Considering the fact that Zab Judah had his father speak for him on a teleconference recently instead of actually participating himself, it was kind of ironic to see the former two-division champion so loquacious Wednesday morning at Madison Square Garden in NYC at the final press conference for his bout with Miguel Cotto (HBO PPV at 9 PM ET).

"I'm pretty sure he's trained very hard for this fight. He's prepared himself because this is the biggest fight of his career," Judah, 34-4, 25 KO's said of the WBA welterweight champion. "It's never been this sold-out. There's never been this much drama over a Miguel Cotto fight. Miguel Cotto is a local fighter. He's known in the Latino community - that's it. If you step outside the Latino community Miguel Cotto is nobody. People don't really know him. But if you ask about Zab Judah they know because I'm a force to be reckoned with. I was known as the undisputed welterweight champion of the world and all I'm doing Saturday night is going back and getting what's mine."

Cotto, 29-0, 24 KO's meanwhile appeared eager to end the back and forth banter. "The time to talk is almost finished," he said. "We're here to fight. We're here to prove to the people that we can put on a good show and Miguel Cotto is here for that." Although still in the process of mastering his English, the champion apparently already knows how to refer to himself in the third person. "I don't care if he knows who is Miguel Cotto. He'll have to know who Miguel Cotto is on Saturday. I hope you prepared for this fight. I hope your coming to fight; to support your words. I'm here to fight."

"I really believe it'll be the first sell-out since that magical night in 1983 when Roberto Duran knocked out Davey Moore," stated an obviously pleased Bob Arum, who promotes Cotto. "It's going to be a magical, magical night." The fight has already surpassed expectations to the point that the Garden has opened the top mezzanine section of the arena for prospective ticket buyers. It will mark the first time it has been opened for boxing in six years. "It's the biggest fight of his career in front of the biggest audience that will watch him fight," Arum said of Cotto. And as of Wednesday morning less than 1,000 tickets out of an approximate 20,000 seats were available to the public. In addition Arum has promised a light show and music provided by a Las Vegas-based DJ to entertain in between bouts