Will Cotto bow out in style with another strong showing at the Garden, where he is 8-1? Will he show his age (37) and the wear of a long, tough career? Or will the hungry Ali, 29, topple a fighter he has been a fan of for years, claim a world title and send Cotto into retirement?
As Miguel Cotto prepares to say farewell to boxing in what will be the final fight of his Hall of Fame career, he and Sadam Ali host the final press conference before their fight. You can check the full presser above courtesy of our colleagues at Fight Hub TV.
Several fighters who will appear on the undercard took to the podium to speak their piece before Sadam Ali popped up in his velvet blazer.
“I’ve been training my whole life, since I was 8 years old I started boxing. Everybody waits for a world title like this and against a legend, for a world title, it gets no better,” said Ali.
“So yes, you do see a little more muscle because you gotta work hard. You’re going in there, you’re fighting Miguel Cotto. If you’re not ready you’re gonna be in trouble so I know what I’m stepping in there with and I know I have to be ready.”
Soon thereafter it was Cotto’s turn to speak and he offered these thoughts:
“It’s been a pleasure for me to entertain you guys through 17 years. [I] tried to do my best [at] every opportunity for the benefit of my family. [They mean] everything to me and I’m so proud of them, they’re so proud of me, and all I can say is that next Saturday I’ll be the same Miguel you watched for the last 16 years. I’m going to be a warrior inside the ring and I’m going to do my best, as always, for the benefit of my whole family. Thank you.”