HBO GOES IN “PAPERED” BARCLAYS CENTER
Cotto Hammers Geale
Las Vegas, NV – World linear and WBC 160 lb, champion Miguel Cotto TKO 4 Daniel Geale. After a year layoff and being the smaller of the two fighters, Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) beat on Geale (31-4, 16 KOs) as if the Aussie were drums enroute to a TKO 4. Two knockdowns in the fourth brought about the stop. Time was 1:28.
PUERTO RICAN COULD NOT SELL OUT NYC ARENA
The difference in skills were evident from the opening bell as Miguel, now a B+ boxer in his twilight, did what he was supposed in throttling Geale, a pedestrian pug from Australia with maybe a C+ skill set. In short, this fight serves as a scouting report in conjunction with two other interesting winners in fights that has transpired within the past month.
CHAMP TO GIVE UP BELT INSTEAD OF GGG? NOT NOW!
Cotto, Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin all can box, brawl and bang. I want to acknowledge that I am in a vast minority here, but I think Cotto has galvanized his strengths with his left hook attacks especially the way he varied them to the body and the head in the past few scraps. It’s my belief that when he gets the arsenal flowing, he is a tough task for anyone within his weight range. All that being said, the WBC is pressuring Cotto to fight GGG, but he may instead dump the belt. A more liklely scenario involves 154 lb. champ Saul Alvarez in a two-weight class WBC title(s) fight at 154 with Cotto (160 champ) who was 153 plus change for Geale.
COTTO ON “LIFE & DEATH” WARS
Pedro Fernandez, having talked with Cotto in depth about “life and death” fights in Cartegena, Colombia a few years ago, Miguel coyly said he would “opt out” of anything like another Manny Pacquaio or Antonio Margrito 1 fight. Golovkin is King Kong to those guys. As for the papered house, meaning they gave away comps for a Cotto fight in NYC, the joint was packed compared to the Stub Hub Center.
SCARE FOR “GHOST” ON NBC FROM CARSON
Ghosts In Audience for “The Ghost?”
Robert Guerrero Split Decision 12 Aaron Martinez. Regardless if it was a case of taking an opponent lightly or coming in too soon (three months) after losing a lopsided effort to unbeaten welter Keith Thurman, it was evident that after the first right hand Martinez (19-4-1, 4 KOs) landed in round one that Robert Guerrero (33-3-1, 18 KOs) was in for a rough fight.
“GREEN” MARTINEZ LOST SOME LATER ROUNDS
Luckily for Robert, the lack of world class experience in Martinez began to show as Aaron tired down the stretch of the fight apparently allowing the “house fighter” Guerrero to get the nod on two of three official cards.
NBC TV FIGHT CROWD LESS THAN 1,000
Martinez dropped Guerrero close to to the bell in round four as he sprayed him with a volly of punches culminated with a right hand that dropped Guerrero hard.
The mid rounds were bad news for the Gilroy, CA native who went 12 with Floyd Mayweather just 25 months ago.
SCORING WAS CLOSE EVERYWHERE EXCEPT…
I scored the fight 95-94 for Martinez and found
Jerry Cantu left score, CLICK TO ENLARGE
the deciding score of 97-92 way off. This was another example of how RG fights down to an opponent’s level. Time for Robert consider a different career path. Scores were 95-94 Martinez, 95-94 Guerrero & judge Jerry Cantu had it 97-92 Guerrero.
John Signorella
MIGUEL COTTO KO OF AUSSIE TOP BOXING RESULTS