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Miguel Cotto and Delvin Rodriguez got together today in Orlando to officially announce their October 5 HBO main event at the Amway Center. It will be Cotto's return to HBO and a one-off pairing with his original promoter, Top Rank, after working as a free agent with Golden Boy for his last two fights.
Cotto (37-4, 30 KO) has lost two in a row to Floyd Mayweather and Austin Trout, while Rodriguez (28-6-3, 16 KO) has won two straight on Friday Night Fights since losing to Trout himself in June 2012. Tickets are on sale next Tuesday for the show, which will include Terence Crawford in the HBO co-feature bout, and are priced at $25-150. They will be available at the Amway Center, all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com, and by phone (1-800-745-3000).
Here are some quotes from today's press conference.
Miguel Cotto
"I am very happy to be back on October 5 and fighting in front of all the great fans of Orlando, Florida."
Delvin Rodriguez
"I'm going to go for the knockout. I will take advantage of the biggest opportunity of my life."
Todd duBoef, Top Rank
"Miguel Cotto has participated in some of boxing's biggest events over the past 10 years. His return to the ring on October 5 will be another electrifying night for the fans watching it live in Orlando and the boxing fans throughout the world. Top Rank is thrilled to work with him and his promotional team on this event."
Hector Soto, Miguel Cotto Promotions
"When Miguel Cotto is in the ring it is always exciting to watch. For us it is a great pleasure to present the return of one of boxing's biggest stars to our great Puerto Rican community in Orlando and all the Latino fans of Florida. October 5th will be a great night for boxing."
Joe DeGuardia, Star Boxing
"As Delvin's promoter, it is an honor to have our boxer fight against Miguel Cotto, a true boxing legend. As a boxing aficionado, I am excited to see this fight, which is one that real boxing fans are enthusiastic about. I expect a thrilling battle of will and skill between these two veteran warriors and look forward to October 5."
Buddy Dyer, Mayor of Orlando
"Landing another high-profile event like this is a knockout for the City of Orlando in terms of entertainment and economic impact. Whether it's WrestleMania, the NBA All-Star game or NCAA Championship games, Orlando has proven that we have what it takes to host top-tier sporting events. We look forward to hosting what will be a thrilling fight and once again showcasing Orlando to a worldwide audience."
Allen Johnson, Amway Center
"Today's announcement is particularly exciting because it is our first professional boxing match and an internationally televised one. This is yet another milestone for Amway Center and illustrates our commitment to host diverse events that cater to the greater Central Florida community and beyond."