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Cotto
rises to "Greatness" with good win over Mosley!
By Mike Indri -Retired Boxers Foundation
(NOV 12) New York - The fight was super-hyped, and rightfully so, as
undefeated welterweight world champion Miguel Cotto was facing his most
difficult challenge in four-time, three-division former world champion
"Sugar" Shane Mosley, for Cotto's World Boxing Association title belt.
Madison Square Garden, the "Mecca of Boxing", would once again play host for
Cotto and his quest for greatness. While not a sell-out, 17,135 boisterous
and proud Puerto Rican fans would cram their way through the turnstiles,
they would not be let down - neither would co-promoters Bob Arum or Oscar De
La Hoya, as initial reports of the gross gate figures came in at over 3.8
million dollars!
The fight itself, an exciting, intriguing good twelve rounder, may not have
lived up to all the pomp and circumstance, but Miguel Cotto truly did. The
classy, hard punching Cotto earned his unanimous decision win and proved he
belongs amongst the top of the talent laden welterweight list.
Cotto was in with a truly great fighter. Shane Mosley, the only fighter to
have twice beaten De La Hoya, has always been a lethally dangerous
combination of speed, precision and deceptive power. With his two technical
knockout victories over Fernando Vargas in 2006 and his dominatingly
brilliant twelve round unanimous decision win against Luis Collazo in his
most recent bout (02/10/07), Mosley had proven to all the skeptics that
"Sugar" was back to his sweet self.
Fighting against the thirty six year-old elite level former champion who
feasts off of making good, and great, fighters look bad, Miguel Cotto looked
very good.
Using a good mixture of jabs, body punching and constant pressure Cotto
seemed to effectively counter Mosley's quicker hands and appeared to be
wearing down the Pomona, CA. fighter. Mosley would later say that his
desire to fight and go for the knockout may have hurt, more than help, but a
couple of big shots from Mosley caught Cotto on the ropes in round nine and
did hurt the Puerto Rican champion.
As quickly as Mosley's stingers were bouncing off of Cotto's head did the
party-like atmosphere in boxing's most hallowed venue abruptly change from
rabid delirium to hushed concern. The bell sounding the end of round nine
brought sighs of relief and nervous cheers.
While tired and hurting, this was when the true greatness of Miguel Cotto
emerged again, as it had before in earlier battles. An ability that cannot
be taught or trained is that of a fighter's heart, and even while battling
as a prospect and then contender, before winning his titles, Miguel Cotto
has always shown his heart of a champion.
Mosley put forth his best effort, actually becoming the aggressor late in
the fight and backing Cotto into the ropes, only to have his iron willed
opponent fire back. Mosley was the fighter pressing the issue as the final
bell sounded, ending the closely fought match.
As fight announcer Michael Buffer read the judge's scores (Glenn Feldman
115-113, Wynn Kintz 116-113 and Peter Trematerra 115-113) and referee Benjy
Esteves raised Cotto's hand in victory, Team Cotto hoisted Miguel on their
shoulders.
Miguel Cotto's championship performance tonight hoisted him into boxing's
highest echelon - that exclusive list of today's truly GREAT fighters.
HBO televised three other fights on the Pay-Per-View televised broadcast.
The night's co-feature bout saw former World Boxing Organization
welterweight champion Antonio Margarito crush Golden Johnson (25-9-3, 18
KO's), dropping the overmatched fighter from San Antonio, TX three times
before referee Wayne Kelly stopped the destruction at 2:38 of the first
round. Hurting Johnson early with his big left hand, Margarito sent his foe
to the canvas within the first minute of the bout. The ropes were all that
was holding Johnson up as the barrage continued and Kelly rightfully started
counting for the second knockdown. Looking to end it the Mexican champion
battered Johnson around the ring and drove a hard left to the body, which
resulted in the third and final knockdown as Kelly waved off the fight.
Johnson, coming off his surprising knockout win over Oscar Diaz (11/10/06
TKO 11), was never in the fight against Margarito, now 35-5 (25 KO's), who
picked up the vacant WBO Intercontinental welterweight belt with his
impressive knockout victory.
Promising jr. welterweight prospect Victor Ortiz thrilled the crowd with his
powerful first round knockout over former WBA champion Carlos Maussa. The
twenty year-old Ortiz, fighting out of Oxnard, CA. improved to 20-1-1, with
Maussa becoming his 15th knockout victim. A straight right-left combination
by Ortiz sent the wide-open, Colombian fighter to the deck where he was
unable to arise. Maussa, now 20-5 (18 KO's), has now lost his last three
fights since dethroning then WBA champion Vivian Harris.
WBC Interim lightweight champion Joel Casamayor somehow was awarded a split
decision victory over Jose Santa Cruz in a bout controlled by Santa Cruz
throughout most of the twelve rounds. Having not fought since his split
decision win over the late Diego Corrales (06/10/07), Casamayor appeared
rusty and lethargic. Sent to the canvas, albeit while off balance, with a
punch to the arm in round one, the Cuban defector never showed his usual
superlative boxing prowess and was out boxed and out hustled by the twenty
seven year-old Mexican fighter. Santa Cruz slipped to 25-3 (14 KO's), while
Casamayor improved to 35-3-1 (21 KO's) with the judge's gift.
Judge Tony Paolillo had it 114-113 for Santa Cruz, while both Frank Lombardi
and Ron McNair scored it 114-113 for Casamayor.
On the non-televised portion of the Top Rank - Golden Boy Promotions
fightcard:
Australian featherweight Billy Dib remained undefeated with his commanding
eight round unanimous decision win against grizzly veteran Rogers Mtagwa.
Dib improved to 17-0 (9 KO's) with his fine performance against the usually
tough Philadelphia fighter. Mtagwa slipped to 24-12-2 (17 KO's).
Michael Anderson made his pro debut a successful one with his four round
unanimous decision victory over Brooklyn's Olade Thomas, now 1-3. Anderson
did impress the judges, who saw it 39-37, 40-36 & 39-37 for the New Jersey
welterweight.
Jr. middleweight Michael Faragon also made his pro debut a triumphant one,
punching his way to a four round unanimous decision over Javier Garcia (now
2-2) from Caguas, PR. All three judges saw it 39-37 for the Schenectady, NY
native.
Former amateur standout Ronny Vargas (4-0, 3 KO's) is finding similar
success since turning pro this past September. The Bronx jr. middleweight
made short work of rugged Bryan Mullis, who fights out of Mount Holley, NC.
Following a competitive first round the long and lanky Vargas hurt Mullis
with two big right hands. A follow-up left hook drove the stunned fighter
to the ropes where the hot prospect pounded away on the wounded Mullis until
referee Johnny Callas jumped in to stop the punishment being laid out by
Ronny Vargas 50 seconds into round two, of the scheduled four rounder.
Unbeaten Jesus Rojas, now 10-0 (8 KO's) opened the night with a six round
technical knockout over Carlos Diaz, 9-11-4 (7 KO's), in a battle of Puerto
Rican jr. featherweights. The end came at the 2:12 mark for the gutsy, yet
overmatched, Diaz.
Another good night to be a boxing fan, a jam packed Madison Square Garden
witnessing Miguel Cotto's rise to true greatness. A December 8th win by
pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, over Ricky Hatton, would set up
another fight of mega-fight proportions. 2007 has been a great year for
boxing, and the future looks even better!
Mike Indri can be contacted at
RBFMIKE@aol.com |
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