Cotto set for the 'unknown'

Cotto: Knows little about Michael Jennings

I didn't know a lot about Michael Jennings, but now I'm prepared for anything he can bring to me.

Miguel Cotto
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Miguel Cotto insists he is expecting a tough encounter against Michael Jennings for the WBO welterweight title despite admitting he knows little about the Chorley fighter.

Cotto suffered the first defeat of his career when he lost the WBA belt to Antonio Margarito in July 2008 - and he heads to the Madison Square Garden determined to get his career back on track.

And although he has only watched tapes of Jennings' last two bouts - a seventh-round knockout of George Ungiadze and an eight-round decision over Jason Rushton - Cotto has seen enough to convince him it won't be a walkover

"I didn't know a lot about Michael Jennings, but now I'm prepared for anything he can bring to me," Cotto said.

"It's going to be a tough fight. He'll be coming with all his heart from England and looking for the championship belt.

Classical

"He's a classical kind of boxer. He's like Luca Branco, Oktay Urkal, very technical, very similar."

Cotto had been hoping to face Margarito in a rematch, however the Mexican's suspension following revelations he had an illegal addition to his hand wrapping for his defeat to Shane Mosley has put that fight on hold.

And Cotto insists his showdown with Jennings, who has a record of 34-1, will give him a chance to re-establish himself as the kingpin of the 147lb division.

"This is the right moment to prove to everybody how I am the real welterweight champion," he said.

"I'm going to put on my best performance in the ring, and I know that the people are going to like it."