Miguel Cotto defends his WBO welterweight title in what looks an intriguing match-up against Joshua Clottey in New York on Saturday night, and the Puerto Rican superstar shouldn't want for support in the Big Apple.
33-1 (27) Cotto is the man the fans will flock to see on Puerto Rican Day weekend at Madison Square Garden as he continues his rehabilitation following that crushing loss to Antonio Margarito last summer.
Margarito stopped Cotto after 11 titanic, mesmerising rounds in Las Vegas last July but it's a defeat that still rankles with the Caguas star in light of Margarito's subsequent suspension over substances found in his hand wraps before a fight earlier this year with Shane Mosley.
He has since rebounded with a win over overmatched Brit Michael Jennings but the 28-year-old former Olympian faces a real acid test here against former IBF welterweight strap holder Clottey.
The man they call 'The Grand Master' has lost just two fights in 37 pro outings and crucially has never been off his feet in a pro career that began back on the mean streets of Accra, Ghana in 1995.
One of those defeats was a disqualification loss to Carlos Baldomir and indeed the only man to beat him legitimately was Margarito, who won a close but unanimous decision over the African in 2006.
Clottey's people and NuttyRich :-) feel they are getting Cotto at the right time in light of the recent personal problems Miguel has been facing.
In April this year he reportedly came to blows with his uncle and long-time trainer Evangelista Cotto after a training session, with the latter allegedly throwing a cement block through the window of Miguel's Jaguar!
No charges were brought but Evangelista has since been replaced by Joe Santiago, who previously worked in Cotto's camp as a nutritionist and conditioning coach.
Santiago is untested as a top-level coach and so it remains to be seen how Cotto will approach what looks, on paper at least, to be a very dangerous assignment.
Clottey stopped Zab Judah on cuts in his last fight and he also holds wins over the late Diego Corrales, suggesting he clearly belongs in this sort of class.
He is the type of fighter who isn't particularly eye-catching but who does most things well. He is ultra-solid, always in tremendous shape and will fight you for three minutes of every round.
Clottey is not a particularly concussive hitter (just 20 wins inside schedule) but he is the type of fighter who walks opponents down and breaks their will in a fight. He did this against Judah last time out, busting Zab's nose and slicing open his eye before claiming a ninth-round technical decision.
Exactly two years ago this weekend of course Cotto himself put in arguably a career-best shift to stop Judah in 11 rounds at the very venue where Saturday's action will be played out.
Since then Miguel has beaten Mosley, Alfonso Gomez and Jennings as well as suffering that Margarito loss.
He has grown into a huge, physically imposing welterweight and I think Clottey will be shocked at just how strong Cotto is and how hard he punches.
Cotto has a KO percentage ratio approaching 80% and that's impressive considering he has been mixing in legitimate world class for more than five years.
The general consensus in the trade is that Cotto, best price -300 for victory, will have to grind out a decision win, but I have a feeling he may be about to become the first man to stop the Ghanaian so I am going to put a small saver on this outcome...
Clottey is rugged and dangerous but he can be outboxed and, crucially, he isn't that elusive. Cotto punches with authority with either glove and his left hook downstairs is a particularly potent weapon.
If Clottey comes for a tear-up, which I have a feeling he might, it could be a real war but for me the man with the major artillery in this one is Cotto.
The Puerto Rican is +275 to win inside the distance with Ladbrokes (best I value I have seen for this bet) and given the same bet is as short as +180 elsewhere that definitely looks a spot of value.
I wouldn't put off bettors going for the Cotto decision but My Plays are...
4 star play -> 3k Miguel Cotto to win 1k (-300). Main recommendation
1 star play -> Cotto to win by knockout, 200 dollars to win 575 (+275)
Good Luck all. 
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