Cuauhtemoc1520's take on this weekend 6/7/2014

I won't really talk about any other fight than the big one. Simply because I thought the under card was terrible, and I was really shocked as to how bad it was. You would think that HBO PPV would put on a better show than that, but it seemed like they had nothing to be made in time. Cotto vs Martinez: First I want to say congrats to Cotto, amazing performance and I was completely wrong about this fight. There was a serious question on my part as to what version of Sergio Martinez we would see and I wasn't sure. I know that Martinez hasn't looked good in a while, was coming off a long layoff, 3 knee injuries, shoulder injury and a broken hand. Saying that, I don't think it would have mattered if he was healthy and I will tell you why. What shocked me the most about this fight was how Cotto just simply out boxed him. He was on another level of boxing than Martinez and it was plain to see. I understand that Cotto caught Sergio with a huge left hook in the first round that changed the complexity of the fight, but it wouldn't have mattered. Fighting a lefty is difficult enough, understanding what to do against a slick left hander can be difficult, but it wasn't for Cotto. As a matter of fact, it was Martinez that became a one dimensional fighter. He was simply looking for the left hand, and trying to set it up with the right jab, Cotto was prepared for it. Freddie Roach talked about how Martinez has nothing left, and that he isn't a boxer the way Cotto is, he was right. Cotto took advantage of that lead hand down style Martinez has, and landed the left hook at will. (By the way, I will make sure to tell my fighters this is why I want both hands up!) Cotto landed some great body shots but they weren't even necessary to be honest, he was simply out boxing Martinez and beating him at his own game. He was stepping in and out, using the jab to perfection and setting up the left hook up top. Martinez started to throw the lead left to the body later in the fight but it was too little too late and Cotto was landing the right hand counter when he started doing that. I guess Freddie Roach really did see something most of us didn't see. Cotto's boxing would have taken over this fight no matter if he never knocked Martinez down in the first. So here's the question.... Was it a great performance by Cotto, or simply the fact that Martinez is done? To be honest I think it's a little of both, but that takes no credit from Cotto because of the way he beat Martinez. It was complete and total domination, I mean it almost seemed as though Martinez didn't belong in the same ring as Cotto it was that one sided. Cotto also has his manager or whoever made the decision to fight Martinez instead of Canelo to thank. One of the most underrated parts of a boxer's career is his manager. Floyd Mayweather has been accused of being a "cherry picker" but it's his decisions on who to fight and when to fight them is the main reason he's a millionaire many times over. This decisions for Cotto did the same thing. Roach saw something in Martinez that told him that Cotto could beat him, he was right. Now as the linear champ at 160, the door is wide open for Cotto to do many things. He can fight a big name there, or do what we all want to see and that's stage a major showdown against Canelo. Mexico vs Puerto Rico would sell huge and seeing as how Cotto looked, would be a very interesting fight if Canelo can get passed Lara. I always had respect for Cotto, and meeting him on a few occasions I know how much boxing means to him. He works incredibly hard, is one of the best fighters out there and this win really puts him in the drivers seat when it comes to his last fights and the money he will make. As far as Martinez, I never say this but I think he should retire. He didn't look anywhere near the Martinez I'm used to seeing and I think all those knee surgeries, and him being 40 years old has finally caught up to him. He's just not the same fighter and I don't see him beating any of the top guys in the division. He had a great career, and has been a great champion but I think his time is done. Congratulations once again to Cotto, and all the Puerto Rican fans out there. I'm sure the PR parade was poppin off in NYC.

Comments (20)

Cuau brought a great point that should really put to rest the bias criticism against Cotto. Cotto COMPLETELY dominated Martinez. Every second of every round. Even for a clearly shot Martinez, in my opinion any version of Martinez would of still had his hands full against this version of Cotto. We have to see both sides people Yea I mean, that's what really shocked me. Not so much that Cotto won, because I thought it was going to be a competitive fight. I was just shocked as to how easy this was for Cotto. It was a sparring session at best. Martinez couldn't land anything, his jab was ineffective, his left hand was predictable and after that he had nothing. Where as Cotto was landing everything he threw. He landed some great body shots, but they weren't even really a huge part of why he was breaking down Martinez. It had more to do with the jab and left hook.

