NEW YORK — Xander Zayas (18-2,1 12 K0s) the 20-year old Junior middleweight and Top Rank Boxing prospect from San Juan, Puerto Rico has been looking forward to his next bout in New York City at Madison Square Garden. Saturday June 10, also the evening prior to the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, Zayas opposes Ronald “Diablo” Cruz (18-2-1, 12 K0s) at the Hulu Theatre.
And for Zayas there is an extra incentive fighting on a traditional boxing card as the second annual Miguel Cotto Award will be presented by Top Rank and Madison Square Garden entertainment.
Image Credit: Top Rank Boxing
The Miguel Cotto Award celebrates the remarkable career of the legendary four-division world champion and upholds the tradition of hosting a major fight card during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend. Cotto, the Hall of Famer and first division champion from Puerto Rico will present the award at The Theater at Madison Square Garden following the June 10 bout.
Zayas-Cruz will be the co-feature to the junior welterweight showdown between WBO and Ring Magazine world champion Josh Taylor and former unified and lineal lightweight king Teófimo López.
Taylor-López and Zayas-Cruz will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
“For me, it’s a great honor and a great pleasure that Madison Square Garden and Top Rank have an award with my name to continue the tradition of fight cards during Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend,” Cotto said. “This award will motivate future generations to deliver their best in each fight.”
“Miguel Cotto has made an immeasurable mark on boxing at ‘The Mecca’ Madison Square Garden,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, Marquee Events and Operations, Madison Square Garden Entertainment. “We’re thrilled to celebrate Cotto’s warrior legacy during the Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend with the presentation of the second annual award to the winner of the Xander Zayas v. Ronald Cruz fight on Saturday, June 10.”
Zayas said, “I’ve always said that in the world of boxing, Miguel Cotto is my favorite fighter. He is the reason I decided to become a fighter. It’s a total honor and a dream come true to have the opportunity to fight for an award that has his name. This confirms for me that we are on the right path, and it motivates me to keep working hard to continue accomplishing my dreams. I want to unite my Island and all of the Puerto Ricans in the United States in the same way that Miguel did. That is my biggest dream, and I will achieve it.”
Image Credit: Top Rank Boxing
Rich Mancuso Co-Editor and Senior Writer LatinoSports.com Twitter@Ring786 Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso.
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