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On June 11th, WBO junior
welterweight champion Miguel Cotto will try to avenge his loss at
the 2000 Olympic games when he takes on Mohammad Abdullaev.
Abdullaev, the eventual gold medalist defeated Cotto in the first
round of the Olympics.
Cotto has
already avenged one of his amateur losses when he defeated Kelson
Pinto, and now he will try to avenge his Olympic loss. The fight
will take place at Madison Square Garden, the day before Puerto
Rican day in the Bronx. Cotto talked to the press during an
international conference call on Wednesday, and here's a little of
what he had to say.
-On what he
remembers from his fight in the Olympics with Abdullaev- I just
remember connecting with some really good punches that didn't get
counted. But, I'm not here to cry about that and on June 11th
you'll see how much we have progressed.
-On how is weight has been- I feel good at 140 right now, 140 is
where I want to stay until my body tells me otherwise.
-On how he
has changed since his 2000 fight with Abdullaev- I've learned a
lot since then, and I've
fought tougher opponents. I fight to win, round by round, and do
what I need to do, and keep the pressure on.
-On Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s comment that Cotto is not anywhere near
ready for him - Maybe Floyd doesn't think much of me, but I have
been able to KO some opponents that he wasn't able to. When you
hear his Uncle say that I'm the most dangerous threat at 140, then
he should know I'm ready for him.
-On
fighting in New York- I'm looking very forward to it, and it's
going to be a big event. Nobody will be disappointed that night.
-On taking
over the throne from Trinidad in Puerto Rico- I've been
promoted very well by Top Rank, and I think that they have
promoted me in my own light. I'm not trying to be him, and I think
that people know that I'm my own man. I'm not trying to supplant
anybody. There are a lot of good fighters on the island. The fans
will decide, and if they want it to be me then I would be humbled
by it.
-On what he
has seen from Abdullaev- I've seen very little of him. I don't
worry about my opponent, I only worry about what I do.
-On who he would like to fight in the future- I fight whoever they
put in front of me.
-On whom he likes in the Tszyu-Hatton fight- Tszyu has more
experience, is stronger, and should pull it off.
-On whether
beating Abdullaev is personal after what happened in the Olympic
games- I can't let personal get in the way, I'm a pro now, and the
Olympic chapter is over.
Cotto will take on Mohammad Abdullaev from Madison Square
Garden on June 11th. The fight will be televised on HBO's Boxing
After Dark with a good undercard headed by Joel Casamayor versus Kid
Diamond. The fight is being promoted by Top Rank.
6-1-2005
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