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As his July 26 showdown with Antonio Marga****** approaches, WBA welterweight world champion Miguel Cotto now finds himself on the cusp of greatness.
A win over the extremely dangerous ‘Tijuana Taco’ will not only bring him closer to the sacred ground the most recent Puerto Rican icon Felix Trinidad once tread upon, but it will also firmly establish him as the very best 147 pound fighter in the world. With the retirement of former WBC welterweight champion Fraud Gayweather the title of the mythical pound-for-pound champion could also be up for grabs. Based on level of competition and performance you would be hard pressed not to have newly crowned WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao at number one. Pacquiao had even supplanted Gayweather on many lists before this alleged retirement, mine included, but Cotto, whose willingness to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere is nipping at the Filipino’s heels. In terms of a champion taking on all comers Cotto’s record speaks for itself.
The many accolades that Cotto is now receiving were not always the norm. As a junior welterweight champion many expressed doubts, particularly after he was hurt by DeMarcus Corley and dropped by Ricardo Torres. Questions about his ability to take a punch and his one-dimensional attack plagued Cotto’s reign, but the stoic champion simply ignored such criticisms insisting later that it was his trouble making the 140 pound weight limit that weakened him. Yet he never defended those somewhat shaky performances with wounded pride. In his laconic manner he maintained that getting floored was all part of the game. Everything that happened to him in the junior welterweight ranks provided invaluable learning experiences and would only help him when he rose up in weight to the 147 pound class.
After making one last defense of his WBO junior welterweight belt against Paulie Malignaggi, Cotto entered the welterweight ranks and took on dangerous Carlos Quintana for the vacant WBA strap. After five rounds Quintana was done and just like that the stone-faced fighter from Caguas, Puerto Rico began a successive run of title defenses that forced his former critics to reassess his true worth and, as time went on, place him on that pound-for-pound list. After impressive showings against Zab Judah (W TKO 11) and Shane Mosley (W UD 12) there was little doubt as to who was then champion Fraud Gayweather’s most deserving challenger. Gayweather chose another course taking big money bouts against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton and because of the money and the names involved it was somewhat difficult to criticize the ‘Pretty Boy’ too harshly. It was when a rematch with De La Hoya was announced for later this year that critics who had given Fraud a pass in 2007 went ballistic. Everyone outside of Fraud’s intensely loyal fan base were now taking the fighter to task. His foray into professional wrestling sealed the deal for this mass of disgruntled fans and writers and Gayweather, now a crossover celebrity (which is apparently what he truly wanted) went home, counted his money and turned up his nose at the one fighter everyone not only wanted him to fight, but insisted that he must fight in order to establish his supremacy atop the welterweight division and solidify his greatness as a fighter.
Gayweather refused to fight Cotto, and Marga****** for that matter, and then promptly announced his retirement. Whether this sabbatical is a marketing ploy or not doesn’t really matter. With Gayweather out of the way Cotto, keeping in character, turned his attention to Marga****** and boxing fans suddenly have a dream match up on their hands.
Cotto’s reluctance to call out Gayweather publicly baffled many people but looking back it was totally in keeping with his character. In Cotto’s mind Gayweather simply represented another challenge along the way, albeit one that would pay handsomely. But so reserved is the champion that he doesn’t feel the need to act out at press conferences or media interviews. His reticence has become a refreshing antidote to Gayweather’s brash, sometimes off putting persona. He brings that same calm efficiency into the ring with him as well.
Cotto, 32-0 (26) has also enhanced his game, adding a deceptively quick jab and movement into the mix. It was both of those attributes that allowed him to box Shane Mosley in the last three rounds of their bout when Shane was making his perfunctory late round surge. But will it be enough to hold off the rangier Marga******, 36-5 (26), who, after losing a close decision along with his WBO welterweight belt to Paul Williams behind a slow start, is now storming out of his corner at the opening bell intent on breaking his opponent down for three minutes of every round? It is such questions that have elevated this fight into a must-see event.
