This Saturday night, four division world champion Miguel Cotto (41-5, 33 KOs) will go out with a bang when he defends his WBO junior middleweight title against Sadam "World Kid" Ali (25-1, 14 KOs) at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The fight will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Ali, who is moving up from the welterweight limit of 147-pounds, is a huge underdog in the bout. Despite the one-sided appearance of the fight, tickets have apparently been selling well for Cotto's retirement bout.
"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," said Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez.
When Cotto began to make plans for his final career fight, he asked Golden Boy to secure IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin (37-0-1, 33 KOs).
Cotto did not anticipate that Golovkin's September fight with Canelo Alvarez would end in a controversial twelve round split draw. And now a rematch is being negotiated for May 5th of next year.
When Golovkin fell out and other options fell through, Cotto settled on 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," Gomez said.
"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."