NEW YORK, NY (June 9, 2009) – Video: World Boxing Organization welterweight champion MIGUEL COTTO hosted an open Media workout in Manhattan at Trinity Boxing Gym. This will be Cotto’s final Media Workout as he prepares for his world title defense against Joshua Clottey. Cotto was also interviewed following his workout in preparation for Saturday June 13 fight against Joshua Clottey at Madsion Square Garden. Promoted by Top Rank, Cotto vs. Clottey will take place This Saturday!, June 13, at the “Mecca of Boxing,” Madison Square Garden in New York, on the eve of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade..
Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, a three-time world champion in two divisions, and Clottey (35-2, 21 KOs), a native of Ghana now living in the Bronx, NY, who captured the International Boxing Federation welterweight crown in his last fight, are 14-2 (11 KOs), in world title bouts.
Miguel Cotto Public Workout In The Bronx
MIGUEL COTTO, (33-1, 27 KOs), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, held a Public Workout in the Bronx on June 6 in an outdoor ring at 152nd and Wales Streets. Cotto, who is in his final week of training, will be defending his WBO welterweight title against JOSHUA CLOTTEY, (35-2, 21 KOs), from the Bronx, Saturday, June 13, at Madison Square Garden.
This marks the fourth time in the past five years that Cotto, a two-division world titleist, will headline at the “Mecca of Boxing” on the eve of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Clottey returns to the ring after defeating Brooklyn brawler Zab Judah and winning the IBF welterweight title. Together, Cotto and Clottey have a combined record of 68-3 (48 KOs) – a winning percentage of 96% and a victory by knockout ratio exceeding 70%.
This action-packed card will also feature undefeated WBO junior flyweight champion Ivan Calderon (32-0, 6 KOs), of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, defending his title against No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger Rodel Mayol (25-3, 19 KOs), of Cebu, Philippines.
Over 15,000 seats have been sold. Remaining tickets to Cotto vs. Clottey, priced at $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50, can be purchased at the Garden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets or online at www.thegarden.com. HBO will broadcast the fight live at 10:35 p.m. ET / 7:35 P.M. PT.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: MIGUEL COTTO VS. JOSHUA CLOTTEY
HBO Sports delivers a New York City knock-out of a prizefight with a welterweight title on the line when WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: MIGUEL COTTO VS. JOSHUA CLOTTEY is presented live SATURDAY, JUNE 13 (10:35 p.m. ET/7:35 p.m. PT) from Madison Square Garden, exclusively on HBO. Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman and Emanuel Steward will be ringside for the event, which will be presented in HDTV and in Spanish on HBO Latino. Larry Merchant and Lennox Lewis are off to Canastota, New York to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on June 14.
Puerto Rican sensation Miguel Cotto (33-1, 27 KOs), returns to The Garden hoping to record another victory at the world’s most famous arena on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade. In this venerable sports institution he has tasted memorable triumphs against Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, Paul Malignaggi, Mohamad Abdulaev and most recently, captured his second welterweight crown with a convincing knockout victory against top-rated Michael Jennings in February. Eleven months after absorbing the only loss of his stellar career in the hot spotlight of Las Vegas, the popular Cotto, 28, will be looking to regain momentum in the debate over who is the premier welterweight in the world as he defends his crown in this hot 12-round showdown.
Ghana native Joshua Clottey (35-2, 20 KOs), who now lives in the Bronx, has the potential to establish himself as an elite welterweight with a victory over Cotto. With durability and intense physicality, 31-year-old Clottey achieved prominence after winning his first 20 fights and last year captured his first welterweight title by defeating former undisputed champ Zab Judah. Despite two losses, Clottey has become a feared competitor in the division and is a high-risk, often-avoided opponent who consistently brings his A-game. Delighted at the opportunity to fight for the first time at the Garden, Clottey is sure to bring heat in this highly anticipated clash of powerhouse welterweights.
The big Saturday night of entertainment and boxing on HBO includes the debut of the theatrical box office blockbuster “The Dark Knight” at 8:00 p.m. ET/9:00 p.m. PT. With a free HBO preview weekend offered to cable and satellite distributors, participating systems will be able to show the movie and fight to an expanded audience.
All HBO boxing events are broadcast in HDTV. HBO viewers must have access to the HBO HDTV channel to watch HBO programming in high definition.