Oktay Urkal (38-3, 12 KOs) will be the reality for welterweight Miguel Cotto (28-0, 23 KOs) on March 3 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but the majority of the media members on a conference call hyping the event were more interested in Cotto's proposed June 9 Madison Square Garden event against Zab "Super" Judah.
Cotto, tried his best to keep the focus on Urkal.
"Urkal is a tough opponent," said Cotto, "He has two hands and he is coming to win, I am taking this fight seriously and not looking ahead."
Yet even the usually measured Cotto broke character and seduced by thoughts of Zab Judah when one media member asked the Puerto Rican star to comment on Judah's prediction of a 5th round knockout victory.
"Zab Judah talks a lot, but look at him now," said Cotto, "Look at his career, does he back up all the talk?"
Kostya Tszyu, Carlos Baldomir, and Floyd Mayweather Junior would equivocally answer, "NO!"
Top Rank's promoter, Bob Arum, licked his chops at the possibility of Brooklyn's Judah against Miguel Cotto in Madison Square Garden during the weekend of New York's Puerto Rican Day festivities.
"Judah is very attractive live gate for local fans," said Arum, "It is a natural rivalry."
Back to the matter at hand, Oktay Urkal and March 3.
One would think that preparing for a fight in your native country, while being a national idol, would be distracting. Hell, Zab Judah, a marginal icon at best in American popular culture, partly pinned the reason for his January, 2006 loss to Baldomir at Madison Square Garden due to the distractions of being at home.
Not a problem for the Cotto, ever a professional, who knows how to balance his personal and professional life like few young men in the sport can.
"When it is time to get ready for a fight, " said Cotto, "It is time to get ready. There is a time for fun and there is a time for work. Now is a time for work."
You can check out Cotto, at work, March 3 on HBO's Championship Boxing, knowing that if Cotto is victorious, he will then proceed to work "Super Mouth" Judah, a fighter who is the living antithesis of Cotto's humble and workman like personality.
