INDIO, CALIFORNIA – Los boxeadores mexicanos son reconocidos por su gran capacidad de asimilación, pero durante siete años de carrera profesional, el sanjuanero y orgullo de Barrio Obrero Ángel ‘Tito’ Acosta se ha ‘alimentado’ de ellos a diestra y siniestra, recetándole siempre su dosis de cloroformo.

Y este próximo viernes aspira a continuar esa racha de fulminados cuando efectúe la cuarta defensa de su cetro mundial de las 108 libras de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo ante el mexicano Elwin ‘La Pulga’ Soto desde el Fantasy Springs Casino en Indio, California este viernes por la aplicación DAZN.

El pleito servirá de antesala al duelo de revancha por el campeonato mundial de las 130 libras de la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo entre el boricua Alberto ‘El Explosivo’ Machado (21-1 con 17 KO’s) y el monarca azteca Andrew Cancio (20-4-1 con 15 KO’s) durante el cartel presentado por Golden Boy Promotions y Miguel Cotto Promotions.

“Elwin es un peleador que viene subiendo, que estuvo en el equipo Nacional de México y que hizo una carrera aficionada larga. Pero como profesional no ha tenido tantos rivales de mérito. Ahora va a tenerse que probar conmigo”, sostuvo Acosta, quien exhibe foja de 20-1 con 20 nocauts, incluyendo nueve frente a rivales mexicanos.

“Tengo un campeonato que lo quieren mucho y él está entrenando para quitarme el título, para lograr su sueño. Pero se va a quedar con las ganas. Me he preparado súper bien y nunca subestimo a mis rivales”.

Según Acosta, el escenario ideal sería que Soto (14-1 on 10 KO’s) se pare en el centro del cuadrilátero y se ponga a pelear con él, tal como han querido hacer sus compatriotas en el pasado, en vez de ponerse a boxear.

“Eso sería bueno para mi, que se pare a pelear. De los videos que he visto, eso es lo que hace. Ahora hay que ver si aguanta mi pegada. No se ha topado con alguien como yo, que pegue como yo”, sostuvo Acosta, quien se canto listo para una pelea larga, si es necesario.

“He estado entrenando fuerte acá en Los Ángeles con Juan de León por siete semanas, con Juan he trabajando mucho en movimientos laterales y en pelear con más inteligencia, como hice en mi última pelea. Vamos a trabajar ese nocaut para que llegue, tarde o temprano”.

Nicaraguan challenger Carlos “Chocorroncito” Buitrago hopes his fifth world title shot, June 16 against World Boxing Organization Jr. Flyweight World Champion Tito Acosta, headlining “La Batalla” to air on pay-per-view, live from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions, which is owned and operated by the first Puerto Rican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes, future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto, and H2 Entertainment, in association with DIRECTV Puerto Rico.

Integrated Sports Media will distribute the La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago card in the United States on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DIRECTV, DISH and live-streamed worldwide (excluding Puerto Rico) on the FITE.TV app and website (www.fite.tv), starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.

WBO #12-rated Buitrago (30-3-1, 17 KOs) has had four unsuccessful title challenges, losing three times, along with one draw. He was stopped for the first time in his last fight this past December, by undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) Minimumweight World Champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (8-0), in the eighth round of their title fight in Japan.

All three of Buitrago’s career losses have been to world champions, including a pair to Thammanooon Niyomtrong (11-0) in 2014 and 2016, both by way of 12-round unanimous decisions in Thailand. Buitrago also fought a 12-round split draw in 2013 to then-WBO Minimum World Champion Merlito Sabillo (12-0) in Manila, Philippines.

Acosta (17-1, 17 KOs), who will be making his first world title defense against Buitrago, at home in Puerto Rico, captured the vacant WBO title last December at famed Madison Square Garden, when he knocked out Juan Alejo (24-4-1), of Mexico, in the 10th round.

“I’m not at all concerned about fighting Tito Acosta in his country, basically his ‘hood,” Buitrago said. “I’m used to fighting for the world championship in my opponents’ country, just as I did with Merlito Sabillo, but they robbed me of that victory. I’m working consciously and think I’m in great shape to challenge Tito Acosta and seize the championship.

