| Written by Kenneth Miller, (Managing Editor), on 06-11-2009 00:00 |
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An intriguing title fight will unfold at Madison Square Garden on HBO Championship Boxing on Saturday June 13 when WBO welterweight champ Miguel Cotto defends his crown against Bronx Bomber Joshua Clottey.
For Clottey who hails from Ghana where many talented fighters have thrived in the sport this is an opportunity of a lifetime.
He's 32 years old and if he can not beat Cotto now at this point in his career there is nowhere else for him to go.
Although Clottey beat Zab Judah in his last fight, it's not as if he's done anything really special in piling up a 35-2 record with 20 KOs. Judah has been a fighter on the decline for a long time now and it will only come as a surprise when he wins a notable fight.
Anyone who knows better is aware that Judah is just fighting to pay bills right now and is no more than an opponent for a fighter on the rise.
Which brings me to Clottey, is he too just an opponent for a fighter on the rise?
Cotto is still trying to recover from the brick beating he suffered at the hands of Antonio Margarito who has since been suspended for basically fighting with cast on his hands.
No one knows for sure if Margarito was bashing Cotto with a fist full of cement or if he just got the better of him on that night.
Spitting blood and taking a pounding, Cotto suffered his only defeat that epic night and lost his championships and any aura of invincibility with it.
Promoter Bob Arum has brought him back slowly, and recently served him a UK noodle in his last fight and now Clottey.
Cotto has fought the most talented fighters on his resume, but Clottey brings size and a level of aggression similar to Margarito and could create some uncomfortable moments for Puerto Rican star.
Cotto is only 28 years old, but it has been a grinding 28. He's fought them all Judah, Mosley, Margarito and you would have to think that if he can get past Clottey that he would want a crack at Floyd Mayweather Jr. .
Meanwhile, on the local front the 'Fight Night Club' will unveil on Thursday June 11 the Nokia headlined by a band of six rounders on Versus, and then Friday June 12 on ESPN "The Ghost" Robert Guerrero will take on Efren Hinojosa in a 10 round affair. Last update: 06-11-2009 00:00
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