Immediately follow his big upset win over Miguel Cotto at Madison Square Garden, new WBO junior middleweight champion Sadam Ali appeared at the post-fight press conference to discuss his thoughts on the fight...
“I’m not even sure what to say right now,” Ali began. “First and foremost I would like to thank God. I’m just so thankful right now. I’ve been blessed and I feel even more blessed...I want to thank Team Miguel Cotto - they didn’t have to give me an opportunity like this. It could’ve been anybody else. And I dared to be great and I seen an opportunity, I didn’t run from it, I wanted it. You know, I’m not in this sport just to take easy fights. Sometimes you gotta take the big one and this was mine and I went out there and I shocked the world.
“Can’t say that I did everything perfect in that ring but I did what I had to do to get it. I’m thankful for the decision. What happens next, I really don’t know. I’m just excited and whatever is there for me I’ll be ready...I just want to thank everybody, all the fans, all the media. And about the media, a lot of you guys didn’t believe in me! I never let it bother me, but I just hope I somewhat won you guys over. You guys know now not to ever underestimate me.
“I did what I had to do and believe it or not, guys, I’m only getting better. It’s gonna get better from here. I’m so grateful and I’ma keep learning from this experience. I learned a lot and things went my way today...I worked hard for it, though. In my life I took a lot of things for granted, a lot of things came easy for me. Well, of course I worked for it but it still felt easy for me thanks to my dad, my family, they always make sure I go straight in life. There’s some bumps in my road but I learn from them, and I’m back, and I’m happy!”