On the 26th of this month at the MGM Grand Garden, Las Vegas Nevada, Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto defends his WBA Welterweight Championship against Mexican Antonio Margarito
This 147 pound bout could go a long way to deciding who the premier welterweight is.
Cotto the two weight world champion is making the 5th defence of the title he first won back back in February 2006. Vulnerable at 140 pounds, Cotto has seemed stronger since moving up to the welterweight division and has certainly grown into the weight with ease.
Big names such Zab Judah and Shane Mosley have been the names amongst the 5 defences. The defence against Mosley last November particularly impressed me. Never an easy opponent and also coming off an impressive win against Fernando Vargas, Mosley used all the tricks in his arsenal to try and dethrone Cotto, but the Puerto Rican showing his trademark calmness under pressure rode the storm (especially Mosleys body punches) on the way to a hard fought but clear enough Unanimous decision verdict.
His opponent Antonio Margarito at 30 is 2 years older than Cotto. For the last 6 years he has been perceived as the dangerman of the division.
Since winning the WBO title in 2003 Margarito made 5 successful defences before meeting the highly touted American Paul Williams in July last year losing the belt on a close Unanimous decision verdict. In between his successful Welterweight title defences, Margarito dipped his toes into the 154 pound division losing on a Technical Decision to old foe Daniel Santos following a cut eye stoppage after 10 rounds in September 2004. More...
Two-division world champion Zab Judah, former world title challenger Joshua Clottey and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum will host a news conference luncheon for their upcoming IBF world welterweight title fight, tomorrow, Saturday, July 26 in Las Vegas, NV.
The IBF's top-rated contenders, Judah, 35-5 (25), from Brooklyn, and Clottey, 34-2 (20), a native of Ghana, now living in the Bronx, will be battling for the vacant IBF welterweight title vacated by Antonio Margarito, on Saturday, August 2 at The Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas. More...
The public is invited to witness the official weigh-in for what the media has dubbed "A Fight for the Ages." Undefeated WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto and two-time welterweight champion Antonio Margarito will step on the scale today, Friday, July 25 in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. More...
WBA light flyweight interim world title contenders Giovanni Segura of Mexico and Cesar Canchila of Colombia, rated No. 1 and No. 2 by the WBA respectively, undefeated super lightweight contender Mike Alvarado of Denver and former WBC lightweight champion Cesar Bazan of Mexico, NABF super bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion of the Philippines and former NABF super bantamweight champion Adam Carrera of Cathedral City, CA, will host a special News Conference for their undercard bouts on “The Battle!” / “La Batalla!” the four-fight pay-per-view extravaganza headlined by the Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito world welterweight championship fight. More...
On Monday, two-time world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito will host an open media workout in Montebello, CA, before breaking camp and heading to Las Vegas, NV.
Margarito is in his final days of preparation for “The Battle!”, the four-bout pay-per-view extravaganza headlined by Margarito’s world title rumble with WBA Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto, in a battle of legendary 147 pound superpowers. More...
Only one weekend separates boxing fans from fight week for the year's most eagerly anticipated event of the year! It's time for "The Battle", the four fight pay-per-view extravaganza, headlined by the collision of welterweight superpowers Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. More...
Antonio Margarito: I want to thank Bob for giving me this opportunity against Cotto and it is the biggest fight of my career. I am preparing myself very well for this fight and cannot wait to get up into the ring.
Sometimes you think things are not going to come your way. I did not want to leave my title on the table. I wanted to defend it. Things did not go as well there as I had expected, but the opportunity is here right now, it’s been a long road and now I am here. More...
On July 26, one of the biggest fights to grace the welterweight division will happen in Las Vegas. Be sure to circle the date and get ready to watch, along with Floyd Mayweather Jr, an amazing bout between two of the very best in the division.
Promoter Bob Arum is confident that this fight between two offensive minded boxers will be a huge draw for boxing fans worldwide. Arum even lobbied the Nevada State Athletic Commission to lower the limit on the 10 ounce gloves regulation to 8 ounce gloves.
When you factor all these equations together, this will be one of the most anticipated fights of the summer.
Now about the boxers: Miguel Cotto is coming off a massive victory against Alfonso Gomez in a five round massacre. Gomez was so badly beaten that it was necessary to stop the fight at the end of the fifth.
Cotto holds an undefeated record of 32 wins and no losses, with 26 knock outs. He is a skillful fighter with good speed and an aggressive mentality in the ring. His best asset as a fighter is his willingness to keep on coming and his willingness to get inside on boxers to get at the body.
He has always been a huge draw in the East Coast as his Puerto Rican fans flock into the venues to see his fights. Will he have a fair following in the West? Not likely and the reason why is Margarito.
Antonio Margarito knocked out his last opponent, Kermit Cintron. It took six rounds for Margarito to claim the victory against an ever diminishing Cintron. More...
Undefeated WBA Welterweight Champion Miguel Cotto will host an open media workout in Caguas, Puerto Rico today, Friday, July 18. This will be Cotto’s final day working out in preparation for “The Battle!”, the four-bout pay-per-view extravaganza headlined by Cotto’s world title defense in a thrilling matchup against two-time world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito. More...
Question: How do you see this title defense with Antonio Margarito on July 26?
Miguel Cotto: This is just another fight for me. It’s a fight that Margarito wants to take my title – and that makes it big enough for me. Margarito is a great fighter. I have trained to win this fight and that is all that’s on my mind right now – win this fight.