“Truth be told, I’m in perfect shape, I will fight a smart fight; if Acosta wants to battle, so be it, I’m used to battling hard hitters. If he comes into the ring with the intention to battle, I will fight intelligently.”

Naturally, the 26-year-old Buitrago believes his experience advantage will be the difference versus Acosta, allowing him to bring the world title back to Nicaragua, like Puerto Rico, a hotbed for boxing.

“I think that this being my fifth world title fight, I have experience on my side,” Buitrago added. “I’m relaxed and ready thanks to the training I’ve had in Nicaragua. I’m not sure what Tito Acosta will bring into the ring June 16. I don’t think Tito Acosta is going to learn the necessary moves and techniques in a month. He is a raw boxer who relies only on the strength of his blows. I don’t believe that he will bring anything new into the ring and if they change him, the only thing that will accomplish is confuse him. I’m always emphasising my preparation. I’m coming in smart because I’m bringing the ability to work round for round. My only objective is to bring the world championship to Nicaragua.

“I think’s it’s great initiative on Miguel Cotto’s part to promote new boxing talents. I’m grateful to Miguel Cotto and his team for giving me the opportunity to be the one to challenge Tito Acosta in his first world title defense.

“I’m a likeable boxer, people like to watch me fight. I’m known for being a smart fighter that, when fighting is needed, I fight, and when boxing is needed, I box. We work on half and short distance, which is why I believe people like to see me fight. All those who attend or watch on pay per view will enjoy a great fight.”

http://ringsidereport.com/?p=72442

CAGUAS, PUERTO RICO – All help is good in the face of a first world title defense of the world championship, especially if it comes from the hands of someone with the wealth of experience from former four divisions world champion, Miguel Cotto.

And that is the case of the WBO Jr. flyweight champion, Ángel ‘Tito’ Acosta, who has several sessions of individual work with Cotto to complement that with his coaches in the face of his championship fight on June 16 in the Coliseo de Puerto Rico against the dangerous Nicaraguan Carlos Buitrago as part of a card presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions and H2 Entertainment and which will be televised by DIRECTV Puerto Rico as part of his series ‘Night of Champions’.

Acosta had his most recent encounter with Cotto on Wednesday afternoon in Caguas, where he was seen working certain combinations and displacements that Cotto used to use effectively.

One of them included the use of two consecutive jabs to open the guard, a small displacement to then connect a straight shot and then enter with two powerful hooks before moving again outside the area of exchanges.

“He’s taught me the technique, how to put solid punches. Anyone who stands in front of me, hit him hard. “(Also a) be more aggressive, use the skill, push the boxer, do many things.”, said Acosta (17-1 with 17 knockouts), who is already putting into practice what was taught by Cotto during his preparation.

“Now (Cotto) is well stuck (helping me). He has time to attend me and his boxers. It has helped me a lot. Yesterday I learned a lot from him. On Monday I also did couple of techniques and (later) I was able to do them in sparring. We already have the fight strategy”.

Acosta has aspirations to convert Buitrago (30-3-1 with 17 knockouts) in his eighteenth victim by way of the knockout but he knows that the Nicaraguan will be elusive, so he intends to make the most of the occasions in which the Central American fighter decide to ‘raffle’ in the ‘give and take’.

“He has good boxing, he’s coming to box me, to keep me from hitting him. That’s why I’m smart. The knockout comes alone. But if I see that I can knock him out quickly, I knock him out, ” Acosta said, adding that Buitrago will leave Puerto Rico without achieving his dream of being a world champion.

“He says he’s not going to touch the canvas. But on June 16 he will touch his dream. He will achieve his dream by touching the canvas. ”

For his part, Cotto expressed satisfaction to work with Acosta, although he ruled out dedicating himself fully to the facet of being a boxing trainer.

“Tito is a hard-working, humble, neighborhood boy. The only thing that is done is to help in the best possible way. He has confidence in me and I know he will do the best he can in the fight. In the way that he can trust me, we will continue working in the same way, “said Cotto, adding that whenever he has time, he will do everything possible to share his vast knowledge in pugilism with the boxers he represents and who are coming up .

