COTTO VS. ALI FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
*NEW YORK CITY (NOV. 30, 2017)* Four division world champion *Miguel
Cotto* (41-5,
33 KOs) and current WBA International Welterweight Champion *Sadam “World
Kid” Ali* (25-1, 14 KOs) today hosted the final press conference for their
WBO World Junior Middleweight Championship fight, which takes place Saturday,
Dec. 2 at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden, and will be
televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET
/PT.
Joining Cotto and Ali at the final press conference were undercard fighters
including WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion Rey Vargas (30-0, 22 KOs)
and NABF Bantamweight Champion Oscar “El Jaguar” Negrete (17-0, 7 KOs), who
will fight for Vargas’s belt in the HBO-televised co-main event. They were
also joined by featherweight contender Ronny Rios (28-2, 13 KOs), super
lightweight contender Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (17-1, 7 KOs), junior
flyweight contender Angel “Tito” Acosta (16-1, 16 KOs), and Aaron
“Silencer” McKenna, Ireland’s no. 1 ranked amateur fighter who will
make his professional debut under the Golden Boy Promotions banner on
Saturday.
Here are what the fighters, their teams, and promoters had to say at
today’s final press conference at Madison Square Garden:
*MIGUEL COTTO, FOUR DIVISION WORLD CHAMPION: *
“It’s been a pleasure for me to try to entertain you guys for 17 years. I
have done my best at every opportunity for the benefit of my family. They
mean everything to me and I am so proud of them and they are so proud of me.
“On Saturday, I will be the same Miguel you have watched for the last 16
years. I am going to be a warrior and do my best for the benefit of my
family, as always.”
*SADAM “WORLD KID” ALI, Current **WBA International Welterweight Champion:*
“Thank you to Team Cotto for this opportunity. I’ve been training almost my
whole life, since I was eight years old. Everyone wants an opportunity like
this for a world title against a legend. If you’re not ready for a legend
like Miguel Cotto then you’re going to be in trouble. On Saturday night you
are going to see an amazing fight.”
*FREDDIE ROACH, Trainer to Miguel Cotto:*
“It’s a sad moment to say this is our last training camp because I’m going
to miss Miguel a lot. Yesterday in the gym was the best I’ve ever seen
Miguel. No one talked about retirement in camp. He’s in great shape and
didn’t take anything lightly in camp. He’s going to go out on top and
you’re going to see the best Miguel yet.”
*ANDRE ROZIER, Trainer to Sadam “World Kid” Ali:*
“Here we are – the work has been done. It’s been a strong, hard and
diligent camp. He showed me that he wants to be that fighter that contends
against a legend like Miguel Cotto, someone who is one of my favorite
fighters. We are coming to entertain a crowd and come out victorious on
Saturday.”
*ERIC GOMEZ, President of Golden Boy Promotions:*
“We are extremely excited for Saturday’s historic event at the ‘Mecca of
Boxing,’ Madison Square Garden, and very happy with the response and ticket
sales. The tickets are going fast, it’s going to be a big push these last
final days for tickets.
“Miguel has fought at The Garden many times. This place is like a second
home to him. He’s definitely going to be a hall of famer once it’s all said
and done but he will have a tough test come Saturday night.
“Sadam deserves credit and recognition for doing something far too many
boxers shy away from – taking on a legend in daring to be great. That is
how you make a real name for yourself in boxing. You’ll never know what’s
possible if you don’t try it. Greatness happens when you pursue tough
challenges, win or lose.
“I’ve never seen Sadam in better shape so I know he worked hard. You cannot
underestimate the power of a dream. Sadam has always dreamed at being at
this stage in his career. I’ve done boxing for many years and these are the
types that can be dangerous fights – anything can happen when you have a
young, hungry fighter like Sadam Ali.
“This is the second fight for Golden Boy to work with Miguel Cotto. The
conversation with Miguel and his team for this fight was ‘Is Golovkin
available? If not, I’ll fight anybody. Just tell me the date and the weight
and I’ll be there.’ That is so refreshing to hear as a promoter and that is
how Miguel has been throughout his career. It goes to show that when you
believe in yourself, you’ll fight anyone. Saturday will be a great
celebration and it will be a special night.”
*REY VARGAS, **Current WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion:*
“I’m happy and motivated to be part of this great fight. Miguel Cotto is a
great fighter, and I’m happy to be part of this card. I’m enthusiastic for
this fight because Oscar Negrete is a great fighter, and he is coming for
my title.
“You will see on Saturday why I am number one and why I would like to be
number one forever. I am a champion, and I will do what Cotto did in his
career – I want to be number one for the people. I’m ready for Saturday,
and I’m going to give it my everything.”
