By Mark Vester

A recent interview by Frank Curreri of www.wec.tv, gave details of the training stint that WEC star Miguel Angel Torres (135-pounds, 36-2 MMA record) had with WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. Torres joined Cotto in his Tampa, Florida training camp for five days last week. The two fighters did not spar but they trained together, Torres used Cotto's sparring partners and received advice from Cotto's team members.

They are both under the same sponsor, ECKO. The two fighters compete in rival sports and come from rival backgrounds. COtto is a Puerto Rican star, and Torres comes from a Mexican background. The Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry is one of the most competitive in boxing. Even Torres was concerned about potential issues.

"You know what, I was thinking that could be a big problem coming down here and then I got down here (to Tampa) and I got to hang out with Miguel Cotto and his coaches and his team and there is no animosity there. The animosity that is built has been between cultures. I think the fighters don’t have that. We met each other … and we share the same sponsor, ECKO, which laid down the foundation for us to meet each other a long time ago," Torres said.

"Our schedules were just so crazy we could never hook up. Him allowing me to come into his training camp was an act of faith on his part. I was worried because I wouldn’t allow someone to come into my training camp like that (spur of the moment), you know? But the fact that he allowed me to do that and to get a taste of what he does shows he’s trying to build a relationship. It’s a big thing, him letting me be here."

Torres said there is a big difference when it comes to sparring with a pro boxer and sparring with an MMA fighter.

"You got to pick and choose your spots. You have to be a lot smarter about how you do things. You can’t just go out there and go gun crazy, you have to pick and choose your shots. There is a lot more movement involved. You get tired a lot quicker. In a five minute MMA sparring session, it’s a lot easier because you can get in the clinch and hug a guy and get the takedown and waste time. In boxing there is none of that happening," Torres said.

"In boxing it’s all throwing hands, there is no wrestling. You get into a clinch, they break you right away and you’re back in there throwing bombs again. So it’s a little different pace, especially with the guys they have in Miguel Cotto’s training camp, because they are mimicking Manny Pacquaio’s style, so they have real quick southpaws that are powerful and explosive."

Torres plans to attend Cotto's November 14 bout with Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Torres will sit ringside with Mark Ecko.

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