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by David P. Greisman - BRONX, N.Y. – We talk of boxing as war, an unarmed microcosm of armed conflict. The boxers, then, are variations on themes, versions of warriors, historic and contemporary.
There were the soldiers who marched up to battle bolstered by drummers and backed by flags. And then there were the silent assassins, those samurai and sharpshooters who approached each mission with the same quiet dedication, emotionless but effective.
Yuri Foreman began his march to the ring to the sounds of the shofar, a ram’s horn, the blowing of which is steeped in ***ish tradition. That gave way first to Hebrew singing, and then to heavy metal chords, the signature start to Pantera’s “Walk,” the aggressive anthem whose refrain demands respect.
Miguel Cotto’s walk was unexceptional, briefly accompanied by music that was nothing worth noting. He would soon pick up the beat in three-minute bursts.
Every second of every minute, every minute of every round is its own little battle. Miguel Cotto did not win every battle. But he was more capable than Foreman and more confident than him. That won him the war.
Cotto was smaller but stronger. Foreman was bigger but faster. Foreman couldn’t capitalize on his height advantage, nor could he handle Cotto’s power. Cotto, meanwhile, offset Foreman’s size and speed from the outset.
Cotto is naturally left-handed but fights from an orthodox stance. He worked behind a strong jab to close the distance between himself and the taller fighter. Foreman’s jab lacked conviction. When it wasn’t aimed at air, it hit harmlessly against Cotto’s gloves. [Click Here To Read More]
There were the soldiers who marched up to battle bolstered by drummers and backed by flags. And then there were the silent assassins, those samurai and sharpshooters who approached each mission with the same quiet dedication, emotionless but effective.
Yuri Foreman began his march to the ring to the sounds of the shofar, a ram’s horn, the blowing of which is steeped in ***ish tradition. That gave way first to Hebrew singing, and then to heavy metal chords, the signature start to Pantera’s “Walk,” the aggressive anthem whose refrain demands respect.
Miguel Cotto’s walk was unexceptional, briefly accompanied by music that was nothing worth noting. He would soon pick up the beat in three-minute bursts.
Every second of every minute, every minute of every round is its own little battle. Miguel Cotto did not win every battle. But he was more capable than Foreman and more confident than him. That won him the war.
Cotto was smaller but stronger. Foreman was bigger but faster. Foreman couldn’t capitalize on his height advantage, nor could he handle Cotto’s power. Cotto, meanwhile, offset Foreman’s size and speed from the outset.
Cotto is naturally left-handed but fights from an orthodox stance. He worked behind a strong jab to close the distance between himself and the taller fighter. Foreman’s jab lacked conviction. When it wasn’t aimed at air, it hit harmlessly against Cotto’s gloves. [Click Here To Read More]
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