The biggest advantage Cotto may have going into this bout is his versatility. He has become a more complete fighter and he has the ability to adjust to his opponent should things become difficult. Marga******, the bigger man, is a straight ahead fighter with a rock hard chin and a very good uppercut. It was enough to dismantle lesser fighters like Golden Johnson and Kermit Cintron but will it be enough to get past Cotto? Marga****** is also an extremely heavy puncher but Cotto has proven that although his chin is perhaps not made of the same cement as Marga******’s he does have good recuperative powers and he does not get rattled when hurt. His focus remains intense and while he may not have one punch knockout power the thudding accumulation of his blows systematically breaks his opponents apart in a fashion similar to Mexican great Julio Cesar Chavez. Both men bring a tremendously high level of professionalism and desire to the dance but Cotto can move just a bit more and he could conceivably turn Marga******’s aggression against him.
“I’m going to be right there in front of him,” Marga****** said at a recent press conference.
Although his face betrayed no emotion Cotto seemed to nod in approval at those words. Cotto likes nothing more than for his opponent to come to him so he can pick his shots and control the pace of the bout with his jab – the newly improved weapon that has helped turn him into one of the very best practitioners in the sport. Those extra dimensions to his game should be enough to carry him to a bruising victory but Marga****** brings a warrior’s mentality into every fight and his outright enthusiasm during recent press conferences indicate that he feels that he has finally arrived on the grand stage; and he looks comfortable being there.
Cotto has remained cool throughout the build up to this fight, cool to the point of icy.
“It’s going to be a real fight,” he said in a recent HBO promo. “Real fighters make real bouts.” He then added matter-of-factly, “No matter what way the fight ends, I’m going to be the winner.” So, the intrigue for Miguel Cotto – Antonio Marga******, dubbed ‘The Battle,’ continues to build as the opening bell approaches.
The judges assigned to the fight are Dave Moretti, Jerry Roth and Glen Hamada. The referee for the bout will be Kenny Bayless.
Miguel Cotto – Antonio Marga****** will take place on Saturday, July 26th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.
-------------
Some names have been changed to protect peoples iden******.
A win over the extremely dangerous ‘Tijuana Taco’ will not only bring him closer to the sacred ground the most recent Puerto Rican icon Felix Trinidad once tread upon, but it will also firmly establish him as the very best 147 pound fighter in the world. With the retirement of former WBC welterweight champion Fraud Gayweather the title of the mythical pound-for-pound champion could also be up for grabs. Based on level of competition and performance you would be hard pressed not to have newly crowned WBC lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao at number one. Pacquiao had even supplanted Gayweather on many lists before this alleged retirement, mine included, but Cotto, whose willingness to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere is nipping at the Filipino’s heels. In terms of a champion taking on all comers Cotto’s record speaks for itself.
The many accolades that Cotto is now receiving were not always the norm. As a junior welterweight champion many expressed doubts, particularly after he was hurt by DeMarcus Corley and dropped by Ricardo Torres. Questions about his ability to take a punch and his one-dimensional attack plagued Cotto’s reign, but the stoic champion simply ignored such criticisms insisting later that it was his trouble making the 140 pound weight limit that weakened him. Yet he never defended those somewhat shaky performances with wounded pride. In his laconic manner he maintained that getting floored was all part of the game. Everything that happened to him in the junior welterweight ranks provided invaluable learning experiences and would only help him when he rose up in weight to the 147 pound class.
