Cotto-Margarito Countdown Clock is Ticking
Posted by Ramon Aranda on 07.18.2008
The rumble in the desert is almost here, plus updates on some upcoming Top Rank fights.
Welterweight powerhouses Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito are getting set to collide in the biggest fight of the year -"The Battle - La Batalla!" - at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, July 26.
Cotto did his Media Day today in Caguas, Puerto Rico. Margarito will have his Media Day on Monday at the Montebello PAL Gym at 1 pm.
From there, it is off to Las Vegas.
Their grand arrivals will take place at the MGM Grand on Tuesday, July 22 beginning at 11 a.m. - look for custom designed buses in front of the main entrance.
Bob Arum said "....this is the most exciting Top Rank event we've had in years. I cannot wait until fight week."
On a conference call this week, Arum noted"...I promote both fighters and each came to us in a completely different way. Miguel we had from the beginning right out of the Olympics and Antonio Margarito had quite a few fights before coming to us. They are both terrific fighters and the one thing I take pleasure in is that the battle of these two guys are in the biggest fight in years and in a fight that is attracting a lot of attention and they are both treated with dignity and first class. We have special buses that each will be traveling in during fight week. Each is treated like a true champion and Bob Arum will be sitting at ringside with the outcome having absolutely no affect on me – that's how I like it."
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On the eve of 'La Batalla' Jesus Soto Karass will battle David Estrada on a Top Rank/Solo Boxeo Tecate fight card on Friday, July 25 at the Hard Rock Hotel-Casino in Las Vegas. There is an early start time - 4:15 pm - for this event. Soto Karass and Estrada will be in the ring at 6 pm.
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UPCOMING TOP RANK FIGHTS
Friday, July 25, Hard Rock Hotel-Casino, Las Vegas - Telefutura
12 Rds., NABF Welterweight Championship
JESUS SOTO KARASS, 20-3-3, 14 KOs, Los Angeles
vs. DAVID ESTRADA, 22-4, 13 KOs, Chicago
8 Rds., Super Featherweights
BRANDON RIOS, 17-0, 11 KOs, Oxnard, Ca.
vs. ANGEL RECIO, 11-2, 2 KOs, Mao, Dominican Republic
Saturday, July 26, MGM Grand, Las Vegas - HBO PPV
"THE BATTLE - LA BATTALIA"
12 Rds., WBA Welterweight Championship
Champion MIGUEL COTTO, 32-0, 26 KOs, Caguas, Puerto Rico
vs. ANTONIO MARGARITO, 36-5, 26 KOs, Tijuana
12 Rds., Interim WBA Light Flyweight Championship
#1 rated GIOVANNI SEGURA, 19-0-1, 5 KOs, Bell Gardens, Ca.
vs. #2 rated CESAR CANCILA, 26-1, 21 KOs, Monteria, Colombia
10 Rds., Super Lightweights
MIKE ALVARADO, 21-0, 14 KOs, Denver
vs. CESAR BAZAN, 48-10-1, 31 KOs, Mexico City
10 Rds., Super Bantamweights
BERNABE CONCEPCION, 25-1-1, 14 KOs, Rizal, Philippines
vs. ADAM CARRERA, 19-3, 8 KOs, Cathedral City, Ca.
Saturday, August 2, The Palms, Las Vegas - HBO After Dark
12 Rds., Vacant IBF Welterweight Championship
JOSHUA CLOTTEY, 34-2, 20 KOs, Accra, Ghana
Vs ZAB JUDAH, 36-5, 25 KOs, Brooklyn, N.Y.
10 Rds., Lightweights
ANTHONY PETERSON, 27-0, 19 KOs, Washington, D.C.
vs. JAVIER JAUREGUI, 53-14-2, 36 KOs, Guadalajara, Mexico
Saturday, August 30, Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum, Bayamon, Puerto Rico - PPV
Latin Fury 6
12 Rds., WBO Jr Flyweight Championship
Champion IVAN 'IRON BOY' CALDERON, 31-0, 6 KOs, Bayamon, Puerto Rico
vs. HUGO CAZARES, 26-4-1, 19 KOs, Los Mochis, Mexico
12 Rds., NABO Jr Featherweight Championship
ROMAN MARTINEZ, 19-0-1, 11 KOs, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
vs. SANTOS BENAVIDES, 14-1-1, 12 KOs, Chontales, Nicaragua
12 Rds., NABO Bantamweight Championship
ERIC MOREL, 38-2, 20 KOs, San Juan, Puerto Rico
vs. HERIBERTO RUIZ, 39-6-2, 23 KOs, Los Mochis, Mexico
12 Rds., WBO Latino Welterweight Championship
EURI GONZALEZ, 16-0-1, 11 KOs, Santo Domingo, D.R.
vs. EDWIN VAZQUEZ, 22-12-2, 8 KOs, San Juan, Puerto Rico
