Miguel Cotto’s legacy has been cemented within the halls of Madison Square Garden. Hours before he is set to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Cotto was presented with the key to the most famous arena in the world. Not long thereafter, Top Rank introduced the Miguel Cotto Award. Each year, the honor will be bestowed upon the winner of the main event during the weekend of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Miguel Cotto is one of the most decorated fighters in recent memory. During his 16-year career, he fought at Madison Square Garden ten times. However, he never lost during at the venue on the eve of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. In fact, he won major bouts against Sergio Martinez, Joshua Clottey and Paul Malignaggi at Madison Square Garden in June.
This year, a new generation of fighters will fight at Madison Square Garden. Headlining tonight’s Top Rank event, Edgar Berlanga enters the ring with a record of 19-0 with 16 knockouts. Like many other fighters of his generation, Berlanga is inspired by the performances Cotto put on at Madison Square Garden. In fact, a young Berlanga piled into Madison Square Garden with his father back in 2007 as Cotto stopped Zab Judah in the 11th round.
“Just seeing that fight live as a kid there and I’m a fan and just going nuts, that’s my favorite fight of all time that I witnessed,” Berlanga said.
“It was just amazing.”
Fifteen years later, Berlanga is set to fight Alexis Angulo on ESPN at 11 p.m. ET on June 11, 2022, at the very same venue.
Introducing the Miguel Cotto Award.
The honor will be given to the winner of each main event on Puerto Rican Day weekend starting tonight ?? pic.twitter.com/YDUnyetiyW
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 12, 2022
