Fight Lover's Forum 09.03.10: Spotlighting Miguel Cotto

Posted by A. Shakoor on 09.03.2010

Miguel Cotto is in the spotlight this week as 411's Ali Shakoor takes a look at him and takes stock of his current career status in the latest Fight Lover's Forum!


Cotto, before his bout with Yuri Foreman

History

Miguel Cotto started out his career regarded as a star in the making, coming out of the 2000 Olympics. Top Rank head, Bob Arum, tagged him as the heir apparent to Puerto Rican legend, Felix "Tito" Trinidad. Arguably, Cotto was the most hyped fighter of the 2000's coming out of the amateur ranks.

Cotto started out his career in the junior-welterweight division. Early on, fans and pundits were impressed with his sound technical skill. He had an educated jab, threw straight punches, and went to the body like a beast. It was wondered whether Cotto would be another Julio Cesar Chavez. It didn't take long for Cotto to win his first world title with a victory over Kelson Pinto.

Cotto wasn't long for a title reign at 140. He had shaky moments against mediocre fighters. Cotto seemed to have problems with his wind, and didn't seem to take punches particularly well. There was talk that he was killing himself to make 140. A move up to welterweight was in the cards.

A championship at 147 was achieved soon after his entry in the division with a victory over Carlos Quintana. Miguel also showed improved conditioning, skill, and chin at 147. Along with Antonio Margarito, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Zab Judah, Joshua Clottey and the returning Shane Mosley, Cotto was looked upon as perhaps the "class" of one of boxing's most talent-rich divisions.

Miguel showed his heart and versatility with hard fought victories over Zab Judah and Shane Mosley. These were close battles in which Cotto out-fought and out-smarted athletic, quick-handed foes. Particularly against Mosley, Miguel showed off his boxing skill, legs, and endurance. At this point, with the clear knowledge that Floyd Mayweather Jr. didn't have the will to face him, Cotto would have to face Antonio Margarito to determine welterweight supremacy.

In a brutal battle in which Cotto built an early lead and hit Antonio with everything he had, he couldn't withstand the onslaught down the stretch. Cotto took some wicked punishment in the mid to late rounds and quit on his knee in round eleven- his face a Halloween mask of horror. This loss will forever have an asterisk due to Margarito's subsequent glove-loading scandal. Based on Cotto's description of the blows, the suspicious yellow pad on Antonio's hand-wraps (seen in photos after the bout), and the condition of Cotto's face, many among us believe that Cotto was the recipient of tainted if not criminal beating. It was believed by most that Cotto would never be the same fighter again.


Cotto also had some problems in his personal life. His long bad-blooded relationship with his uncle/trainer, Miguel Acosta, finally ended with an embarrassing and headline grabbing physical altercation. Cotto did get back on the winning track with a victory over Brit, Michael Jennings, throughout these struggles.

Not one to take the easy road, Cotto next fought Joshua Clottey. At the time, Clottey was regarded as one of the best welterweights in the world and had given dangerous Antonio Margarito one of his toughest challenges, in a close loss. In this bout, Cotto again showed his heart and toughness, by surviving a terrible cut, to once again box his way to a close decision. By beating a top welterweight and showing perseverance, Cotto seemed to strangle some of his demons from the Margarito loss.

I was one of few who expected Cotto to beat Manny Pacquiao by late knockout. I figured the fact that Cotto was an elite, prime, true, welterweight, would be too much for "little" Manny Pacquiao. In the first three rounds I felt my prediction would hold true. Cotto was getting Manny's attention with his power punches, and I figured a mid-fight body attack would eventually break Pacman down. All that changed with Manny's classic left hook in round 4. It turned the fight around.

For the next six and a half rounds, Manny whipped Cotto's butt, while Cotto retreated and barely threw anything decent in return. Cotto was dominated by one of the greatest fighters of all time. The referee saved Cotto from himself at the beginning of the final round, but the final result was never in doubt.

After the loss to Pacman, Cotto had to do some soul searching. He had to come to grips with the fact that buddy, Joe Santiago, did not have the skill or experience to be his head trainer. Cotto also had to come to terms with the fact that he was a great but not transcendent talent. Lastly, Cotto knew as well as anyone, that he'd had a lot of tough fights, and took a lot of punishment in his relatively brief career. Shortly after the loss to Manny, Cotto talked about making 2010 his last year in the sport.

Cotto made some major changes. He demoted Santiago, and hired Hall of Fame trainer, Emanuel Steward, to handle his career. Cotto also decided to try his luck at the 154-pound division. The latter decision allowed him to achieve the respectable goal of winning a title in a third division. He accomplished this by beating Yuri Foreman this past June.

