There are two great fights on HBO tonight.......for free!

Cotto, Abdullaev square off in WBO title bout
June 10, 2005

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AP - Jun 9, 9:32 pm EDT
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NEW YORK (AP) -- Miguel Cotto has forgotten the past, especially the lone blemish on his boxing career.

The undefeated WBO junior welterweight champion from Puerto Rico will defend his title Saturday night in a 12-round bout at Madison Square Garden against the only man to beat him -- Muhammad Abdullaev of Uzbekistan.

Cotto has won all of his 23 pro fights, 19 by KOs. His lone defeat came as an amateur, at the hands of Abdullaev in the opening round of the 2000 Olympics. He lost a 17-10 decision.

Abdullaev, now living in Germany and ranked No. 5 by the WBO, is 15-1 with 12 knockouts.

``The Olympics is an old story,'' Cotto said. ``Saturday night will be a new chapter and a different result than when I fought him in the Olympics.

``And when I march in the Puerto Rico Day parade up Fifth Avenue on Sunday, I will be leading it still as the world champion.''

Cotto last defended his title on Feb. 26 with a fifth-round TKO over DeMarcus Corley.


Abdullaev won his first 11 bouts before losing to Emmanuel Clottey in 2003 because of a timing mixup. After getting into trouble in the 10th and final round, Abdullaev took a knee. He then mistook the referee's count and was still down at the count of 10.

``I said after that loss that I would never lose again,'' the 31-year old contender said. ``Since I beat (Cotto) once, I know I can do it again. There will be a new champion Saturday night.''

Undefeated Almazbek Raiymkulov, a 2000 Olympian from Kyrgystan who fights under the name Kid Diamond, faces former world champion Joel Casamayor in a WBA-sanctioned lightweight title elimination bout on the undercard.

Raiymkulov is 20-0 with 12 KOs and is ranked No. 7 by the WBA. Casamayor, 31-3 with 19 KOs, was an Olympic gold medallist for his native Cuba and went on to win the WBA super featherweight title in 2000.

You're right JJ, looking forward to the Cotto fight for sure. Not spending $50 to watch 90 seconds of the Tyson fight, which is all that hand-picked club fighter is going to last.

I love HBO fight night

thanks for the heads up

I've seen Kid Diamond scrap live in Vegas a couple times.. I think in this fight people are a little early calling Casamayor shot. Cas could easily be undefeated right now after two scraps with Corrales and one with Freitas, the decisions were that close. He's actually a marquee fighter still imho. If Kid Diamond isn't as special as his handlers think and a little bit more, Joel will get him out of there.

Also, Abdullaeev is tough as nails, I can't BELIEVE they're putting Cotto in with him, it's a pick em fight. Corley showed that Cotto can be buzzed and I think Abdul is gonna get him. Abdul's only loss is an anomaly, he simply lost track of the count. He's NEVER been hurt in the ring that I've seen. If he can get to Cotto's chin at all - and if Corley could, why not Abdul? - and hurt him he'll do what Corley forgot to do and take him out.

These are two fights in which I think the bookies are WRONG on the odds, they're both 50/50 fights and If I were to bet on them, I'd take the odds in both cases.

hbo fights are always good

Pay per view rocks, especially when Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao get's on the line

Great analysis! Thanks dig420!

The broadcast is underway on HBO.

i don't get why anyone would pay 49.95 to see a tyson fight after the last few fights that were a waste of money,.

Holy shit Tyson lost! I can't believe it, I've seen McBride fight and he's SLOW SLOW SLOW. I mean he has nothing at all. Wow.

Now I have to buy the replay damn it