After making one last defense of his WBO junior welterweight belt against Paulie Malignaggi, Cotto entered the welterweight ranks and took on dangerous Carlos Quintana for the vacant WBA strap. After five rounds Quintana was done and just like that the stone-faced fighter from Caguas, Puerto Rico began a successive run of title defenses that forced his former critics to reassess his true worth and, as time went on, place him on that pound-for-pound list. After impressive showings against Zab Judah (W TKO 11) and Shane Mosley (W UD 12) there was little doubt as to who was then champion Fraud Gayweather’s most deserving challenger. Gayweather chose another course taking big money bouts against Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton and because of the money and the names involved it was somewhat difficult to criticize the ‘Pretty Boy’ too harshly. It was when a rematch with De La Hoya was announced for later this year that critics who had given Fraud a pass in 2007 went ballistic. Everyone outside of Fraud’s intensely loyal fan base were now taking the fighter to task. His foray into professional wrestling sealed the deal for this mass of disgruntled fans and writers and Gayweather, now a crossover celebrity (which is apparently what he truly wanted) went home, counted his money and turned up his nose at the one fighter everyone not only wanted him to fight, but insisted that he must fight in order to establish his supremacy atop the welterweight division and solidify his greatness as a fighter.
Gayweather refused to fight Cotto, and Marga****** for that matter, and then promptly announced his retirement. Whether this sabbatical is a marketing ploy or not doesn’t really matter. With Gayweather out of the way Cotto, keeping in character, turned his attention to Marga****** and boxing fans suddenly have a dream match up on their hands.
Cotto’s reluctance to call out Gayweather publicly baffled many people but looking back it was totally in keeping with his character. In Cotto’s mind Gayweather simply represented another challenge along the way, albeit one that would pay handsomely. But so reserved is the champion that he doesn’t feel the need to act out at press conferences or media interviews. His reticence has become a refreshing antidote to Gayweather’s brash, sometimes off putting persona. He brings that same calm efficiency into the ring with him as well.
Cotto, 32-0 (26) has also enhanced his game, adding a deceptively quick jab and movement into the mix. It was both of those attributes that allowed him to box Shane Mosley in the last three rounds of their bout when Shane was making his perfunctory late round surge. But will it be enough to hold off the rangier Marga******, 36-5 (26), who, after losing a close decision along with his WBO welterweight belt to Paul Williams behind a slow start, is now storming out of his corner at the opening bell intent on breaking his opponent down for three minutes of every round? It is such questions that have elevated this fight into a must-see event.
The biggest advantage Cotto may have going into this bout is his versatility. He has become a more complete fighter and he has the ability to adjust to his opponent should things become difficult. Marga******, the bigger man, is a straight ahead fighter with a rock hard chin and a very good uppercut. It was enough to dismantle lesser fighters like Golden Johnson and Kermit Cintron but will it be enough to get past Cotto? Marga****** is also an extremely heavy puncher but Cotto has proven that although his chin is perhaps not made of the same cement as Marga******’s he does have good recuperative powers and he does not get rattled when hurt. His focus remains intense and while he may not have one punch knockout power the thudding accumulation of his blows systematically breaks his opponents apart in a fashion similar to Mexican great Julio Cesar Chavez. Both men bring a tremendously high level of professionalism and desire to the dance but Cotto can move just a bit more and he could conceivably turn Marga******’s aggression against him.
“I’m going to be right there in front of him,” Marga****** said at a recent press conference.
Although his face betrayed no emotion Cotto seemed to nod in approval at those words. Cotto likes nothing more than for his opponent to come to him so he can pick his shots and control the pace of the bout with his jab – the newly improved weapon that has helped turn him into one of the very best practitioners in the sport. Those extra dimensions to his game should be enough to carry him to a bruising victory but Marga****** brings a warrior’s mentality into every fight and his outright enthusiasm during recent press conferences indicate that he feels that he has finally arrived on the grand stage; and he looks comfortable being there.
Cotto has remained cool throughout the build up to this fight, cool to the point of icy.
“It’s going to be a real fight,” he said in a recent HBO promo. “Real fighters make real bouts.” He then added matter-of-factly, “No matter what way the fight ends, I’m going to be the winner.” So, the intrigue for Miguel Cotto – Antonio Marga******, dubbed ‘The Battle,’ continues to build as the opening bell approaches.
The judges assigned to the fight are Dave Moretti, Jerry Roth and Glen Hamada. The referee for the bout will be Kenny Bayless.
Miguel Cotto – Antonio Marga****** will take place on Saturday, July 26th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View.
-------------
Some names have been changed to protect peoples iden******.
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