Boxing News Boxing News
© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Yesterday at Madison Square Garden’s WaMu Theater in New York City, Top Rank hosted their final press conference for their “Two World Title Fights – One Night” Pay-Per-View event which will take place this Saturday, February 21 hosted from two locations.
The evening will begin at the “Mecca of Boxing” Madison Square Garden in New York City where Two-Time World Champion Miguel Cotto 32-1 (26) will face Michael Jennings 34-1 (16) for the vacant WBO Welterweight Title. The broadcast location will then shift to Youngstown, OH where WBC & WBO Middleweight Champion Kelly Pavlik 34-1 (30) will face number one rated Marco Antonio Rubio 43-4-1 (38).
Cotto will not only look to regain the welterweight title but also come back from the first loss of his career last July to Antonio Margarito.
“We trained pretty good for the last two months and we’re ready for everything that Michael can bring,” said Cotto. “We’re going to do anything we have in our hands to come back to Puerto Rico with the title.”
Fighting for the first time outside the United Kingdom, Jennings said, “I want to say thank you to Bob Arum, Top Rank and the WBO for the opportunity for this fight; to come to America for the first time and fight in New York at Madison Square Garden the Mecca of Boxing where all the legends have fought, this is a dream come true for me.”
When asked about the opportunity of his first world title, Jennings replied, “I’ve trained 100% and will show everyone a great fight on Saturday night.”
Also featured on the undercard will be the return of “Ireland’s” John Duddy 25-0 (17) after an eight month absence from the ring he squares off against Matt Vanda 39-8 (22).
“It’s great to be back,” said Duddy. “The two of us are two tough hard fighters who come prepared; I don’t think you will be disappointed Saturday night.”
Duddy stated, “I’ve done plenty of sparring, plenty of training and I know that we will put on a great show. I’m looking forward to the opportunity, the excitement and getting back in the ring and doing what I love doing.”
Jennings who is coming off two losses to Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. last year reflected on his experience, “The fights I had with Chavez were great, the first one was a lot better than the second one, I’m not making any excuses he beat me but I got three rounds of sparring in due to an injury.”
“For this fight with John Duddy I have close to a hundred rounds of sparring in,” said Vanda. “I’m ready to fight, my body is feeling great, my timing, everything is on.”
“I love hostile crowds,” continued Vanda. “I hope the whole crowd is against me booing me it just makes me fight better. John Duddy is a very, very tough up and coming fighter and I would love to be the guy to give him his first loss. It should be a good fight; the best man is going to win.”
Also featured on the undercard, Russian Olympian Matt Korobov 3-0 (3) will face local Brooklyn native Cory Jones 4-4 (1).
In a non-televised bout “The Real Million Dollar Baby” Maureen Shea 13-0 (7) will challenge Kina Malpartida 8-3 (1) for the WBA Female Super Featherweight Title.
“I’m well aware that I will be fighting to be the first female Super Featherweight that the WBA has ever recognized as a world champion,” said Shea. “This opportunity is huge for me and I’m extremely excited and well prepared for it.”
