CANELO-COTTO CLOSES OUT 2015 BOXING
Canelo Hooking Cotto
San Francisco, CA– Canelo Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) further cemented his role as Mexico’s #1 prizefighter with a decent workmanlike performance against defending linear middleweight (160 lb.) champion Miguel Cotto. And while the scores of 119-109, 118-110 & 117-111 may have seemed wide to some, the match went according to script as Alvarez was bigger, younger and stronger.
PUERTO RICAN “NOTHING LEFT TO PROVE”
And while Cotto is a great talent, I don’t think we should mention he and Roberto Duran in the same breath, even though they both won titles in four different weight classes. If I sound like I’m writing what amounts to the pugilistic obituary of (40-5, 32 KOs) Miguel Cotto, I do so for two reasons, his health and family. Miguel is set financially and there is no need for him to put another round on his body.
COTTO CARRIED LAND OF BORICUA POST TRINIDAD
A Puerto Rican of iconic status on the island, Cotto falls behind fellow Puerto Rican’s Wilfredo Gomez and Tito Trinidad in popularity. The name missing from thE great Boricua boxing cast is Wilfredo Benitez. He is so damaged by boxing that brushing his teeth has for years been challenging. Cotto was obviously disturbed when discussing Benitez’s health.
Wilfredo Benitez
HANGIN’ IN THE BIG APPLE CIRCA 2004
When I interviewed Cotto in New York City in the early days, his English wasn’t great, I asked him about his being so relaxed in the ring, like a Bill Cosby date. His response, “I try not to get too excited.” When we talked retirement in Colombia some years ago, this after the Manny Pacquiao loss and prior to the Martinez win, Cotto kept it real. “I love my family too much, I do this for them.” He admitted in Cartagena that he wasn’t looking to engage in anything remotely like the “tainted” loss to Antonio Margarito, and the equally punishing Manny Pacquiao encounter.
RIGHT MOVES BY COTTO OF LATE
That being said, the Canelo fight was the right choice. Better to lose a rout on scorecards against Alvarez, then risking all your marbles with Gennady “GGG” Golovkin. If Cotto retires, or if he continues, there will always be that HUGE Yankee Stadium (see death) match with Gennady should greed in time trump common sense.
DAVID RUFFIN TELLS COTTO “WALK AWAY FROM A LOVE”
Regardless of how much money Jay Z and Roc Nation Sports puts in front of you, the risk is too great. You have enough money walk away, Benitez is the tragic example necessitating you walk away from boxing Miguel, while you can still brush your teeth by yourself.
WBO SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMP ABRAHAM WINS AT HOME
WBO 168 lb. king Arthur Abraham (49-4, 29 KOs) turned back a determined Martin Murray (32-3-1, 15 KOs) of the UK with a close Split Decision 12. Scores were 116-111 & 115-112 “AA” and 115-112 Murray. The Brit lost a point in round ten for holding.
CANELO ALVAREZ BEATS MIGUEL COTTO NOTES