“This is something spontaneous, (which is given) every time there is an opportunity. It’s not in my north to train (full-time fighters). ”

Integrated Sports Media will distribute La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago in the United States by cable, satellite under the Pay Per View system in digital through iN Demand, Vubiquity, DIRECTV, DISH and live broadcast worldwide (excluding Puerto Rico) in the FITE Application and website. TV (www.fite.tv), from 9 p. M. ET / 6 p.m. PT, for a price of only $ 34.95.

World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight World Champion Tito Acosta will showcase his vast skills June 16 in his first title defense against Nicaraguan challenger Carlos “Chocorroncito” Buitrago in the “La Batalla” 12-round main event, airing on pay-per-view, live from the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Center in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico.

La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago is presented by Miguel Cotto Promotions, which is owned and operated by the first Puerto Rican boxer to capture world titles in four different weight classes, future Hall of Famer Miguel Cotto, and H2 Entertainment, in association with DIRECTV Puerto Rico.

Integrated Sports Media will distribute the La Batalla: Acosta vs. Buitrago card in the United States on cable, satellite and digital pay-per-view via iN Demand, Vubiquity, DIRECTV, DISH and live-streamed worldwide (excluding Puerto Rico) on the FITE.TV app and website (www.fite.tv), starting at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, for a suggested retail price of only $34.95.

Building his own legacy in a traditionally rich, hot-bed for boxing like Puerto Rico, Acosta (17-1, 17 KOs) captured the vacant WBO title last December at famed Madison Square Garden, when he knocked out Juan Alejo (24-4-1), of Mexico, in the 10th round.

An outstanding amateur boxer with more than 180 matches, highlighted by his gold-medal performance at the Central American Games,), the San Juan-based fighter has defeated 22-5 Juan Guzman (KO1), 12-1 Japhet Uutoni (TKO12), and 28-5-3 Luis Ceja (KO2).

“My goal is to be the best,” Acosta said. “I grew-up watching Tito Trinidad and Miguel Cotto, who are my favorite fighters. I will work as hard as I can to give the best to my family, as well as make my island proud. I will win on June 16th and let the world know that I am the best 108-pound boxer in the world.”

Having a future Hall of Famer such as Cotto as his promoter is a tremendous advantage, in and out of the ring, for Acosta. “It means a lot and is an honor for me to have a living legend like Miguel Cotto as my promoter,” Acosta explained. “He has guided my career the best way. He also gets involved in my camp and wants me to get better and better every fight.”

“Tito Acosta is a really good fighter,” Cotto commented about his protégé. “He is World Champion for a reason. We will work to give him the best opportunities. Tito has an opportunity to show the world on June 16th what he is made of and who he is. As World Champion, he needs to be at the highest level to have a brilliant performance each fight, because the better performances and victories, the bigger name he will build.”

“It is important for a fighter to do his job in the ring because every performance is a unique opportunity to show the world who you are and at what level you belong. People in Puerto Rico love boxing, and its fighters.”

WBA #2-rated Buitrago (30-3-1, 17 KOs) will be fighting in his fifth world title fight, after losing three times with one draw. He was stopped for the first time in his last fight this past December, by undefeated International Boxing Federation (IBF) Minimumweight World Champion Hiroto Kyoguchi (8-0), in the eighth round of their title fight in Japan.

All three of Buitrago’s career losses have been to world champions, including a pair to Thammanooon Niyomtrong (11-0) in 2016 and 2014, both by way of 12-round unanimous decisions in Thailand for the Interim WBA title. Buitrago also fought a 12-round split draw in 2013 to then-WBO Minimum World Champion Merlito Sabillo (12-0) in Manila, Philippines.

“Chris Buitrago is a great fighter and tough challenger, who has the highest level of experience, and that motivates me,” Acosta spoke about his Nicaraguan opponent. “People want to watch a toe-to-toe brawl and he brings that style. I think he will brawl with me, but I’ll be ready for any style he brings June 16th.

“I work for the KO (he has 17 knockouts in his 17 wins) because that’s what fans like. I work for that every fight and I will win June 16th by knockout!”

Additional June 16th PPV fights will soon be announced. All fights and fighters are subject to change.

Press Release by Full Court Press