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By Bob Canobbio - Miguel Cotto (29-0, 24KOs), making the second defense of his welterweight title, nearly a 3-1 favorite vs. former two-time champ, Brooklyn’s Zab Judah, (34-4-2NC, 25KOs) who hasn’t won a fight in over two years. A sellout crowd of 17,000-plus is expected at New York’s Madison Square Garden on the eve of the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Cotto made a successful first defense last March, pummeling German-based challenger Oktay Urkal over 11 rounds as the capacity crowd at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente cheered his every punch landed. And land he did - 54% of his power shots, many to the body of Urkal , who landed 45% of his power punches, with no effect on the frustrated Cotto, who was clearly looking for the KO win from the opening bell. Cotto balanced his attack, averaging 19 jabs thrown per round among his 49 total punches thrown per round. He landed over 58% of his power shots in five of the 11 rounds, bolstered by that steady body attack.
Speaking of his body attack, Cotto won his version of the welterweight title by hammering the body of Carlos Quintana for five rounds last December. The previously undefeated Quintata (23-0) was coming off a one-sided victory over the highly-touted Joel Julio six months earlier. Quintana got off 102 punches in round one, then averaged just 63 per round (landing 19%) the rest of the way after feeling Cotto’s power. Cotto averaged 56 punches thrown per round and landed 33% of his power shots. Cotto mixed in 13 jabs thrown per round vs. the southpaw Quintana. [details]
Cotto made a successful first defense last March, pummeling German-based challenger Oktay Urkal over 11 rounds as the capacity crowd at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente cheered his every punch landed. And land he did - 54% of his power shots, many to the body of Urkal , who landed 45% of his power punches, with no effect on the frustrated Cotto, who was clearly looking for the KO win from the opening bell. Cotto balanced his attack, averaging 19 jabs thrown per round among his 49 total punches thrown per round. He landed over 58% of his power shots in five of the 11 rounds, bolstered by that steady body attack.
Speaking of his body attack, Cotto won his version of the welterweight title by hammering the body of Carlos Quintana for five rounds last December. The previously undefeated Quintata (23-0) was coming off a one-sided victory over the highly-touted Joel Julio six months earlier. Quintana got off 102 punches in round one, then averaged just 63 per round (landing 19%) the rest of the way after feeling Cotto’s power. Cotto averaged 56 punches thrown per round and landed 33% of his power shots. Cotto mixed in 13 jabs thrown per round vs. the southpaw Quintana. [details]
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