11y ago

NAPO

11y ago

KRITKL

Great post as usual Cuau. Take away Sergio's left and he has nothing. Him slowing down with age didn't help either. Funny how everyone is a Doctor now specializing in knees.:lol1: Great win by Cotto.:boxing:

11y ago

BattleAxePurist

I have to watch the bout again. I hosted a fight party, and it turned out very nicely (except for the actual outcome of the match lol). I wound up getting juiced on Crown Royal. My impression was that Sergio looked good enough to give credit to Miguel for the win. I really don't want to examine everything under a microscope, because it's easy to find excuses when you do that. If Martinez had collapsed the way Yuri Foreman did, it would be plain to see he was in no condition to fight. Sergio appeared to be moving well, but he got caught early and never recovered. He himself says that's what happened. I believe him. There isn't much else to say. That was the point I saw even if Sergio had been stopped in the 1st round it would of opened the door on speculation but since he fought back and made an honest effort to win despite not being the same guy, Cotto had to stay on the accelerator or it would of been closer at least.

11y ago

Kev

Martinez looked far from sharp against Murray, he was already on the slide. I'm not gonna act like I thought Cotto was gonna win, I predicted Martinez would win. But Murray had already beaten Martinez in his last fight.

11y ago

King_of_Sting

Cotto's victory was a complete fluke! He gets no credit from me. The non-injured Sergio would've boxed circles around him.

11y ago

Cuauhtmoc1520

funny you mention that considering roy had his right hand up when he got caught with that left sometimes even with your hands up you get caught, like garcia vs barros Well I was referring more to the fact that when Roy's physical skills started to drop, he was then KO'd. I think Martinez has survived too long on his athletic ability.

11y ago

El_Angel

Yea I think that's what the little kids that are making the threads that Martinez was some handicapped invalid don't understand. Again, what impressed me the most was Cotto just simply outboxing him. It wasn't just the fact that Martinez' knee wasn't 100% which by the way, he didn't complain about in the corner. It was how easy Cotto was just out boxing him, and taking everything away from him. Martinez couldn't do anything, I mean nothing. His jab was ineffective, his left hand was being predicted over and over and Cotto was countering at will. This was really a great performance, and let's remember what an injured Martinez did vs Murray and Jr... This shows you that Cotto's boxing is on a complete other level. I really want to see Canelo vs Cotto now, IF Canelo can beat Lara. I told everyone this as well. His boxing is at the ELITE level. There aren't many who aren't outboxing Cotto.

11y ago

SplitSecond

Pretty much this. It reminds me when Roy Jones Jr got knocked out. funny you mention that considering roy had his right hand up when he got caught with that left sometimes even with your hands up you get caught, like garcia vs barros

11y ago

Cuauhtmoc1520

11y ago

BuckToothed

Yeah his lack of technical skill and bad habits finally caught up to him especially since his reflexes aren't what they used to be. A lot of that too might have been from the first round which shook him up and forced him to fight being behind on points. Yeah, it happens... changing of the guards type of deal, I just didn't think Cotto will be the one to do it since everyone believed he's already too small for JMW. Roach should also get some credit for getting it "right", like with Pac vs ODLH.

11y ago

El_Malo2329

Saying that, I don't think it would have mattered if he was healthy and I will tell you why After that point you lose all credibility. Did not read the rest because you obviously don't see the fatality of an injured knee which seriously hampers mobility. Good day sir. Yes but that's something both Martinez and Cotto took a gamble on. Martinez was hoping his knees would hold up and have a big size advantage over Cotto. On the other hand Cotto took the risk of fighting the bigger man in hoping Martinez wouldn't be completely physically recovered from his previous injuries and it paid off for Cotto. I for sure thought Martinez the bigger fighter was going to walk all over Cotto, in fact most of us believed the same thing. All credit to Cotto for having mammoth like balls and fighting the bigger man

11y ago

PBP

He's still got hit way too many times by it... you'd think after being clocked clean by it and KD several times after, that he'd circle away from it (he didn't do enough of) and would have put his right hand up to take away some steam from them. Yeah, Cotto's footwork and overall demeanor/confidence was top notch. BTW, I picked Sergio to win on this one... Yeah his lack of technical skill and bad habits finally caught up to him especially since his reflexes aren't what they used to be. A lot of that too might have been from the first round which shook him up and forced him to fight being behind on points.

