THE MECCA OF BOXING READY FOR COTTO-MARTINEZ WAR
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 05 Jun 2014
New York - Three days before their much anticipated duel at the Mecca of Boxing, WBC middleweight champ, Sergio Martinez of Argentina and popular challenger, Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico are all but ready to knock each other out this Saturday.
"I come prepared to win. I come to be in a war. Saturday, we will finish the talking & see the reality," said the champion in the final press conference held Wednesday afternoon in the smaller theater of Madison Square Garden.
This after Martinez spent more than a year off, after being sidelined with injury after his fight with Martin Murray last year.
Cotto, a three division champ in the lower weight class and a popular fighter in New York is glad that the champion is fit and ready for war that he intends to bring in front of thousands of his Puerto Rican fans that pack the house whenever he fights here at Madison Square Garden.
"It's good for us to hear Sergio is ready for a war. Because that's what people are gonna see," says Cotto.
Both fighters faced each other for the first time after getting acquainted with each other during their promotional tour last March.
Martinez held his WBC strap close to his chest during the face off, while Cotto looks at it with the intent of adding it to his waist this Saturday- which will be the fourth of his career.
Their fight is expected to sold out the historic Madison Square Garden, an expected twenty thousand plus fans will be on hand to watch it - most of them Puerto Ricans and Puerto Rican- Americans who will be celebrating the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday.
"This is the biggest Cotto fight in his nearly 10 fights at the TheGarden," said promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank- who this early is confident of a sold- out event.
Top Rank hopes that the newly renovated and improved MSG will be able to withstand the throng of fans that will be rocking the Mecca of Boxing in one of the biggest boxing events of the year.
"Where does boxing thrive the most?" It seems like it's in New York," says Todd DuBoef of Top Rank.
By the look of things, New York and The Mecca of Boxing is bound to deliver another big hit.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Crawford to defy odds?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
Sat, 13 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Vietnam’s Pool Revolution: Hanoi Open Pool Championship
Sat, 13 Sep 2025SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 12 Sep 2025