By Elisinio Castillo

WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (51-2-2, 28KOs) says there is genuine bad blood with former three division beltholder Miguel Cotto (38-4, 31KOs). There are ongoing negotiations to stage a fight between the two of them for June 7th at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Martinez claims that he met Cotto at a television studio back in 2008, and the Puerto Rican star blew him off when he tried to shake his hand. Then Martinez claims Cotto abused employees at a Mexican television studio. In several interviews, Martinez expressed his belief that Cotto has a very large ego.

"In 2008, it was February 12th, I came over to greet him at a television studio and he never even turned his head [to acknowledge me]. What he did to me he does with everyone. But I am angry about something else. Because when [Cotto] went to the studio of a Mexican television network, he mistreated the people who were employed by the studio. From that moment, I wanted [to punish him]," said Martinez to Adrien Micheelena.