Three-division world champion and the Pride of Puerto Rico Miguel Cotto and two-time world title challenger and current Top-Five contender Delvin Rodriguez attend a press conference In Orlando, Florida to announce their upcoming 12-round super welterweight battle. Cotto vs. Rodriguez will take place Saturday, October 5, at the home of the Orlando Magic, Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., which is hosting its first-ever professional boxing event.
Here’s what they had to say:
Miguel Cotto: I miss it (sport). I’ve been away from boxing for a long time, it’s been since last December and it’s great to be back. It’s great to feel the energy. You guys being here today. I’m going to L.A. for the first time in my career to train and I’m going to bring my best. Every morning at the track, every day at the gym to come here in the the best way possible to make a great fight for all of you, all the fans here and all over the world. I hope Delvin had a great camp, I’m going to have a great camp to make a great fight for all you fans. Thank you.
Delvin Rodriguez: “Hola” heard that there’s a big Spanish community here. Backstage they made me feel like I’m fighting Cotto in his hometown in Puerto Rico, so it’s going to be a little tougher for me I guess.
The way I’m looking at this fight is ‘right now or never’ for me. I fought for the world title twice and I came short, a little bit both fights came to a decision or one of them, but what I can say is this fight motivates me. I’m motivated more than ever because facing a fighter like Miguel Cotto who’s been fighting the best in the division for ever, a true champion, a true warrior this motivates me, it’s the type of person I am. No disrespect for the people I’ve fought in the past for but some reason I went down to their level, I didn’t really show what I had. I didn’t show my technique, I didn’t show my ability, the potential that I have to be a great fighter to be in the division of that level. A fighter like Cotto, Mayweather, Canelo, all those fighters but for this fighter let me tell you I’m motivated more than ever.