Getty
Madison Square Garden has been home to a bevy of memorable Miguel Cotto fights over the years, and on Saturday night it will appropriately be the setting for the boxing legend’s final fight, as the 37-year-old puts his WBO junior middleweight title on the line against Sadam Ali.
The main card (which also features Rey Vargas vs Oscar Negrete) is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET/PT and will be broadcast on HBO. If you don’t have cable or can’t get to a TV, you can watch HBO online, on your phone or on another streaming device via one of the following cable-free, live-TV streaming services. They cost a monthly fee but all come with a free trial, so you can watch tonight’s fights at no cost:
Amazon Prime: If you have Amazon Prime or want to start a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, you can watch live HBO and all of HBO’s on-demand content through Amazon Channels. The HBO channel costs $14.99 per month. It comes with a free 7-day trial, and you can watch on your computer via Amazon’s website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the Amazon Video app
DirecTV Now: HBO is a $5 per month add-on that can be added to any of DirecTV Now’s four channel packages, which range from $35 to $70 per month. It comes with a free 7-day trial no matter what package you choose, plus you can get $25 off your first month if you enter promo code “BDAY2017”. That means you can watch the fight for free with the free trial, or you can get a month of DirecTV Now plus HBO for just $15. Either way, you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Now website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the DirecTV Now app
Sling TV: HBO is a $15 per month add-on that can be added to either of Sling TV’s base packages, which costs $20 or $25 per month. It comes with a free 7-day trial, and you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website, or on your phone, tablet or streaming device via the Sling TV app
Fight Card
Welterweight: Aaron McKenna vs Victor Eddy Gaytan
Super Lightweight: Zachary Ochoa vs Erick Daniel Martinez
Featherweight: Ronny Rios vs Deivi Julio Bassa
WBO World Light Flyweight Title: Angel Acosta vs Juan Alejo
WBC World Super Bantamweight Title: Rey Vargas vs Oscar Negrete
WBO World Junior Middleweight Title: Miguel Cotto vs Sadam Ali
Preview
No matter what happens inside MSG on Saturday, it’s been a hell of a career for Junito. Through 46 fights, he’s produced a handful of memorable fights, he’s gone toe-to-toe with both Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Canelo Alvarez, Sergio Martinez and numerous other stars, he has won six different world titles–most recently defeating Yoshihiro Kamegai via unanimous decision to win the junior middleweight belt in August–at four different weight classes, and now he’s ready to hang up his gloves with absolutely zero reservations.
“The fact that it is my last fight has not changed anything,” Cotto said. “I have always dedicated myself fully and have worked hard, and that’s why I’m here now, finishing my career on my terms. I haven’t really felt nostalgia yet during the final days of my camp. I’m just grateful for what boxing has given me and for the life it has allowed me to give to my children.”
But this is more than just a celebratory event for Cotto. It’s also an opportunity for the 29-year-old Sadam Ali, who is 25-1 with 14 KOs but has yet to beat someone near Cotto’s quality and will be making the move to 154 pounds, to make a major statement.
“I know I’m the underdog,” he said. “I know a lot of the media are throwing bad words at me. But if you work hard, you never know what’s going to come. It’s not about the money. It’s about the opportunity. I know if I want to win, I have to come at 100 percent and fight smart. I’m ready to shine. For those of you who don’t think I have a chance, all you got to do is wait and see.”
While Ali is ready to spoil the party, few give him a chance, as the oddsmakers put him as a +600 underdog. The best opponent of his career–Jessie Vargas in March 2016–resulted in a TKO loss, and most expect this one to be another one-sided battle. But no matter what happens, it’s one final chance to watch Cotto, a future Hall-of-Famer, and that makes it a must-see fight.