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Cotto-Malignaggi notes!

Wednesday, March 29 2006

By Jay Gonzalez

A press conference was held on Wednesday in New York City for the Miguel Cotto-Paul Malignaggi WBO jr welterweight title fight on June 10 at Madison Square Garden. Malignaggi, a boxing historian of sorts, compared this fight to "Muhammad Ali-Sonny Liston I and II, Floyd Mayweather-Chico Corrales, and Pernell Whitaker-Julio Cesar Chavez with a different outcome." Cotto commented "Paul talks a good game, but come June 10, let's see if he can back it up."

Promoter Bob Arum, a native New Yorker now based in Las Vegas, stated "Being that I'm from New York, I know what New Yorkers like and New Yorkers are passionate about their boxing. This is going to be a terrific show. In regard to going head-to-head with a rival pay-per-view event, Arum said, "I will not be pushed around or nor will I be disrespected. Tarver-Hopkins could have gone on at any other time. They knew we had the date and they knew what this day meant to the Puerto Rican people. I will not allow the Puerto Rican people to be disrespected. We had the date first. They knew it and they don't give a sh--." Malignaggi's promoter Lou DiBella stated that Paulie has been calling out Cotto since his pro debut. The event is being billed as "West Side Story" and the pay-per-view telecast will include a Top Rank record six fights. Tickets - priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50 - go on sale Friday.

The NCAA has announced that Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski will be allowed to keep his eligibility to play football for the "Fighting Irish" next season as long as he doesn't make any commercial endorsements. Zbikowski was a third-team All-America last season, with 71 tackles and five interceptions. He also returned punts, averaging 14 yards a return. The 200lb Zbikowski reportedly had an amateur record of 75-15. (Photo: Ed Mulholland)

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