World welterweight champion Miguel Cotto, looking strong and powerful, spoke to the international media yesterday at his open press workout in Tampa, Florida.
Miguel Cotto: ?It?s going to be a tough fight June 13 against Joshua Clottey. He is a real warrior and is coming to fight and I also fight so it should be a great fight. We will prove in the ring who is the better of the two.?
?All I am thinking about is Clottey right now. That?s the fight at hand and I cannot get side-tracked thinking about other fights or fighters. I know the fight is out there (with Pacquiao) and is something that might be possible, but for now all I can think about is June 13 at the Garden.?
MIGUEL COTTO ON TRAINING IN TAMPA
?It has been good for me. I have stayed focused on my training and doing what I need to do without distractions. It has been difficult because I?m away from my family.
?I?m doing the same things I have always done to get ready for a fight, but maybe with just a little more intensity and more concentration on the task ahead.?
ON HIS NEW TRAINER
?Joe (Santiago) and I have worked together for a long time. I now have more responsibilities, but it has worked out well. I feel comfortable with him and have the faith that he will have me ready for this fight. Everything else is up to me.
?I think the fact that he knows me so well has also helped in the transition. We both are doing our jobs to the best of our abilities?
ON JOSHUA CLOTTEY
?It?s going to be a tough fight. Clottey is a real warrior and is coming to fight and I also fight so it should be a great fight. We will prove in the ring who is the better of the two.?
?I have confidence that I will win this fight and prove I am still the best welterweight in the world?
FIGHTING AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
?It has been a good place for me to fight. It?s like I?m at home at the Garden. The fans are great, the building is great, its just a very special place for me and I really enjoy fighting there
?And the fact that is on the eve on the (Puerto Rican) Parade makes even more important for me to perform well and win?
ON MANNY PACQUAIO
?All I am thinking about is Clottey right now. That?s the fight at hand and I cannot get side-tracked thinking about other fights or fighters. I know the fight is out there (with Pacquiao) and is something that might be possible, but for now all I can think about is June 13 at the Garden.?
Promoted by Top Rank, Cotto vs. Clottey will take place 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, are 14-2 (11 KOs), in world championship bouts.
The Cotto vs. Clottey World Welterweight Championship, will be broadcast live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:35 p.m. ET / 7:35 p.m. PT. The telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can receive HD. For your Cotto vs. Clottey fight week updates, log on to www.toprank.com and www.hbo.com.
