Miguel Cotto fights Sadam Ali on Sat. on BoxNation

By BoxNation - 12/01/2017 - Comments

Boxing legend Miguel Cotto has vowed to go out with a bang as he enters the ring for the final time this Saturday night. The future Hall-of-Famer who has won world titles in four different divisions will fight for the last time against 2008 Olympian Sadam Ali, exclusively live on BoxNation.

Taking place at the iconic Madison Square Garden, for what will be the 10th time Cotto has fought there, the Puerto Rican superstar has been reflecting on his glorious career and promised one last big performance before hanging up the gloves.

“I enjoyed my whole career, and I can’t point at one fight. Every moment made me the boxer I am right now, the person I am right now. I would have to say my whole career has been amazing for me,” said Cotto.

“I have done everything in my career that I wanted to do. This is the final fight. My decision is to retire now and spend more time with my family

“But 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,” he said.

Brooklyn’s Ali who has won all but one of his 26 fights stepped into face 35-year-old Cotto after unified middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin and Mexican star Canelo Alvarez where unavailable.

Cotto’s trainer, the great Freddie Roach, believes his fighter would have been up for such a challenge against either man but is now ready to deal with what is in front of him.

“Triple G and Canelo would be great opponents, and we looked forward to fighting them, but they all have obligations, and the next best guy was the young guy coming up, the next generation,” said Roach.

“We are getting a chance at that, and we’ll see how good he really is. Miguel will be on top of his game. And, again, we would have loved to go out with one of the bigger names, but the thing is they’re not available at this point, and we want to stay busy,” he said.

29-year-old Ali is unconcerned about having to move up to super-welterweight for the fight having regularly operated at welterweight and is ready to crash the Cotto party as he looks to make a name for himself.

“I’ve been fighting since I was eight years old, and I’ve been in big arenas. Of course, it’s going to be a little bit more in this one. But this is the opportunity of a lifetime, and I took the challenge against a legend,” Ali said.

“I dare to be great, like Oscar De La Hoya says. I fear nothing, and I don’t hold back. This is the opportunity of a lifetime in Madison Square Garden. It’s going to be amazing. I feel like we’re going to put on a great show, and I’m excited, and I’m ready.

“He is the biggest opponent in my career, and I’m also moving up to another weight class. But I love the challenge, and I’m ready to do whatever I have to do,” he said.

Mexican super-bantamweight talent Rey Vargas will also defend his WBC crown against Colombia’s undefeated Oscar Negrete on the card, with BoxNation on air from 2am this Saturday night.

Canelo gives support to Cotto ahead of Ali fight

Canelo Alvarez, the worldwide boxing phenomenon who is currently enjoying a well-deserved vacation in Europe, sent a warm message to Miguel Cotto (41-5, 33 KOs), the only four-division world champion in Puerto Rico’s rich boxing history and the current WBO Junior Middleweight World Champion, as he prepares for the final fight of his illustrious career against Sadam “World Kid” Ali (25-1, 14 KOs) at Madison Square Garden. The event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 2 and will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing® beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Canelo, who faced Cotto in Nov. 2015 for the Middleweight Championship of the World in one of the most important fights of this era, sent his best wishes to the legendary Puerto Rican as he closes the book on his career.

“Miguel Angel Cotto, I just wanted to wish you success in your fight,” said Canelo. “I know that it is the last fight of your extraordinary career. I think that you did a lot for the sport of boxing. I wish you success in your life after you retire. Now it’s your time to enjoy everything you did for the sport of boxing and everything that boxing has given you.”

“Personally, it was an honor to be in the ring with you. I learned a lot from that fight. It was an honor, and I wish you all the success in the world in your retirement. A strong hug from me, and much success!”

Odds courtesy of Bovada, (Twitter: @BovadaLV). Requests for interviews with and/or quotes from a Bovada Oddsmaker, as well as props requests, can be made by replying to this message.

Miguel Cotto vs Sadam Ali

Miguel Cotto     -1000   (1/10)

Sadam Ali         +600     (6/1)

 

Total Rounds

Over     9.5        -140     (5/7)

Under   9.5        EVEN   (1/1)

 

Will Fight go the Distance?

Yes      +135     (27/20)

No        -190     (10/19)

 

Method of Victory

  1. Cotto by KO, TKO or DQ                              5/9
  2. Cotto by Decision or Technical Decision        33/20
  3. Ali by KO, TKO or DQ                                   14/1
  4. Ali by Decision or Technical Decision             12/1

Draw or Technical Draw                                     22/1

 

Round Betting

  1. Cotto in Round 1                  25/1
  2. Cotto in Round 2                  20/1
  3. Cotto in Round 3                  16/1
  4. Cotto in Round 4                  12/1
  5. Cotto in Round 5                  11/1
  6. Cotto in Round 6                  10/1
  7. Cotto in Round 7                  10/1
  8. Cotto in Round 8                  10/1
  9. Cotto in Round 9                  10/1
  10. Cotto in Round 10                11/1
  11. Cotto in Round 11                15/1
  12. Cotto in Round 12                18/1
  13. Cotto on Points                    33/20
  14. Ali in Round 1                       100/1
  15. Ali in Round 2                       100/1
  16. Ali in Round 3                       100/1
  17. Ali in Round 4                       80/1
  18. Ali in Round 5                       80/1
  19. Ali in Round 6                       66/1
  20. Ali in Round 7                       66/1
  21. Ali in Round 8                       66/1
  22. Ali in Round 9                       80/1
  23. Ali in Round 10                     80/1
  24. Ali in Round 11                     100/1
  25. Ali in Round 12                     100/1
  26. Ali on Points                         12/1

Fight Draw                                22/1