By Rick Reeno

For the third consecutive year Miguel Cotto (29-0, 24 KOs) headlines a Madison Square Garden card on the eve of New York's annual National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Last year he successfully defended his WBO junior welterweight title by handing Paulie Malignaggi the first loss of his career by way of twelve round decision.

Later tonight, Cotto steps in the ring with the toughest test of his young career when he meets former undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah (34-4, 25 KOs) of Brooklyn.

"I am going to rain on his parade -- literally," boasted Judah. "On June 9, I'm going to sink his boat and on June 10, me and Tito (Trinidad) are going to ride Cotto's float in the Puerto Rican Parade. The Latinos already know it. I will have more Latino fans than he will at The Garden. There's a new Grand Marshall in town and his name is Zab Judah!"

Judah has certainly done the majority of the talking to sell this event, but Cotto has thrown a few verbal jabs of his own.

"That's NOT going to happen," replied Cotto. "Judah talks too much. He may be a great fighter, but he's not the best fighter and I will teach him that difference when we meet in the ring. I promise I will be focused and show all my power on June 9."

The fight is interesting and far from a one-sided bout in either direction. Judah has the speed and the power to win, but many think he lacks the mental focus to maintain a winning pace for twelve hard rounds. Cotto, while having the edge in power and mental toughness, is at a disadvantage when it comes to experience and all around ring skills.

If the same Judah shows up that gave Floyd Mayweather trouble for the first four rounds of their 2006 bout, Cotto will be in some serious trouble. But, if Judah shows up in the same physical and mental mindset as he did against Carlos Baldomir, he will be brutalized in the fight.

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