11y ago

Curtiz

Well you are now going from one extreme to another. Martinez is hardly a bum, so I don't think that's relevant. Again, I agree it's a combination of the two. That Cotto was on that night, and that Martinez is at least partially shot. Saying that, it was a masterful performance and it really opened the doors to a couple of last fights that will have him sitting pretty at the negotiation table. My point in short is that the win means nothing to me, Martinez IMO was in no fit state to fight . Which to me is on the same level as fighting a bum to explain the comparison. That's not to say Martinez is a bum he's a world class fighter but injuries effect the level you operate at. Also as levels of injuries go this is 9/10 for severeness just so we're on the same page, maybe you rate it as a 6/10 . I can't call anything a masterful performance when the opponent is hampered so badly. If Cotto beat a bum I wouldn't call it a masterful performance .

11y ago

BuckToothed

He was aware of the left hook. In Round 1 he was circling to his left and you could hear Sormiento telling him not to be stationary and keep circling to the left. I think it was more of Cotto's great footwork and doing an excellent job of cutting the ring off to get in position to consistently land it. He's still got hit way too many times by it... you'd think after being clocked clean by it and KD several times after, that he'd circle away from it (he didn't do enough of) and would have put his right hand up to take away some steam from them. Yeah, Cotto's footwork and overall demeanor/confidence was top notch. BTW, I picked Sergio to win on this one...

11y ago

Cuauhtmoc1520

I apologise for that then. With your analogy on the 60-3 victory you shouldn't get credit for it. It's expected to dominate the low ranked team. Would you give somebody credit for beating 100 bums and having a perfect record? Well you are now going from one extreme to another. Martinez is hardly a bum, so I don't think that's relevant. Again, I agree it's a combination of the two. That Cotto was on that night, and that Martinez is at least partially shot. Saying that, it was a masterful performance and it really opened the doors to a couple of last fights that will have him sitting pretty at the negotiation table.

11y ago

Curtiz

Ok that's fine, if you would have read my original post, and not skimmed over it and then called me an idiot, I said the same thing. My point is, how does that in any way shape or form discredit Cotto's win? He dominated a fighter who might have been shot, that's what you are supposed to do. He didn't struggle with Martinez, he won every second of every round. I apologise for that then. With your analogy on the 60-3 victory you shouldn't get credit for it. It's expected to dominate the low ranked team. Would you give somebody credit for beating 100 bums and having a perfect record?

11y ago

Cuauhtmoc1520

"It taught me his weaknesses and during this camp I was able to eliminate them. The wear and tear of the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr fight ruined Martinez. He has nothing left. Miguel is the fresher fighter," Roach said. We can all play this game. I use my eyes, his knee was in BAD shape. Look at the chavez fight then this, OBVIOUS. Ok that's fine, if you would have read my original post, and not skimmed over it and then called me an idiot, I said the same thing. My point is, how does that in any way shape or form discredit Cotto's win? He dominated a fighter who might have been shot, that's what you are supposed to do. He didn't struggle with Martinez, he won every second of every round.

11y ago

Curtiz

Martinez and his team said it best. The punches in the 1st round is why he never really recovered. He possibly suffered a concussion and for sure a broken nose. Cotto won FAIR and SQUARE...fu.ck off hateras.s bit.ch "It taught me his weaknesses and during this camp I was able to eliminate them. The wear and tear of the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr fight ruined Martinez. He has nothing left. Miguel is the fresher fighter," Roach said. We can all play this game. I use my eyes, his knee was in BAD shape. Look at the chavez fight then this, OBVIOUS.

11y ago

Cuauhtmoc1520

Yep. Miguel looked great and utterly dominated a guy who, 100% or not, was the lineal middleweight champion of the world. Beat his ass, to put it plainly. Some guys put Floyd's win over JMM down because Marquez is "too small." Fine, Mayweather is bigger. But it's tough to overlook how Floyd totally owned a fellow ATG. I think Juan landed one significant punch that night. I think that's impressive. That's a good analogy, even though I didn't like what Mayweather did on the scales.

11y ago