By Alex Mattis
Miguel Angel Cotto is one of the most exciting boxers the past decade has seen. Skill, toughness, a willingness to brawl, and always a flare for the dramatic; Cotto has all the characteristics any boxing fan could want in a fighter. With an immeasurable heart and a destructive left-hook to the body, the native of Caguas quickly rose through the ranks and became one of the most prominent welterweights of the last ten years.
While having only two losses in his 10+ years of professional competition, the devastating manner in which he lost that pair is the type that shortens careers. The vicious beat down at the hands of Antonio Margarito (from the ever-debated gloves of Margarito, no less) and the brutal domination from Manny Pacquiao rendered Cotto with much to think about in regards to his future. Rumors of retirement circulated following the loss to Pacquiao, however Cotto pressed forward and challenged the undefeated Yuri Foreman in June of last year. Switching up his training, and spending time with Emmanuel Steward looked to have revitalized Cotto as he seemingly controlled Foreman until scoring the KO, with his most famous weapon, in the 9th round. Jim Lampley put it best, “That’s the knockout victory Miguel Cotto was looking for!” Not only the win, but the fashion in which came was imperative for this period of Cotto’s career.
Cotto will look to turn out another vintage performance as he looks to defend his WBA Light Middleweight title from the brash trash talking, Ricardo Mayorga. Always the one to be short-on-words, Ricardo Mayorga had a mouthful to spout off at the initial press conference for the bout. While Miguel’s facial expression didn’t once fluctuate, those who are familiar with the proud Puerto Rican could tell he was taking note of each and every wrong Mayorga was making. By all accounts, Miguel Cotto will make Ricardo Mayorga look foolish on Saturday night. Cotto should be able to finish this one before it hits the championship rounds. Whether it’s a dissection ala the Foreman fight or an absolute blowout that mirrors his decimation of Michael Jennings, fans should expect Cotto to leave with an emphatic victory. Looking past this Saturday night, one has to wonder what could lay ahead for Miguel Cotto. The man has done, or at least attempted, all there is to do at his weight. A rematch with Pacquiao? Testing the waters with ‘Canelo’? Who knows.
What fans can expect in the immediate future is for Miguel Cotto to do everything in his power to defeat Ricardo Mayorga in a fashion fitting of his legacy. In the sport of boxing, knowing when to walk away is a tricky situation. Often times, fighters minds are made up for them. Arturo Gatti and Ricky Hatton come to mind as recent examples. Sometimes fighters choose to walk away via their own logic, as whacky as it may be (Floyd Mayweather). The most simplistic, yet often rarest, reason to retire is that it’s just time. The headliner of this Saturday nights title fight has to believe that his time is nearing an end.
