28.11.06 – Photos: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME – Miguel Cotto jumped rope, hit the mitts, worked the speed bag and posed in front of a painting of Joe Louis during a two-hour workout Monday in New York. The former 140-pound world champion faces fellow Puerto Rican Carlos Quintana for the vacant WBA welterweight title in the second half of a world championship doubleheader Saturday on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast). In the telecast’s opening bout, Antonio Margarito defends his WBO 147-pound title against Joshua Clottey.
MIGUEL COTTO: “I feel really good about not having to lose the (other) seven pounds. (For once) I have been able to concentrate more on the fight than the weight.
“I believe I am going to be stronger and just as quick at (147 as I was at) 140..
“Right now, it is just about making the weight and getting mentally prepared for this fight. I am three to four pounds away from my target.
“I am at my best moment right now. Quintana is very strong. They say he is tough, but that is what they said about my 27 other opponents, too.’’
In 2006, SHOWTIME continued to live up to its billing as America’s No. 1 Boxing Network by televising the most compelling championship fights on the first Saturday of every month. The memorable 20th anniversary year of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will conclude in sensational style on Saturday, Dec. 2, with an outstanding world championship doubleheader.
The telecast’s opening bout on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) will feature exciting, hard-hitting Antonio Margarito (33-4, 1 NC, 24 KOs) defending his WBO welterweight title against dangerous WBO No. 5 contender Joshua Clottey (30-1, 1 NC, 20 KOs). In the second half of the co-featured main events, Puerto Ricans Miguel Cotto (27-0, 22 KOs) and southpaw Carlos Quintana (23-0, 18 KOs) collide for the vacant WBA 147-pound crown. Top Rank Inc. will promote the doubleheader from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
