Michael Jennings has warned former WBA welterweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto not underestimate him.
"I'm not just coming to lie down," says former British champ
Michael Jennings has warned former WBA welterweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto not underestimate him when they meet for the vacant WBO title at Madison Square Garden in February.
The former British champion has finally earned a world title shot after a professional career that has so far spanned 35 fights and brought just one defeat, against Young Mutley three years ago.
The intervening period has brought six victories and also seen the 31-year-old leap to number three in the WBO rankings.
Nevertheless, Jennings, who has never fought outside the UK before, will very much be the underdog for the contest.
Cotto appeared to pay little attention to his opponent during Tuesday's press conference for the February 21 fight.
The Puerto Rican is angling after a possible rematch with Antonio Margarito, who inflicted the first professional defeat of his career last July, or even a meeting with Manny Pacquiao.
"I don't know him, but he's a good boxer," Cotto said of Jennings. "The only thing I want is to come in and put up a good show for a good time in front of my fans."
And, asked how many times he had seen Jennings fight, Cotto said: "Never."
Proud
However, Jennings used the opportunity to warn his opponent against complacency, the Chorley fighter saying: "I've always respected Miguel Cotto, as a boxing fan and as a professional boxer.
"I know I've got a mammoth task in front of me but I'm a proud man and I'm not just coming to lie down.
"I'm not coming here for a holiday. As far as I'm concerned I'm coming to win, and that's it. I'm going to give it my best shot."
Jennings also predicted that Cotto's defeat to Margarito in their epic WBA title battle in Las Vegas could result in the former champion looking for a quick finish.
"I've never been in that position, so I don't know how I'd feel. But he'll probably want to come back and prove himself after that," he suggested.
"The first few rounds, I've got to be on the ball - as soon as the bell goes. Otherwise, he could come out and catch me with a big shot - and it could be game over, because I know he's a big hitter.
"I like to think I've got a decent jab and fast hands - but I'll need more than a jab to beat Cotto."
Jennings also said that he would not be overawed at the prospect of fighting at one of boxing's most famed venues.
"It's definitely a big occasion, with all the media involved and so on, but I don't think it's going to be a distraction," he said.
"I've just got to get on with it and get my head in the game.
"I can't really be on a bigger stage than this, can I? Against Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden - you can't ask for any bigger."
Rematch?
Of the possibility of a rematch with Margarito, Cotto said: "I want that but I have to wait for (promoter Top Rank) and see what they have planned for Margarito.
"I think the company has something planned for this year. It's something I want - not badly, but I want it."
Cotto added that he would also be happy to face Pacquiao, who bridged two weight divisions to dismantle Oscar De La Hoya in December.
"I want at least three fights this year," he said.
"We have a lot of talent at 147lbs and a situation where the good boxers want to face (each other).
"I'm always open to the real names in boxing - and if Manny Pacquiao wants to stay at 147lbs and wants to face one of the biggest names in the division I'm available to face him."
Jennings and Cotto appear as part of a unique double-bill of title fights staged in two different cities.
The second contest sees Mexico's Marco Antonio Rubio challenge WBO and WBC middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik in the latter's hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.
