Countdown: Boxing Returns to Yankee Stadium

ALBANY, NY (06/01/2010)(readMedia)-- New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez and New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) Chairwoman Melvina Lathan today announced final preparations for the June 5 title bout between World Boxing Association super welterweight champion and Brooklynite Yuri Foreman and former WBA and World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Miguel Cotto.

"As a native of the Bronx, it brings me great pride to see boxing make its return to Yankee Stadium," Secretary Cortés-Vázquez said. "The Stadium Slugfest is the first of a number of major non-baseball sporting events at the Stadium, and we hope to add more fights to that list."

This Saturday's fight is the first boxing match to be held at a Yankee Stadium since Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton went 15 rounds there on Sept. 28, 1976, which Ali won by unanimous decision. Over the years boxing greats Gene Tunney, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Rocky Marciano also fought at the Stadium.

"I am pleased that the New York State Athletic Commission has a role in reviving that tradition," Chairwoman Lathan said. "We will have two great champions slugging it out Saturday night. I am sure the fans will not be disappointed with this event.

NYSAC is charged with regulating boxing in the state. Since 2007 the Commission has been working to reinvigorate the sport with new events at different venues across the state and with seminars that help prepare fighters for life after boxing.

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Joel Barkin

Deputy Secretary of State for Public Affairs

Department of State

212-417-3137

Joel.Barkin@dos.state.ny.us