HISTORIC NIGHT AT BALLPARK IN BRONX
Once known as a top hub for big time boxing, 34 years removed from playing host to the sport, Yankee Stadium returns to the world of pugilism!
ARUM’S “TOP RANK” SWINGS FOR THE FENCES
WBA super welterweight (154) strap carrier and Brooklyn resident Yuri Foreman (28-0, 8 KOs) meets former three time world champion Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs) for a proposed 12 rounds of throw down at Yankee Stadium in New York, Saturday at 10:15 PM ET on HBO.
MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR FOREMAN
Despite having fought relatively unknown opposition, undefeated Yuri Foreman’s last seven opponents combine for a respectable 175 wins against 21 losses. In his last outing against former WBA belt holder Daniel Santos, feather fisted distance fighter Foreman earned a victory against his most creditable opponent to date and became Israel’s first world boxing champion (W UD 12). Despite established acclaim from his Jewish supporters, Yuri is in pursuit of garnering admiration from the boxing public and is taking a commendable huge step up in class against Cotto.
BAPTISM UNDER FIRE
After being violently stopped at the (suspect) hands of Antonio Margarito (L TKO 11), unlike most young fighters who administer a terrible beating early in their career, a galvanized Miguel Cotto rebounded with two impressively fought wins. Just 16 months removed from the Margarito affair, Cotto, in effort to reclaim the number one “pound for pound” status that he was close to capturing before his setback, agreed to fight one of the sport’s best combatants; Manny Pacquiao. In his last ring effort against Pacquiao, Miguel competitively stood “toe to toe” with the Filipino superstar for as long as he could. Due to the relentless assault reigned upon him, Cotto eventually broke down and was stopped at the hands boxing’s most committed banger (L TKO 12).
IS THE REAL “SLUG FEST” IN THE OPENER?
Combined for a whopping total of 31 knockouts in 49 contests, unbeaten powerhouse top contending pugs Vanes Martirosyan (27-0, 17 KOs) and Joe Greene (22-0, 14 KOs) collide in a super welterweight 10 round attraction.
ESPN CONTINUES TO DELIVER
With Ed Paredes skull crushing “knockout of the year” type drumming over Joey Hernandez, plus a five month streak of crowd pleasing affairs including Ji-Hoon Kim and Tyrone Harris’s scorching display of pugilistic terror (W Kim TKO 6), Roman Karmazin’s classic come from behind dramatic 10th round knockout over Dionsio Miranda, Guillermo Rigondeaux ‘s rib shattering first round knockout blow out over Adolfo Landeros, and last weekend’s “barn burner” between Librado Andrade and Eric Lucas (W Andrade TKO 9) ESPN, without a doubt has been Boxing’s heartbeat in 2010. Each installment of the popular series offers news, analysis on upcoming bouts, interviews, competitive scraps, and in studio celebrity guests offering insight into the world of boxing. This week, lights out punching Cuban welterweight (147) Yudel Jhonson (6-0, 4 KOs) squares off against experienced brawler Juliano Ramos (16-3, 13 KOs) in a scheduled 10 round contest form the UCHS Pavilion in Miami, Florida, Friday at 10 PM ET on ESPN 2.
John Signorella