COTTO CHALLENGES FOR TITLE IN FOURTH WEIGHT CLASS
Las Vegas, NV-Puerto Rican boxing superstar Miguel Cotto (38-4, 31 KOs) has produced a remarkable run thus far as a prizefighter. Many were memorable nights at the office, and while not always on the winning end, memorable nonetheless. His epic first battle with Antonio Margarito, was a TKO loss in 11 rounds. A year later in 2009 he was dominated by Manny Pacquiao in another stoppage loss. His biggest victories were triumphs over Shane Mosely , and Margarito in their rematch in 2011. He also staged a valiant effort in a loss against Floyd Mayweather in 2012. Cotto has undoubtedly faced the best of his generation.
Does Cotto have any chance against Martinez?
COTTO FIGHTS AT THE GARDEN
Live from Madison Square Garden in New York City on HBO PPV Saturday night, he faces WBC middleweight(160lb) champion Sergio Martinez (51-2-2, 28 KOs) a bigger, faster, more powerful and mobile fighter than the Puerto Rican.
To add to the difficulty of a potential Cotto victory is Martinez is a southpaw. Cotto has a history of struggling against not only southpaws, but fighters with quicker hands. At 140lbs he was rocked and almost stopped against lefty De Marcus Corley, not known as a big puncher, as well as murderous puncher Ricardo Torres.
At a 154lbs against a much taller and rangier southpaw Austin Trout, Cotto was not just outboxed, but outfought. It is difficult to imagine even at 38 years of age and coming off a string of injuries Martinez succumbing to Cotto, a much smaller man with little to no advantages in this bout besides big fight experience. He looks to make history as the first Puerto Rican to win titles in 4 different weight divisions. It’s a challenge that most don’t expect him to be successful at.
WILL FREDDIE ROACH BE COTTOS SECRET TO SUCCESS?
Much has been made of Cotto’s switch to offensive minded trainer Freddie Roach. Some experts believe that Cotto, a notorious body puncher, has abandoned that part of his attack in recent years and that has partially led to his decline.
What some fail to realize is that when fighters face larger, taller and stronger foes at higher weights it is much more difficult to mount that type of attack for fear of being caught coming in. For all of Cotto’s strengths, his main flaws are his chin and stamina. Known to fade late in fights, and Martinez known as being the opposite, the much better natural athlete, the fact that Cotto must apply pressure is a recipe for disaster. One would have to be surprised to see the Puerto Rican last the distance. He has been stopped and hurt by much smaller fighters at the lower weights.
-Kevin Perry