Miguel Cotto vs Zab Judah this Saturday

or seven years, Miguel Cotto has been climbing the mountain of pugilistic success. From representing Puerto Rico in the 2000 Olympics to a junior welterweight world title to a welterweight championship, Cotto has fought his way to the brink of superstardom. While Cotto was hammering opponent after opponent in the ring, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum was adroitly guiding his career and building him into an attraction along the same lines as he did with Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Now, Cotto is just about at the summit of the mountain, which he can reach with a victory against former undisputed welterweight champ Zab Judah at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday (HBO PPV, 9 p.m. ET). The fight, Cotto's second 147-pound title defense, is his biggest yet. His best opponent. His most significant fight. His largest crowd. Given Cotto's relentless style and Judah's speed and power, it also figures to be an exciting fight on what should be a special night in one of boxing's most hallowed arenas. It is the culmination of what Arum has been hoping Cotto would become: a major star. "It's his coming-out fight," Arum said. "It's the biggest fight of his career. It's before the biggest audience that will watch him fight." If the excitement surrounding the fight is any indication, Cotto has truly emerged as a star during the promotion. The 26-year-old threw out the first pitch at a recent New York Mets game. He's been making his way around New York in a charter bus emblazoned with his image and advertisements for the fight card. And he has drawn big crowds to his open workouts and other public appearances. "It's good to spend some time with the fans," Cotto said. "They are the ones who have supported me from day one and I'm very grateful for that." The Garden is expected to rock with a 19,000-plus sellout for one of its largest boxing crowds in years. Cotto (29-0, 24 KOs), a hero in Puerto Rico, will be fighting there for the third consecutive year on the eve of the annual Puerto Rican Day parade, a date Arum has nurtured. And Judah (34-4, 25 KOs), Brooklyn born and bred, will also have many rooting for him.

judah got his ass whipped again hope he fades away he was always overrated