*OSCAR “EL JAGUAR” NEGRETE, Current NABF Bantamweight Champion:*
“I want to thank Golden Boy Promotions for the opportunity to fight for
this title. In order to become a champion you have to take these types of
fighters on. I know that Rey is a great champion, but I am at a great
moment in my career, and I am here to win the title..”
*CESAR GARCIA, M**anager to Oscar Negrete:*
“I realized early in his career that Oscar would be fighter that is able to
fight for a title. I never thought it would happen as a co-main event on a
great card like this one at The Garden. We are here to win and fully intend
to do so.”
*IGNACIO “NACHO” BERISTAIN, **Trainer to Rey Vargas:*
“Fighting Oscar Negrete will be a great fight. This is Rey Vargas’ second
title defense and it is a great honor to be the co-main event for the card
that is Miguel Cotto’s retirement fight.”
*PETER NELSON, Executive Vice President of HBO Sports: *
“Saturday will be Miguel’s 24th appearance on HBO. Its privilege to have
Miguel on HBO for the final fight of his career. It’s been a great honor
for HBO to be associated with Miguel’s career. He is a terrific ambassador
for the sport.
“We wanted the best fight possible for the final fight of his career.
Miguel has never walked away from a tough challenge, and Saturday night
will be no different. Miguel wants to cement his legacy against a young and
hungry fighter like Ali who also wants to cement his place in the sport.”
*JOEL FISHER, Executive Vice President of Marquee Events:*
“Saturday will be a bittersweet day for us at The Garden. We’ve have a
great relationship with Miguel that dates back to 2005.
“When we first started with Miguel, his kids were little but now they are
grown. He has sold more than 150,000 tickets at The Garden. Saturday will
be the tenth time Miguel has fought at The Garden. Miguel is what makes The
Garden what it is as the ‘Mecca of Boxing.’ It makes us happy that Miguel
is going out on his own terms.”
*HECTOR SOTO, Vice President of Miguel Cotto Promotions: *
“This Saturday is going to be an emotional but great event. We want to
thank Golden Boy Promotions their work with us to help promote Puerto Rican
boxing. Thank you Miguel for giving me the opportunity to do this work.
Thank you to Sadam Ali and his team for accepting this challenge. On
Saturday, we will celebrate the end of a great career.”
*FRANCISCO “PACO” VALCARCEL, **President of the WBO:*
“Thank you to HBO and Golden Boy Promotions for supporting this show. Thank
you to Sadam Ali for agreeing to fight the legend Miguel Cotto. Boxing will
miss Miguel Cotto but we will celebrate him on Saturday. Good luck to both
fighters.”
*ANGEL “TITO” ACOSTA, Junior Flyweight Contender:*
“Thank you Paco Valcarcel for this opportunity to fight for a title. I know
I have a tough opponent and that he is hungry and wants a world title as
well. Thank you DirectTV for showing my title fight in Puerto Rico so that
all my friends and family can watch it.”
*RONNY RIOS, Featherweight Contender:*
“This is the second chapter of my career. I’m looking to going out there on
Saturday to show that I am not boring, that I am a great fighter and put on
a performance for everyone.”
*ZACHARY OCHOA, Super Lightweight Contender:*
“Thank you to my trainer and manager for their support. It’s been a rocky
year for me but that’s what life is about. On Saturday I am going to put on
a great performance.”
*AARON MCKENNA, Welterweight Prospect Making his Professional Debut:*
“I’m really looking forward to my fight on Saturday. It’s an honor to fight
and make my professional debut on such a big card.”
*Cotto vs. Ali*, a 12-round fight for the Cotto’s WBO World Junior
Middleweight Championship, is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel
Cotto Promotions. *Vargas vs. Negrete* is a 12-round fight for Vargas’ WBC
World Super Bantamweight Title and is presented by Golden Boy Promotions
and Miguel Cotto Promotions in association with Promociones del Pueblo. The
event is sponsored by *Tecate, “THE OFFICIAL BEER OF BOXING,*” “*Hennessy:
Never Stop. Never Settle.”, *and Casa Mexico Tequila. The event will take
place Saturday, Dec. 2 at Madison Square Garden in New York City and will
be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m.
ET/PT. The RingTV.com
livestream will begin at approximately 7:00 p.m. ET/ 4:00 p.m. PT.
Tickets for Cotto vs. Ali are priced at $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50 and
are on sale. Tickets can be purchased at the Madison Square Garden Box
Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster charge by phone (866-858-0008
<(866)%20858-0008>) and online at www.ticketmaster.com
, www.goldenboytickets.com
or www.MSG.com
.
