By Robert Morales
Promoter Bob Arum was in New York City on Tuesday for a Yuri Foreman workout at Gleason's Gym ahead of Foreman's junior middleweight title defense against former junior welterweight and welterweight champion Miguel Cotto on June 5 at Yankee Stadium.
Arum promotes both fighters, but perhaps the most intrigue centers on Cotto and how war-torn he might be after taking a lot of punishment in losses to Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao, as well as in his split-decision victory over Joshua Clottey. Those were three of his past four fights.
Does Cotto have to prove he's still a world-class fighter and not shot, Arum was asked?
"I don't think he has to prove anything to anyone," was Arum's initial response. But Arum did speak in frank tones regarding the past two years of Cotto's career.
"Obviously, sometimes, when a fighter gets beat like that, like he did with Margarito and then with Pacquiao, it does take a lot out of him," Arum said to BoxingScene.com. "Whether it has in this case, we'll know on June 5.
"When a guy takes a beating like he has, you never know. For me to say, well, it's not going to affect him, I don't know. Neither do you and probably Miguel doesn't know, either."
Emanuel Steward might know better than anyone. The Hall of Fame trainer has been hired to work Cotto's corner. One thing about Steward, he is known for telling it like it is, even with his own fighters. Interestingly, he said it was his inquiring reporter's mind - he's an HBO commentator - that made him wonder about the same thing with Cotto.
"I'm a media guy myself, so I look at things the way I would want to ask a question," Steward told BoxingScene Wednesday afternoon via telephone, soon after a training session with Cotto in Tampa, Fla.
"I asked the same questions when I got involved. He has taken some terrible beatings in five or six fights going back to the Ricardo Torres fight (in September 2005).
"Then you look at Margarito, Pacquiao, Clottey, Zab Judah, (Shane) Mosley; in all of those fights he suffered a lot of damage," Steward said. "So I was concerned about the same thing you're concerned about."
Not anymore.
"When I worked with him, in two weeks I could not believe what I saw," Steward said. "He looked fantastic. What I have seen, I will be honest with you, I was shocked. After a few weeks, he was boxing 10, 12 rounds without any problems."
Steward said he was very open with Cotto about his concerns overall, not just those revolving around what he has left. One of the things Steward noticed was a balance problem Cotto picked up along the way. Steward said it was preventing Cotto from throwing multi-punch combinations because he would throw one or two punches and be out of balance. Steward said he and Cotto, 29, have corrected that problem. But Steward seems to realize no one will know for sure what remains of Cotto until he gets in the ring with Foreman.
"We can talk all we want, but we will have to find out in the real fight," Steward said. "But I feel extremely confident he will come up with a great performance."
Steward said his biggest concern now is Foreman, who is undefeated at 28-0.
"He's a very underappreciated boxer," Steward said of Foreman, who will be making his first title defense.
54/10 Explained
Lee Samuels, a spokesman for Arum's Top Rank Inc., said the 54/10 insignia Cotto sports on much of his clothing is in remembrance of his father, Miguel Sr., who passed away earlier this year. Miguel Sr. was born in 1954 and, sadly, met his demise in 2010.
Victory Would Propel Foreman To New Heights
If Cotto does appear over the hill and Foreman notches a rousing win, one might wonder just how much it would mean to Foreman's career. But if Cotto looks good and the bigger Foreman still beats him, it could mean a lot to Foreman, Arum said.
"If Foreman were able to win on June 5, he would be one of the big attractions in the sport," Arum said. "It's very, very significant because I have him fighting in Yankee Stadium, fighting Cotto, getting the big exposure on HBO that will have tremendous ratings. It can only bode well for his future career if he comes through in the fight."
Cotto/Golden Boy Joining Forces? No Biggie, Says Arum
Some eyebrows must have been raised when it was reported this week by BoxingScene that Miguel Cotto Promotions will be co-promoting cards in Puerto Rico with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, Arum's biggest rival and a company with which Arum has been at war off and on for years.
But Arum acted like he had no problem whatsoever with this arrangement that will see Cotto and De La Hoya promote a series of cards on the island.
"No," said Arum, when asked if this is a conflict of interest, "because he co-promotes fights with us, also. His company can't get TV dates on its own so he's going to do some fights with Golden Boy and he's going to do some fights with us. We're happy to accommodate him and I'm sure they will be, too."
