| |
|
?LA BATALLA? NEWS CONFERENCE
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 21 May 2008
Los Angeles, CA:- Today at the Olympic Ballroom of the upscale Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel at Century City south of Beverly Hills, Top Rank Promotions hosted the first of the many press conferences they scheduled to hype ?The Battle? (?La Batalla?), a meeting between two world class fighters, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.
Cotto who hails from Puerto Rico holds the WBA Welterweight title, while Margarito of Mexico, the IBF Welterweight crown.
Cotto initially got his title in February 2006 via a 5th round RTD of Carlos Quintana. He defended it against Oktay Ukal in Puerto Rico ( TKO 11th) , Zab Judah in New York TKO 11th), Shane Mosley also in New York UD- 12rds), and Alfonso Gomez in April 2008 in New Jersey.(RTD 5th)
Margarito on the other hand earned his crown by defeating Kermit Cintron in New Jersey last April via a 6th rd KO. Previous to that, he was the WBO Welterweight champ but he lost the crown to Paul Williams via a 12 round UD at a fight held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California in July of 2007.
?The Battle? will take place on Saturday, July 26, 2008 at the MGM Grand Casino Resort and Casino Events Center in Las Vegas. It will be a 12 round title fight and will be shown live on HBO PPV.
Bob Arum, the Top Rank head honcho indicated that the Cotto-Margarito fight will be ?one of the best fights in the history of the division?.
Cotto admitted that it will be a very tough fight but he is confident that at the end of the fight, his hands will be raised in victory.
Margarito for his part promised that Mexico will have a new champion.
So we shall see!
Top photo: Miguel Cotto (L) and Antonio Margarito pose after the Los Angeles presscon.
Cotto (L) and Margarito (R) pose with Top Rank president Bob Arum.
Photos by Mike Quidilla.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Jamaine Ortiz Eager to Face Steve Claggett in Co-Main Event of MVP Fight Night on DAZN
, Thu, 07 Aug 2025Happy 53rd Birthday to the One and Only Gerry Peñalosa!!!
By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025FLORIDA POOL OPEN DAY TWO: GORST FALLS TO ATENCIO AS CHUA, YAPP, AND DUONG CRUISE INTO LAST 64
, Thu, 07 Aug 2025128 chess players officially registered for Touchmove
By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025Japanese Rule of the Lower Weights Under Challenge by Pinoy, Latino Boxers
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 07 Aug 2025September 6: Former World Champion Oscar Valdez Faces Ricky "El Castigo" Medina in Mexican Homecoming at Domo Binacional in Nogales
, Thu, 07 Aug 2025Former World Champion & U. S. Olympian Sadam Ali to headline “The Return” on August 31 in Detroit
, Thu, 07 Aug 2025"Pitbull" Cruz receives his WBC Belt in Mexico City
By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 06 Aug 2025Japanese Rule of Lower Weights Under Challenge; Head-Scratching Latest WBC World Rankings
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 06 Aug 2025UNDERCARD ADDITIONS ANNOUNCED FOR ALLEN v MAKHMUDOV AS HEARN EXPECTS TICKETS TO FLY FOR OCTOBER 11 IN SHEFFIELD
, Wed, 06 Aug 2025Yoenis Tellez to Defend WBA Interim Title Against Abass Baraou in High-Stakes Showdown on DAZN
, Wed, 06 Aug 2025CB Promotions To Debut This Fall
, Wed, 06 Aug 20252 Division World Champion, Current WBO, The Ring Super Lightweight Champion Teofimo Lopez Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13,
, Wed, 06 Aug 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 11 - ALI GETS BACK HIS BOXING LICENSE, WINS OVER QUARRY, BONAVENA AND ELLIS
By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 4 AUGUST 2025: Canizales Stops Pradabsri in Caracas; Duarte Outpoints Sims; Prograis Edges Diaz; Ancajas Wins in US Return
By Eric Armit, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Unforgettable Moments with the Champions
By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025IT’S A “HOMECOMING” FOR FIVE-TIME WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER MARICELA CORNEJO FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 AT LEGENDS CASINO
, Tue, 05 Aug 2025HERNANDEZ STOPS GARNETT IN TENTH ROUND IN MAIN EVENT OF CHRISTY MARTIN PROMOTIONS’ “MAYHEM IN MUSIC CITY 2”
, Tue, 05 Aug 2025YOELVIS GOMEZ READY TO SHINE IN RETURN BOUT AGAINST EDWINE HUMAINE JUNIOR
, Tue, 05 Aug 2025Team USA’s Youth High Performance Team made a major statement in Germany
, Tue, 05 Aug 2025Adam wins 2nd BBG 300 Ultra Marathon
By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025Legendary boxing trainer John Brown honored by Kansas City Royals
, Tue, 05 Aug 2025All or nothing for Jerwin
By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 04 Aug 2025Triumphant Return: Jerwin Ancajas Defeats Casero in Los Angeles, Good Job!
By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 04 Aug 2025IM Concio Sweeps Kamatyas Open
By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 04 Aug 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
