Cotto’s MSG Boxing Successor? by M.DeTyrone

Cotto’s MSG Boxing Successor?

M.DeTyrone

Unlike the other boxers, Miguel Cotto has built a date on his own and on the East Coast during the weekend of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC at the Mecca of Boxing Madison Square Garden. If one looks at the history of Puerto Ricans boxers, fighting in MSG it’s a long one. In which boxers like Hall of Famers Carlos Ortiz and Jose Torres fought opponents like Kenny Lane, Flash Elorde, Ken Buchanan, Dick Tiger twice, Willie Pastrano, and Bobo Olson in MSG.

Therefore, the tradition of Puerto Rican boxers already established the difference has been that Miguel Cotto, unlike Felix Trinidad who also fought in MSG. Cotto established the weekend of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade as part of a boxing event. Cotto is at the end of his hall of fame career, and he’s built a boxing date on the Saturday before the National Puerto Rican Day Parade since his first fight vs. Muhammad Abdullaev in June 11, 2005. The question is once Cotto retires.  Who will be the successor to take over this date in NYC?

Miguel Cotto on the weekend of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade:

1.         Miguel Cotto vs. Muhammad Abdullaev: June 11, 2005

2.         Miguel Cotto vs. Paul Malignaggi: June 10 2006

3.         Miguel Cotto vs. Zab Judah: June 9, 2007

4.         Miguel Cotto vs. Joshua Clottey: June 13, 2009

5.         Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman: June 5, 2010 (Yankee Stadium)

6.         Miguel Cotto vs. Sergio Martinez: June 6, 2014

One of the best contenders is Philadelphian/Puerto Rican Danny Garcia, who’s an established champion that has headlined three fights since 2012 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NYC. However, he’s not fought in the Mecca of Boxing that being Madison Square Garden. Due to his family roots in Philadelphia and the Puerto Rican boxing fan base in NYC, NJ, Philadelphia and Connecticut.  He’s the best contender to take over the Saturday before the National Puerto Rican Day Parade.  The other two contenders are the prospects Felix Verdejo 16-0 (12KO) and Jose Pedraza 19-0 (12KO). Top Rank has been placing Felix Verdejo in strategically events in Orlando, Macao, China, Philadelphia, Puerto Rico, and NYC (MSG and Radio City Music Hall).

Jose Pedraza should be fighting for the IBF Super Featherweight Title in 2015. He has fought in California, Canada, Puerto Rico, and in NYC at MSG. He has a strong following on the island and if he’s successful in winning the IBF Super Featherweight title in 2015 then it’s only logical to have him fight in MSG.