All Good With The Congressman
Arum was asked about Manny Pacquiao, who Sunday was hospitalized in Manila with a mild ulcer.
"Manny is fine, he'll be in New York on Tuesday," Arum said of Pacquiao, who will be in New York City to accept his Fighter of the Year and Fighter of the Decade awards at the Boxing Writers Association of America annual dinner.
Asked for any kind of update regarding negotiations for a potential Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight in the fall, Arum balked.
"I can't really talk about it," he said.
Roach Doesn't Say Much, Either
A report from the Philippine Star this week indicated an accord on drug-testing might not be the only obstacle that needs to be cleared for Pacquiao-Mayweather. Based on Mayweather doing more pay-per-view buys in his fight against "Sugar" Shane Mosley than Pacquiao did in his fight with Joshua Clottey, the story said Mayweather is now asking for more than a 50-50 split of the dough.
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, was asked Wednesday if he believes Pacquiao would accept less than an equal share of the pie.
"I have no idea," Roach said. "I am completely out of the negotiations. Whatever happens, happens. I hope the fight happens. But if not, I don't care who the opponent is."
Margarito, perhaps?
"Margarito, it doesn't matter to me," Roach said. "Just give me an opponent and I'll get him ready."
Richard Schaefer is CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, which has been helping Mayweather promote his fights. Queried about the report in the Philippine Star, Schaefer simply said, "No comment." It's the same thing he said last week. So far, Schaefer and Arum are keeping their word not to negotiate in the media.
Manny on '60 Minutes'
Top Rank's Samuel's said Pacquiao will be featured on the longtime news show, "60 Minutes," which first aired on CBS in 1968. Crew members will be with Pacquiao at the BWAA dinner as well as when Pacquiao is sitting ringside for Cotto-Foreman. The segment is expected to be shown in either late October or early November.
Espinoza Will Urge Vazquez To Hang up Gloves
There seemed to be no doubt in the mind of Frank Espinoza that Israel Vazquez should retire after the way he was cut up and handled by Rafael Marquez in their fourth fight last Saturday in Los Angeles. Only minutes after it was over, Espinoza said that's it, that Vazquez doesn't need to fight anymore. Vazquez said if the commission would allow him a fifth fight with Marquez, he would do it. He also said in the post-fight news conference he wanted to discuss his future with his family.
A day later, Espinoza - Vazquez's manager - reiterated his feelings.
"That is what I'd like him to do," Espinoza said, meaning retirement. "I want him to discuss it, of course, with his family. And I'm going to give him my point of view. We've had a great ride. They both won two, so nobody got one-up. It ended up 2-2.
"I personally think it's time for him to retire. He'll stay involved in boxing, commentating and stuff like that. That is what I would suggest, as a manager and as a friend."
Espinoza has a reputation of really caring for his fighters. The 50-something-year-old (he won't tell his true age) from East Los Angeles intimates it might not be so easy to convince Vazquez it's time to hang 'em up.
"Sometimes fighters think differently," he said. "They are the last ones to want to retire. Uno mas. I feel he's had a good run."
Espinoza, in so many words, acknowledged that Vazquez cutting down to the eye bone so quickly is a concern. He said one doctor told him afterward that shaving the bone down could prevent Vazquez from cutting so easily and so badly.
Roach Pleased With Khan's Progress
When junior welterweight champion Amir Khan stopped Paulie Malignaggi in the 11th round May 15 in New York City, it was Khan's fifth fight with Roach in his corner. Roach became a bit annoyed when asked if he was concerned about Khan looping his right hand from time to time, as well as the way he literally ran at Malignaggi a couple of times.
"I thought he fought a good fight," Roach said. "I'm happy with his performance and we are working on his fight game as we go. There is no perfect fighter in the world."
Except for Pacquiao?
"No, Manny Pacquiao makes a lot of mistakes," Roach said. "But people don't know it because they don't f***ing pay attention. We work on our mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes.
Mares-Perez II?
Schaefer is also hopeful of a return fight between Golden Boy's Abner Mares and Yonnhy Perez, who retained his bantamweight title with a majority draw against Perez this past Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
"Even though it was a draw, I think Abner Mares is much more of a name today than he was going into the fight," Schaefer said. "I think he showed everyone he is a hell of a fighter and he is really exciting, too."
Robert Morales covers boxing for the Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram and BoxingScene.com