Many fans and pundits actually believed that Cotto would lose to the feather-fisted Foreman. To the credit of Steward and Cotto, there was little doubt from the outset that Miguel was the superior fighter. His stiff jab and vicious body attack returned to his repertoire. He seemed to have a renewed confidence. Although a knee injury precipitated Foreman's downfall, there was little doubt from any objective observer that Cotto indeed was the superior fighter and legitimately earned the 154 pound title.

Miguel Cotto is once again a champion and relevant player on the boxing landscape.

Strengths


Cotto has a very high boxing IQ. He showed a great deal of humility and knowledge in firing Santiago, to hire Steward as his trainer. His offensive technique is very sound with a stiff jab, straight punching, and a superior body attack. His best punches are probably the straight right and left hook. Cotto is also a very good closer, and has a fighting spirit when he doesn't feel threatened. He cuts off the ring very well.

Although Cotto seemed to have one of the weaker chins of any elite fighter as a junior-welterweight, he's proven to be steadier and more durable after he moved up in weight. His chin isn't great, but it's pretty good- considering how often he gets hit. Cotto is extremely versatile. He's comfortable either brawling or fighting from the outside. Cotto can use angles and movement very well to protect his lead late in fights.

Cotto is considered a classy man inside the ring and out. He is rather wily, and like his idol Trinidad, he's strayed low with a punch to "stem the tide". However, Cotto has never had the reputation for being a dirty fighter.

Cotto is an honest and quality interview. He's made great strides to improve his English in recent years. I'm among many who believe that Cotto will make a very good color commentator down the road.

Cotto is also a huge draw; particularly in New York's Madison Square Garden. He's also done very good pay-per-view numbers. In his era, he's a tier below Pacquiao and Mayweather as a cash-cow. Cotto has been good for boxing.

Weaknesses

In the past, Cotto has let his ego get in the way of what's best for his career by hiring inexperienced buddy, Joe Santiago, to handle the training. I was at the media day when Cotto was preparing for the Pacquiao bout. As rumored, Cotto ran the show completely in camp. After spending countless minutes jumping rope, while admiring himself in the mirror, he set the agenda for the rest of the workout. It was clear that he was in charge. Unfortunately for Cotto, he doesn't have the talent of a Floyd Mayweather Jr. to behave in such a manner. That may have cost him against Pacquiao.

Cotto is remarkably easy to hit. This is certainly problematic against fast-handed fighters. The main reason why Cotto has failed to make it to the next level of greatness is due to the fact that he has sub-par defensive technique. He isn't a face-first slugger by any means, but he still never mastered the art of superior head movement, blocking, and rolling the shoulder. He tries, but it simply isn't good enough.

His most effective defensive technique is also questionable- running. Cotto is not a coward per se, and as mentioned in his strengths, he moves well to protect his lead. However, against Margarito and Pacquiao, Cotto got on his bicycle late, as a way to protect himself from heavy punches. Unfortunately, Cotto did too much running and not enough scoring; lacking an effort to try to WIN.

Lastly, Cotto has fought far too many difficult fights in a short period of time. It's earned him as good a resume as any welterweight of the past forty years, but it's also shortened his career and may lead to late in life neurological problems. I admire the quality of fighters on Miguel's resume, but he should have mixed in a few more "Michael Jennings" to pad his record and protect himself physically.

Future Outlook

Cotto's immediate future seems to provide him with a huge payday and winnable title defense versus Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on December 4th. Chavez is still rather "green" and has likely outgrown 154. Cotto is also simply a superior fighter, and I expect him to win easily.

After that, it's anyone's guess. Cotto doesn't seem to want to retire in 2010, as he discussed last year. It wouldn't be a bad idea if he did though- while he still has his health. The Foreman fight did show that he has a lot left in the tank, and proved that he wears the154 pound weight very well. If I were Cotto, I'd never go back down to welterweight. Aging fighters should not drop in weight, if they've moved up in a natural and healthy manner.

I know a possible fight with Andre Berto would do major money in New York City or South Florida. But Cotto should make Berto meet him at junior-middleweight; even if he were to concede a catch-weight at no lower than151 or 152. I think this would be a winnable fight for Cotto and another solid name on the resume.

I wouldn't fault Cotto if he were to fight minimum mandatories for a year or two and just padded his record, before one last major payday. Cotto has earned it. However, knowing Cotto's fearlessness in taking on all-comers, I expect that he'll face Paul Williams, Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Alfredo Angulo in the next 15 months and take a beating. Granted, it's possible that he could stay on his bike and outbox Angulo; if he were so inclined.

Many believe that Cotto should take on Margarito to avenge his likely tainted loss. However, I'm of the opinion that Cotto shouldn't give the thug a major payday.

If he were to retire today, Cotto is a borderline Hall of Famer, but I personally feel that he's done enough to earn an induction. His two prime losses are to a disgraced glove-loader and Manny Pacquiao- one of the top five pound for pound greatest fighters of all-time. He should feel proud of his accomplishments. It's been a pleasure following Miguel Cotto's career.