Tweet
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 cong**** 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.
Cotto vs Martinez:
First I want to say cong**** 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.
Comment