I feel the same right now, in this fight with Margarito, as I do going into most of my fights. This is going to be a battle in the ring. Everyone that shows up is going to see a real battle because he is trying to take my title away. More...
Undefeated WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto will host an open media workout in Puerto Rico, this Friday, July 18. This will be Cotto’s final day working out in preparation for “The Battle!”, the four-bout pay-per-view extravaganza headlined by Cotto’s world title defense against two-time world welterweight champion Antonio Margarito, in a battle of legendary welterweight superpowers. More...
HBO Sports will present two exclusive prime time replays of Diaz vs.Pacquiao this week. The first showing is this Thursday, July 3 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT and the second and final showing will be broadcast this Saturday, July 5 at 10:00 P.M. ET/PT on HBO.
The HBO Sports team, which was ringside for the live event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, will call all the action. The replay will be available in HDTV.
In a blistering display of skill and power, Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao won a world title in his fourth weight class by belting out WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz in the ninth round of a one-sided mismatch last night at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
It was clear from the start that Pacquiao was by far the better equipped fighter as the 29 year old living legend bombarded his fellow southpaw Diaz with a two handed assault that hardly wavered during the course of the bout.
Diaz began the contest by backing up Pacquiao, targeting the body of "Pac Man" but as the challenger began to find range with right hook and straight left counters, the WBC champion's resolve began to crumble.
When Diaz stopped moving forward, it became target practice for Paquiao, who landed at will against his much slower rival, zapping in a variety of shots and scoring with crushing uppercuts, hooks and crosses.
As the rounds wore on, numerous cuts developed on the face of Diaz including a nasty laceration over the right eye from an unintentional clash of heads. The cause looked lost for the champion as early as the fourth round but Diaz simply would not quit. More...
After a long media buildup, the eagerly anticipated lightweight debut of Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao finally takes place tonight at the Mandalay Bay Casino in Las Vegas, as the hard punching dynamo challenges reigning WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz in a battle of southpaws, topping a quality Top Rank promoted card.
Diaz, 34-1-1 (17), will have a size advantage against Pacquiao as the Chicago native is a natural light welter who won the WBC crown with a close unanimous decision win against Erik Morales last August that sent the Mexican legend into retirement.
But size has never meant much to Pacquiao, 46-3-2 (35), who turned pro at 106 pounds in 1995 before winning world titles at flyweight, super bantam and most recently, the WBC Super Feather belt against Juan Manuel Marquez by split decision in March. More...
During Monday's press conference in Los Angeles, a goat, an alleged descendent of Murphy, the goat owned by William Sianis, was presented to Diaz and Pacquiao.
Cubs fans are well aware of the "Curse of the Billy Goat" from 1945 when Sianis, the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, and Murphy, were thrown out of Wrigley Field during Game 4 of the World Series. Sianis put a hex on the Cubs, claiming they would never again win a pennant or play in the World Series. The Cubs lost the '45 World Series to the Detroit Tigers and they have never again won the pennant, much less appeared in another World Series.
"Listen, man, when I saw that goat, that scared me," Diaz said. "I started shaking. Imagine if the Cubs start losing. I'm not having that on my ticket. No way am I going to be responsible for the Cubs losing." More...
Hall of Fame Top Rank promoter Bob Arum spoke during a press conference above the Pacific Ocean at the west end of the historic Santa Monica Pier yesterday as "Billy the Goat" looked on. More...
WBC Super Featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao, boxingʼs No. 1 pound for pound fighter, and WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz, the pride of Chicago, will make their grand arrivals today followed by media workouts as they kickoff fight week in Las Vegas for their world title fight.
Pacquiao, 46-3-2 (35), is riding a seven bout win streak that has seen him vanquish such top names as Juan Manuel Marquez, Eric Morales (twice), Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar Larios, Jorge Solis and Hector Velazquez over the last three years. More...
Lee Samuels: The three-division world champion is here -Manny Pacquiao - he’s been training weeks at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. He looks tremendous; he’s in top condition. And he’s all set for Lethal Combination. Manny Pacquiao challenges WBC lightweight champion David Diaz - Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino Saturday, June 28 live on HBO pay per view; one of the most exiting events we’ve had in a long, long time at Top Rank. More...
Lee Samuels: This is a very, very exciting day for Top Rank. The champion is here with us, David Diaz, WBC Lightweight Champion, and he’s getting ready and set for “Lethal Combination,” Saturday June 28 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. He’s going to defend his title against Manny Pacquiao, the three-division World Champion, in an explosive match-up.
David’s been training very, very hard in Chicago and he’s going to be taking all your questions today. At this time I’m going to turn it over to my boss, the Hall of Fame Promoter and CEO of Top Rank, Bob Arum - Bob.
Bob Arum: Thank you Lee. We’re down to the stretch in this promotion. The card that we’re presenting on HBO Pay-Per-View on June 28 is an outstanding one. In addition to the WBC Lightweight Championship between Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz; Steven Luevano is defending his Featherweight championship against Mario Santiago. Humberto Soto faces Francisco Lorenzo in the WBC Interim 130 pound title fight, and there’s a 10 round heavyweight attraction; Tye Fields of Las Vegas faces Monte Barrett. More...
WBC Lightweight Champion David Diaz will hit the airwaves this weekend to discuss his upcoming showdown with "The Mexicutioner", Manny Pacquiao set for Saturday, June 28 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. More...
