By Jhonny Gonzalez
WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto has promised to give his loyal fans in New York a big victory on Saturday night in Madison Square Garden. Cotto will defend his title against Mexico's Antonio Margarito in a very anticipated rematch. For Cotto (36-2, 29KOs), the Margarito rematch is going to be his ninth fight in New York and seventh in Madison Square Garden.
In his third pro bout, Cotto fought at the Hammerstein Ballroom, and his first appearance at MSG was on June 11, 2005 against Muhammad Abdullaev. In June 2010, he captured his third title when he stopped Yuri Foreman before a crowd of over 25,000 fans at the new Yankee Stadium.
"Fighting in New York has always been very special to me because the people have always supported me and I want to give them another great fight and a victory to remember," Cotto said. "I will not disappoint the people of New York on Saturday. I'm leaving there with my arm raised and this victory will be for everyone who never stopped supporting me. I had a great preparation for this fight and I guarantee that this time the outcome will be different."
"I am prepared psychologically and physically to avenge the loss I suffered in the first fight. I've come prepared for twelve rounds, I'm strong, and I'm in much better shape than I was when we faced Margarito the first time."