Boxing Returns to Yankees Stadium

I have a "gut" feeling that Miguel Cotto will not deny himself a chance at a 4th. world title, and will win a frustrating but hard fought decision.

[BoxingGlove Notes]

Lonn Trost, Yankees Chief Operations Officer, and Bob Arum, Chairman of Top Rank, have teamed up to initiate a new era in modern day boxing.

They both hosted a Press Conference on Friday, April 9, 2010 to announce a Super Welterweight Championship fight between current W.B.A. Super Welterweight Champ Yuri Foreman, 28-0, 8 k.o.’s and former 3 times World Champion, Miguel Cotto, 34-2, 27 k.o.’s on Saturday, June 5, 2010,  and traditionally, just before the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, in the new Yankees Stadium.

To most boxing historians and fans, this announcement brought back memories of the great fights of the past in the House that Ruth built, such as the Brown Bomber, Joe Louis’ total k.o. destruction of Max Schmeling, June 22, 1938, Sugar Ray Robinson’s t.k.o. loss to Joey Maxim due to the heat in his quest for the Light Heavyweight Crown, in june 25, 1952, Ingemar Johansson’s  upset t.k.o. over Floyd Patterson, June 26, 1959, up to the last fight featuring Muhammad Ali’s decision win over Ken Norton, September 28, 1976, just to name a few of the 46 fight history of Yankees Stadium.

On Saturday, June 5, 2010, this tradition will be revived with 2 young great and talented fighters in Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto at the new house that Ruth did not build, and also the new home of the 27 times World Series Champions, The New York Yankees, which caused Bob Arum to state, “It could not get any better than this”!

Addressing the mass media in attendance, you could not help but notice how awe struck both fighters Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto were stepping into the shoes of past ring greats who fought in the old Yankees Stadium before them, and now they will be making history as being the first of a new era of boxing in the new Yankees Stadium in this championship “Stadium Slugfest” as it is titled.

Because of the different styles of these 2 ring warriors, it could turn out to be a slugfest or a boxing classic. Miguel Cotto nervously stated that, “fighting in Yankees Stadium is like stepping into sacred ground only reserved for a chosen few”. Yet, if he fights with the ferocity he displayed knocking out former champ Carlos Quintana, he should realize his dream of a 4th world title. You just have to wonder which Cotto will show up June 5, because of his 2 devastating k.o. losses at the hands of Antonio Margarito, and most recently, Manny Pacquiao. You also have to take in consideration the tragic loss of his dad, Miguel, Sr. who was always in his corner his entire career.

Cotto, did say however, that he will miss his Dad, his “best friend”, but he has to move forward as he is moving forward now and not looking back at those k.o. losses. They-the k.o.’s- “are a thing of the past”, he said.

Miguel Cotto further stated that with his new head trainer, Hall of Famer, Emmanuel Steward, they’ll be working on some new tactics to assure the victory over Foreman to win his 4th. world title, and assured us that he could still make the 147 pound weight limit and this is only a new challenge for him as any athlete in any sport challenges himself.

As for Super Welterweight Champ, Yuri Foreman, a Rabbinical student, looking younger than, than his 29 years of age, and ironically the same age as Cotto, he was his comical self, looking like a kid in a candy store, very happy to be making his first defense of his crown that he won from Daniel Santos by a unanimous decision November 4, 2009, becoming the first Israeli to win a world title in 7 years honoring  the great Benny Leonard.

Foreman admitted however, that this was a tough task fighting a warrior like 3 times champ Cotto, but in order to “prove greatness and establish your self in boxing history, you have to fight the best, and Cotto is the best”.

Yuri further stated that he will fight Cotto the way he has fought all of his other opponents, and whatever Cotto “brings to the table, I will meet the challenge, whether it is slugging or boxing, but, I will win.”

On personalities, it is very difficult to choose a winner of this championship contest being that they are both so soft spoken, Husbands and Fathers, and as Yuri stated, he stills takes out the garbage on his Wife’s orders. But, nevertheless, they are both confident of victory.

Will Miguel Cotto in his hard punching body punishing style be able to stalk Foreman and punish him severly as he has done to his other opponents, and maybe win by knockout, or will Foreman a Willie Pep, wil-of-the-wisp, style fighter be able to out speed Cotto using his superior jab, and win by decision?

Well, your guess is as good as mine, but I have a “gut” feeling that Miguel Cotto will not deny himself a chance at a 4th. world title, and will win a frustrating but hard fought decision.

 

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