TalkingBoxing Articles
Changing of the Guard...Just Barely, but Let's Move On
WED November 14, ANDRES ANTONIO CARRIEDO - Miguel Cotto's 115-113 (twice), 116-113 victory this past Saturday on HBO PPV over Shane Mosley served as a reminder of just how vulnerable even the most talented and properly groomed boxers are when they step into the ring against formidable opponents. That reminder should not, however, deter what ostensibly appeared to be an elimination tournament involving Cotto, Mosley, Welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and jr. Welterweight champion Ricky Hatton.
Part of Cotto's appeal is imbued in the pulsating tension that often characterizes his fights. In each of his drawn out brawls with Ricardo Torres, Chop Chop Corley, Paulie Malignaggi and Zab Judah, fight fans saw Cotto both completely vulnerable and completely dominant...in other words Cotto's vintage appeal was on complete display. Those fights also served only as precursors to his crowning performance against Mosley. Though in the immediate aftermath to each of those fights there were varying degrees of calls for rematches eventually Cotto moved on without granting rematches.
The Mosley fight, aptly titled "Fast & Furious," contained a plot twist that few predicted it would. Mosley never hurt Cotto in the same manner that Torres, Corley and Judah each did nor did Cotto prevail in the end by wearing Mosley down with relentless pressure as he did against the aforementioned quartet of opponents. Instead, Cotto outscored Mosley by the narrowest of margins over 12 pretty grueling rounds that saw Mosley applying more pressure than Cotto throughout the late rounds. Again, some have called for a rematch due to the close and exciting nature of the fight. Once again, just as he done throughout his exciting and tumultuous ring career, Cotto should ignore that sentiment.
Cotto and Mosley, in addition to the WBA 147 lb. title, fought for the right to move forward into the ultimate superfight at the top echelon of the sport. Most fans and experts were pretty evenly split in their pre-fight predictions on who would win. Mosley's continued standing amongst the sport's elite and his preparedness to fight for 12 hard rounds if need be promised to provide Cotto with his toughest test to date and many even predicted that test would result in Cotto's first professional loss. What we learned is that Cotto is ready to take on all comers. We learned this when Cotto managed to beat Mosley with both the pressure fighting tactics he is lauded for and the boxing skills he possesses that often get ignored.
Perhaps Cotto's boxing skills get ignored because he generally resorts to his brawler instincts when he feels he is either trailing and/or has the ability to score a KO. To rehash an earlier point, those instincts both serve him well and have simultaneously won him many fans. However, his footwork and jab made the difference in this fight and have set up the proverbial "bigger and better things" that boxers and promoters alike often speak about. To set an immediate rematch with Mosley would ignore the elite standing Cotto has realized in the sport with this victory.
As far as fights against elite fighters in their primes are concerned, there will not be a bigger fight available to Cotto than a fight against the winner of next month's Mayweather-Hatton, "Undefeated" fight. The demand for that fight should take precedent over any demand for a rematch between the vanquished Mosley and victorious Cotto. After all, just as the Judah fight was a precursor to the Mosley fight; so too should the Mosley fight be a precursor to a possible showdown with a fighter with either Mayweather or Hatton's credentials. A rematch, in this case, only stalls the inevitable push forward for Cotto.
Manny Stewart Fires Jabs at Mayweather
I found it curious that in his closing remarks Manny Stewart fired more unsolicited jabs at Floyd Mayweather Jr. When discussing Miguel Cotto's potential future opponents Stewart said "If Mayweather don't want to fight him (Cotto) and won't fight him then if Max wants to keep considering him (Mayweather) #1, linear champion, whatever Max can have him. I don't want a part of him."
When Mayweather defeated Zab Judah in April 2006 Stewart criticized Mayweather because his two fights at 147 lbs. had been against smaller welterweights who had moved up from 140 lbs. Nevermind the fact that Mayweather himself started his career at 130 lbs. and mere months earlier was the smallest active Jr. Welterweight in the top 10. That is the division that his most recent victims, Sharmba Mitchell and Judah had fought almost their entire careers up to that point in. So, one could legitimately claim that though Mayweather's opponents were small by traditional welterweight standards they were bigger than Mayweather.
Then in June 2006, after calling Carlos Baldomir's KO victory over Arturo Gatti, Stewart claimed, "If he (Mayweather) beats this guy (Baldomir) then I'll respect him as a true welterweight and a champion." Mayweather defeated Baldomir in one of the most lopsided linear title fights in recent memory and Stewart responded in the late rounds of the fight by saying, "He's not a pound for pound anything!" Ok fine. However, Mayweather's most recent fight resulted in a decisive decision win against another considerably larger and well respected opponent, Oscar De la Hoya. His upcoming fight is scheduled to be against the linear 140 lb. champion, Ricky Hatton.
If the criticism stems from Mayweather's reluctance to fight Antonio Margarito and perhaps Cotto, which is probably what Stewart was implying, then HBO's on air personalities like Stewart should be fair and also point out some of the grief between Mayweather and Top Rank brass over what Mayweather publicly characterizes as mismanagement of his career by Top Rank while they served as Mayweather's promoter.
Considering the way Mayweather's career has taken off since he bought out his Top Rank contract following his win over Judah, it is hard to argue his point. That said, a fight with Cotto is a must for the sport of boxing should Mayweather manage to get by Hatton.
It should be noted that none of this speculation relates in any way to Mayweather's boxing skill and in ring accomplishments; which is why Stewart's string of comments are so curious.
Surely Stewart realizes that a 20 month stretch consisting of victories over Judah, Baldomir, De la Hoya and Hatton would match anything any other boxer has done in that span of time. So why not just say, "Mayweather better not let his beef with Bob Arum and Top Rank ruin our chances of seeing a great fight between him and Miguel Cotto!" Stewart is a classy guy and I expect better from him than his recent critiques of Mayweather display.
Bring On Mayweather-Hatton 24/7
I did not watch "De la Hoya-Mayweather 24/7," mostly because I've only recently warmed up to the idea of watching reality television. So, I'm not familiar with the format of that show. Some friends have told me that it was entertaining and as a direct result I'm getting incredibly excited about the premiere of "Mayweather-Hatton 24/7" on Sunday, November 18th. I think the 24/7 series, continued improvements to "The Contender" and possibly a major network spin-off may bring to the sport of boxing the same type of excitement that core UFC fans derive from their SpikeTV shows. It's a development that if properly managed could reinvigorate the sport of boxing.
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