Ángel ‘Tito’ Acosta (22-2, 21 KO) is a few days away from getting into the ring. The 30-year-old Puerto Rican has been world champion in the fly and on September 10 he will try to be it in the fly. The current WBO champion of the division, Together Nakatani (21-0, 16 KO) awaits him. His ambition is clear. “Nakatani cannot be detracted. I know this fight will be good for him, but I’m hungry to be champion in my second division. The hunger to get back what was mine in a minor division in this one. I want to fight the best in this category. My intention is to match other Puerto Rican champions from various divisions. I want to match Cotto. I was champion at 108 pounds, now I’m at 112 and I think I could reach 115 and 118“, recognized the one from Puerto Rico in the podcast ‘Boxing on the Run‘.
Acosta arrives motivated, but his approach has been complicated. In March 2021 he broke his drought of almost a year and a half without a fight. His feelings weren’t the best in his second fight at 112 pounds. “In that combat I was out of range. After a long time without fighting it was difficult for me in terms of distance. If it had been the world title fight it wouldn’t have looked good. I’m glad I could have made a fight earlier“He added. That setback is important, but the main one was the death of his coach, Juan José Muciño, in July.
“He couldn’t accompany me to my last fight. When I did it, I went back to Monterrey and he couldn’t get to be in my corner in this fight. It has been difficult to lose my coach“He acknowledges. Now, he works with Joel Díaz and looks to the future.” The adaptation is being very good. I’ve done six weeks with Joel. He is a very experienced man and also with world champions, “he adds.