Good news for hardcore fight fans as HBO and Top Rank have agreed that the June 5th fight between Miguel Cotto and Yuri Foreman, that will be held at the new Yankees stadium, will not be a PPV event.

The announcement of the fight will take place on the 22nd of March in Tampa, Florida after which another will be held in April at the fight venue itself.

Cotto will be challenging for Foreman’s 154 lb title in front of possibly 30,000 fans and will be the first boxing event to be held at the new Yankees stadium.

Bob Arum of course promoted the final bout at the old Yankee Stadium across the street when Muhammad Ali fought Ken Norton on September 28, 1976.

After his loss to Manny Pacquiao in November last year, Cotto suggested retirement a few more fights down the line and hopes that 2010 will be his last year in boxing, Arum however is unsure stating that:

“I can’t say if this is going to be the final fight for Cotto. I don’t think so. The important thing to know is that he would like to win the title”

It is still unsure as to who will train Cotto for this fight. It has been reported by a few boxing websites that names such as Buddy McGirt and Ronnie Shields have been contacted as has Orlando Cuellar, trainer of both Yuriorkis Gamboa and Glen Johnson. Previous trainer Joe Santiago was seen by many as being in over his head when he had to prepare Cotto to face the “Pacman”, Santiago stepped in after the spilt between Cotto and his uncle Evangelista just before his fight with Pacquiao’s current opponent Joshua Clottey.

Cotto will of course be going into this fight without the love and support of his father Miguel Sr who tragically passed at the start of the year, aged 57.

1. Preview: Cotto vs Foreman- An even fight on paper
2. Cotto and Foreman meet the media at Yankee Stadium