KOTAI TAKES OFF TO THE "PROMISED LAND"

06.11 - After a final meeting in Budapest yesterday with manager Olaf Schroeder and promoter Krzysztof Zbarski, who came especially for the occasion from their respective homes in Germany and Poland, Hungary's top professional boxer Mihaly Kotai has today boarded his plane to Las Vegas, where the unbeaten superwelterweight will open a new chapter of his so far explosive career when he makes his American debut in the "Mecca of Boxing" on November 16.

In the meantime, it has also been confirmed that the opponent of the WBC International champion will be sturdy Ruben Perez from Texas, who is sure to provide a test for Kotai. Despite having five losses on his 17-fight pro log, Perez has never lost inside the scheduled distance. However, should Kotai indeed underline the fact of being Hungary's most successful active prizefighter with an impressive win in front of a worldwide audience, manager Schroeder confirmed that their next step will be to defend the WBC International crown as soon as possible to improve on the 26-year-old's ratings, which currently see him placed # 5 EBU and # 15 WBC. Kotai's own record stands at an unblemished 19-0 (11).

The Magyar's encounter with Perez, scheduled for eight rounds, will take place on the Top Rank-promoted "Never Surrender" megacard at the famous Mandalay Bay Events Center as one of the supporting bouts to the Eric Morales v Paulie Ayala featherweight superfight. RTL Klub will televise the fights nationwide in Hungary.

PHOTO: "This is the promised land calling and the poor boy's on the line" - Mihaly Kotai looks to make it big in Las Vegas.