Cotto vs. Margarito Tickets Not as Hot as Vegas Temps

by T.K. Stewart 

 

An inside source at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas confirmed today what many within the industry quietly suspected - the tickets for the Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito welterweight title fight on July 26th are somewhat cooler than the summer temps on the Strip.

 

The mercury today on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard South and East Tropicana Avenue where the MGM Grand is located, rose to a sizzling 104 degrees, but ticket sales for the big fight have been lukewarm.

 

Rooms at the MGM Grand are sold out for the weekend of the fight but tickets for "The Battle" are still available.

 

"It's like this," said the source.  "This is our off-season here in Vegas, and to be honest with you, a lot of people avoid Las Vegas in the summertime because of the heat.  If you're not used to it, the sun can really do a number on you.  Besides that, with the economy the way it is, this place is a ghost town." 

 

Tickets for the fight are priced in five denominations - $700, $500, $300, $200 and $100 for an average ticket price of $360.  

 

Cotto vs. Margarito is a match-up of epic proportions that has left hardcore fans salivating, but the fight hasn't really caught on with the casual boxing observer or the mainstream sports fan. 

 

As of Tuesday afternoon, tickets were still available for $700 ringside seats as well as the $300 and $200 chairs.  Only the $500 and $100 tickets were sold out.

 

"Another thing that people have said about this one is that Cotto is not a known attraction here," said the source.  "He's an East coast guy who hasn't fought out here since 2004.  Margarito has fought here but he doesn't have a big following.  Maybe some of his fans will come over from L.A., but I would've thought they would have bought their tickets by now if they planned on showing up."

 

"With the fight only 11 days away it's tough to say what the exact numbers will be, but when a fight is a hot ticket in Vegas it's usually hot from the get-go and with it only being a week-and-a-half away I can't see any way that's it a sell-out," he said.  "We could end up papering the place on fight night."

 

The undefeated Cotto, 32-0 (26)KO's is the odds on favorite to retain his WBA welterweight title on the 26th, and as of Tuesday afternoon the MGM Sportsbook had him listed as a -270 favorite to turn back the challenge of Margarito, 36-5 (26)KO's, 1NC who was a +220 underdog.