Austin Trout Cracks Miguel Cotto
TROUT PAINTS COTTO LIKE A FENCE
San Francisco, CA– Austin Trout got none of the props that the defending WBA champion should’ve got last night against “challenger” Miguel Cotto. Being forced to enter the ring first and then be announced first was a disgrace bestowed upon Larry Holmes when he met and defeated Gerry Cooney in their mega-money early 80s clash. But it didn’t matter as Austin (26-0, 15 KOs) won 7-4-1 or 116-113 on my card which was closer than the official tabulations that read 119-109,
NEW MEXICAN CHAMP PASSED EARLY EXAM
The first two rounds were “the test” that the 29-year old Austin Trout naysayers had not yet and would not be able to pass when the time came. Using his natural size advantages in being a lefty, height, reach and body mass, Austin made the first two frames look easy as he befuddled Cotto (37-4, 30 KOs) while he imposed his will over the Puerto Rican icon in front of a partisan Madison Square Garden crowd of Boriquas.
COTTO FORCED THE FIGHT AS EXPECTED
Miguel brought the fight and created the drama, but Trout was able deal with it. While the fight was not Aaron Pryor-Alexis Arguello III, the 12 rounds gave the Las Cruces, NM the needed self-confidence to deal with the big boys at 154. A 2004 Olympic Team Alternate, Trout had the amateur pedigree and the WBA title and yet a real Rodney Dangerfield among the jr. middleweights meaning he “gets no respect,” that will no longer be the case.
BEING A SOUTHPAW IS ADDED ADVANTAGE IN BOXING
Talented left handed fighters have a distinct advantage over the right handed adversary. If you don’t think that’s not the case, watch the way Trout outworked Cotto with not only with scoring punches, but his ring positioning and movement was a perplexing issue for the Puerto Rican who opened a 3-1 (closed 2-1) favorite. There is an “immediate” rematch clause that must take place in six months or it is void I’m told. Mr. Dangerfield, er Trout, got about $200,000 for defending his title in MSG against a Puerto Rican superstar, was announced first (which really irks me) is said to be on a “50-50″ split should the rematch (that Trout wants I’m told) occur.
PEDRO’S PARTING SHOT
I’m not going to say “I told you,” but I did when it came to Austin Trout over Miguel Cotto, this wasn’t a hard pick folks. And yet so many of the “so called” boxing writers, a vast majority of which never boxed themselves, but their picking the wrong guy twice in succession (Andre Berto over Robert Guerrero) proves that while they may be able to put together well worded text, truth be told they don’t know the game as much as they would like you to think.
BACK WITH WORLDWIDE RESULTS LATE SUNDAY
David Price, Tyson Fury, lots of boxing this weekend and I’ll be back with a column on the “other fights” over the weekend on Sunday evening.
Pedro Fernandez