, and he comes to fight and he’s demonstrated it, not only in Madison Square Garden in the last two years, but in all of the fights that you’ve seen him in. In Zab Judah, he has a very, very worthy opponent, who is in great shape, and who is fighting for pugilistic life. A man who has tremendous boxing skills but also a devastating punch and Miguel knows that he is being challenged in this fight, in Madison Square Garden.”

Arum and his company Top Rank have tapped into the popularity of Cotto amongst the Puerto Rican community and showcased him in big fights for three years in a row in New York City to compliment the annual Puerto Rican Day parade.

“This is a great event,” said Arum, “and what we’re trying to do is to show everybody how appealing boxing is. And the opportunity to watch these great fighters, particularly Miguel Cotto who’s now down it in New York for the third consecutive year. I mean this is what boxing needs, real fighters in real fights, no dancing, no businessmen fighters. You ask Miguel what his plans are for the future and so forth, and what did he say, anybody we put in front of him. He’s a fighter. That’s what he lives for, to fight. He’s not a businessman like some of the guys that you’ve seen. All I can tell you is on June 9, you’re going to see a real show. Boxing need not take a backseat to anyone, not any mixed marshal arts event or anyone. There’s nothing more exciting than boxing when the fighters fight. And believe me, on this card, they’re all going to fight.”