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Just an article i saw over at rabbitpunch.
08/11/05 - If it’s not one thing for Miguel Cotto, it’s another. Since stopping Victoriano Sosa early last year, the WBO junior welterweight champion has had to endure non-stop comparisons to that “other” fighter from Puerto Rico, Felix Trinidad. Some might argue that being compared to a probable Hall of Famer is not the worst thing in the world. But as he prepares to make the fourth defense of his title against Gianluca Branco on September 24th, Cotto’s got to wonder what it will take to carve his own niche in boxing.
Miguel Cotto
“I’m not trying to take anybody’s place,” Cotto told reporters during Wednesday’s press conference announcing the fight. “I don’t think about that. I’m just trying to do my job and do the best I can. People will know me for what I do.” What Cotto will be doing in Atlantic City on September 24 th though is called a “stay busy” bout in boxing. Branco, a fighter noted for his counter-punching skills, probably doesn’t have enough weapons in his arsenal to stave off the 24 yr. old phenom from Caguas.
In his only fight on U.S. television, Branco gave as good as he got in the early rounds, eventually losing a competitive unanimous decision to Arturo Gatti. After the bout, Branco declared that Jersey City resident had “too much speed.” If he’s that impressed by Gatti’s hand speed, chances are that he’ll think he’s in the ring with Meldrick Taylor against Cotto.
Cotto however, has learned not to take any opponent lightly. Beating Sosa, Lovemore N’Dou, Kelson Pinto and Randall Bailey in successive bouts led him to believe he would walk through DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley this past February with ease. Instead, the overconfident champion walked into a sharp right hook from Corley that left him woozy for the remainder of the third round. He would recover a round later and went on to stop his foe in the fifth.
Cotto, a fighter notorious for gaining massive amounts of weight in between fights, gained seventeen pounds after the weigh-in for the Corley fight, perhaps weakening his own punch resistance in the process. After stopping the rugged Mohamed Abdulaev four months later, Cotto declared that the weight issues would no longer be a problem.
“I expect to see myself at 140lbs. for 12-18 more months,” Cotto said. “The training I had for Abdulaev worked out really well for me. We’re going to do the same thing this time and I don’t see any problems making weight again.”
Indeed, Cotto already appeared ready to go during Wednesday’s press conference in New York. Fans, of course, want to know when he’ll be ready to challenge the other A class fighters in the division.
“Those fights are coming,” Cotto told reporters. “A lot of people don’t realize that boxing is a business. Sometimes fights make sense and sometimes they don’t. When a fight with Mayweather makes sense, we’ll do it and it’ll be a business decision. And I’ll be more than ready.”
While dealing with comparisons to Trinidad, questions about weight problems and lack of big bouts, Cotto has quietly taken on more top junior welterweights than any current champion in the division, with the possible exception of Ricky Hatton.
“Every time they see me they see something different,” Cotto explains. “Against Abdulaev, I showed that I can box, move and be versatile. And in order to get to the top that’s what you have to do. You have to keep fighting tough opponents and win. That’s what I’m doing.”
In other words, quit fussing.
08/11/05 - If it’s not one thing for Miguel Cotto, it’s another. Since stopping Victoriano Sosa early last year, the WBO junior welterweight champion has had to endure non-stop comparisons to that “other” fighter from Puerto Rico, Felix Trinidad. Some might argue that being compared to a probable Hall of Famer is not the worst thing in the world. But as he prepares to make the fourth defense of his title against Gianluca Branco on September 24th, Cotto’s got to wonder what it will take to carve his own niche in boxing.
Miguel Cotto
“I’m not trying to take anybody’s place,” Cotto told reporters during Wednesday’s press conference announcing the fight. “I don’t think about that. I’m just trying to do my job and do the best I can. People will know me for what I do.” What Cotto will be doing in Atlantic City on September 24 th though is called a “stay busy” bout in boxing. Branco, a fighter noted for his counter-punching skills, probably doesn’t have enough weapons in his arsenal to stave off the 24 yr. old phenom from Caguas.
In his only fight on U.S. television, Branco gave as good as he got in the early rounds, eventually losing a competitive unanimous decision to Arturo Gatti. After the bout, Branco declared that Jersey City resident had “too much speed.” If he’s that impressed by Gatti’s hand speed, chances are that he’ll think he’s in the ring with Meldrick Taylor against Cotto.
Cotto however, has learned not to take any opponent lightly. Beating Sosa, Lovemore N’Dou, Kelson Pinto and Randall Bailey in successive bouts led him to believe he would walk through DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley this past February with ease. Instead, the overconfident champion walked into a sharp right hook from Corley that left him woozy for the remainder of the third round. He would recover a round later and went on to stop his foe in the fifth.
Cotto, a fighter notorious for gaining massive amounts of weight in between fights, gained seventeen pounds after the weigh-in for the Corley fight, perhaps weakening his own punch resistance in the process. After stopping the rugged Mohamed Abdulaev four months later, Cotto declared that the weight issues would no longer be a problem.
“I expect to see myself at 140lbs. for 12-18 more months,” Cotto said. “The training I had for Abdulaev worked out really well for me. We’re going to do the same thing this time and I don’t see any problems making weight again.”
Indeed, Cotto already appeared ready to go during Wednesday’s press conference in New York. Fans, of course, want to know when he’ll be ready to challenge the other A class fighters in the division.
“Those fights are coming,” Cotto told reporters. “A lot of people don’t realize that boxing is a business. Sometimes fights make sense and sometimes they don’t. When a fight with Mayweather makes sense, we’ll do it and it’ll be a business decision. And I’ll be more than ready.”
While dealing with comparisons to Trinidad, questions about weight problems and lack of big bouts, Cotto has quietly taken on more top junior welterweights than any current champion in the division, with the possible exception of Ricky Hatton.
“Every time they see me they see something different,” Cotto explains. “Against Abdulaev, I showed that I can box, move and be versatile. And in order to get to the top that’s what you have to do. You have to keep fighting tough opponents and win. That’s what I’m doing.”
In other words, quit fussing.
to your mom..
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