OBCboxer
09-06-2007, 07:12 PM
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NEW YORK -- Shane Mosley knows he'll be up against more than WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto when they meet in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 10.
For Mosley, dealing with a crowd that certainly will be pro-Cotto by a large margin is as much a challenge.
The title fight will be Cotto's fourth bout in the Garden, but the first that doesn't take place on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade in Manhattan. Regardless, organizers expect a huge turnout, perhaps even as big as the sellout crowd for Cotto's knockout of Zab Judah in June.
The November crowd surely will be firmly in Cotto's favor, given his prominence in New York -- and the popularity of boxing among his countrymen.
"My wife is a New Yorker," Mosley, of Pomona, Calif., said with a smile Thursday. "I have a lot of fans in New York."
But not nearly as many as the undefeated Cotto (30-0, 25 knockouts).
"I love Puerto Rico and I love Puerto Ricans," Mosley added. "But on the night of Nov. 10, I have to do what I have to do, and I will be victorious. Nothing will keep me from my goal of being the best welterweight out there for this decade.
"I know Cotto is a great warrior, very strong-willed, and will come to fight. We're two guys who will bring it all."
Mosley needs to bring it all if he wants to remain viable in the sport. For the last decade, he's been one of boxing's better fighters, and he owned the IBF lightweight crown for two years, then moved up to win the WBC welterweight championship in 2000 with a split decision over Oscar De La Hoya (now his promoter).
Mosley lost the title to Vernon Forrest and then was beaten in a rematch, both by decision, in 2002. He also lost twice to Winky Wright by decisions in 2004.
Ever since, he's been climbing back toward a title shot, and now Cotto has given it to him.
"I plan to take advantage of this chance and walk out of the Garden with the title," said Mosley (44-4, 37 KOs).
Mosley turns 36 Friday, and the fight's promoters had a birthday cake for him at the news conference. If Cotto was tempted to blow out the candles, he held back.
Cotto, who will be 27 for the fight, is in his prime, and his relentlessness has served him well as he moved toward, then won the championship. He knows in Mosley he'll face a versatile, experienced foe.
"This is a new chapter in my career," Cotto said. "And it's a pleasure for me.
"On Nov. 10, you will see one of the best fights you've ever seen."
The fight will be shown on HBO pay-per-view. The undercard has not yet been completed.
NEW YORK -- Shane Mosley knows he'll be up against more than WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto when they meet in Madison Square Garden on Nov. 10.
For Mosley, dealing with a crowd that certainly will be pro-Cotto by a large margin is as much a challenge.
The title fight will be Cotto's fourth bout in the Garden, but the first that doesn't take place on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade in Manhattan. Regardless, organizers expect a huge turnout, perhaps even as big as the sellout crowd for Cotto's knockout of Zab Judah in June.
The November crowd surely will be firmly in Cotto's favor, given his prominence in New York -- and the popularity of boxing among his countrymen.
"My wife is a New Yorker," Mosley, of Pomona, Calif., said with a smile Thursday. "I have a lot of fans in New York."
But not nearly as many as the undefeated Cotto (30-0, 25 knockouts).
"I love Puerto Rico and I love Puerto Ricans," Mosley added. "But on the night of Nov. 10, I have to do what I have to do, and I will be victorious. Nothing will keep me from my goal of being the best welterweight out there for this decade.
"I know Cotto is a great warrior, very strong-willed, and will come to fight. We're two guys who will bring it all."
Mosley needs to bring it all if he wants to remain viable in the sport. For the last decade, he's been one of boxing's better fighters, and he owned the IBF lightweight crown for two years, then moved up to win the WBC welterweight championship in 2000 with a split decision over Oscar De La Hoya (now his promoter).
Mosley lost the title to Vernon Forrest and then was beaten in a rematch, both by decision, in 2002. He also lost twice to Winky Wright by decisions in 2004.
Ever since, he's been climbing back toward a title shot, and now Cotto has given it to him.
"I plan to take advantage of this chance and walk out of the Garden with the title," said Mosley (44-4, 37 KOs).
Mosley turns 36 Friday, and the fight's promoters had a birthday cake for him at the news conference. If Cotto was tempted to blow out the candles, he held back.
Cotto, who will be 27 for the fight, is in his prime, and his relentlessness has served him well as he moved toward, then won the championship. He knows in Mosley he'll face a versatile, experienced foe.
"This is a new chapter in my career," Cotto said. "And it's a pleasure for me.
"On Nov. 10, you will see one of the best fights you've ever seen."
The fight will be shown on HBO pay-per-view. The undercard has not yet been completed.