Foreman vs. Cotto at Yankee Stadium

Via the Associated Press (props to Ben over at RAB):

Boxing is making its long-awaited return to Yankee Stadium, where icons like Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis once plied their trade. WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman will defend his title against former welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on June 5 at the year-old ballpark in the Bronx, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told The Associated Press late Thursday night.

Arum promoted the final bout at the old Yankee Stadium across 161st Street when Muhammad Ali fought Ken Norton on Sept. 28, 1976. Arum had approached the club several times over the past three decades about staging another event, but George Steinbrenner and club brass had always been tepid about erecting a ring and seating on the immaculate infield grass.

“We have a preliminary agreement with them. Nothing has been signed or finalized,” Yankees chief operating officer Lonn Trost told AP, calling the deal subject to approval from team higher-ups. “We do plan, if things go well, to have it on June 5.”

These non-baseball events, while very cool, have to be logistical nightmares for the Yankees.

Photo by Reuters