Pacquiao-Cotto looms in the distance..
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
After re-watching the Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey fight, I’m singing a different tune. But I still believe I will never watch the fight again.
Watching it the first time, I had it 7-5 in rounds for Clottey. Rounds 10 and 11 are your swing rounds. Still think Clottey won, but I won’t cry for him.
Here’s what’s funny about Cotto. Coming up, he was being labeled as the “next big Puerto Rican star.” He was taking the place of Tito Trinidad.
Since turning professional, he’s done a fantastic job of trying to live up to the moniker. For the record, there will never be another Tito.
Cotto’s mystique has disappeared as he has moved up in weight. It’s made him more endearing (to me) and his fights more entertaining.
He’s not an indestructible machine. But his boxing IQ is among the best out there, and he can adjust mid-fight better than 99 percent of the fighters out there.
I have to give him credit for learning English, too. Some Spanish-speaking boxers see that as turning their back on their heritage, but all it does is increase the chances of crossover appeal.
The pre-fight piece on Cotto didn’t need subtitles. His English is solid. And his guts and warrior-ness will never be questioned.
My only point of contention with Cotto now is his “I need a vacation” line. I’m not buying it because for every mega-fight (Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito), there’s been that “stay busy” fight (Alfonso Gomez and Michael Jennings).
Boxrec.com already has it penciled in for Nov. 14 with Cotto and Manny Pacquiao. Nothing’s confirmed yet, but here’s to hoping.
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Floyd Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez has been postponed because of a rib injury suffered to “Money May” in training.
Originally scheduled for July 18, it will now be sometime in September (most likely). Hope this fight still comes off, though.
I’d bet even-money odds that because of the postponement, Mayweather gets thrown into that November slot vs. PacMan.
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UFC 102 has its main event as heavyweights Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira will take on former Oklahoma State and legendary UFC fighter Randy Couture.
Both are coming off tough losses as Couture was knocked out by Brock Lesnar in November while Minotauro was no challenge for Frank Mir in December.
The Ultimate Fighter 9 finale is Saturday night on Spike. Here’s the card.
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Took a look at Jared Hess. Be back tomorrow with a look at Hector Lombard as the two prepare for their middleweight Bellator championship fight Friday. Because of space issues, the Hess package did not run in Wednesday’s paper. But it will run in Thursday’s edition.
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