It took a while for me to get excited about Saturday’s Stadium Slugfest between Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto but I am now.
This fight needed a back drop and the fabled stadium, even if it’s really next door, is a unique added touch. I remember the last fight across the street at the original stadium, 34 years ago between Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton. Better known as Ali-Norton III.
New York’s finest went on their threatened strike that very day and the box office actually sold an entire total of eight tickets that night. It sold over 30,000 in advance but many of those went unused anyway. Ah, the good old days.
My main concern for Saturday night is that the champion, Yuri Foreman, making only his first title defense, is a respectable 28-0 (8 KO’s). But Saturday night is really his pro debut. The first time he gets clipped on his chin do his legs turn to spaghetti, or does he hang tough and fire back?
The challenger, Miguel Cotto, one of the greats from Puerto Rico, is 34-2 (27 KO’s). But clearly long in the tooth. He was considered virtually shot before he fought Manny Pacquiao last November and lost his title at 147 lbs. Does he bring his power up with him from 147 to 154 lbs.
So what we are to determine and the plot as it is to unfold will tell us if Foreman can fight at all to begin with against a Cotto that may have nothing left to offer after a few rounds rounds.
A little talent but some shrewd matchmaking got Foreman to 28-0. Come on that’s impressive. But only eight knockouts tells me no pop.
I have seen Cotto weather a few brutal storms that his heart willed him to victory long after his physical strength gave way.
So what is going to give Saturday night from right centerfield at the new Yankee Stadium with 30,000 fans expected and millions more at home and at the bars via HBO?
Rumors are that if Cotto wins the title, that he would be in line for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao because Pacquiao covets an eighth world title in an eighth weight division at 154 lbs. while Pacquiao is currently at 147 lbs.
That of course is if a Floyd Mayweather vs. Pacquiao isn’t signed in a reasonable amount of time after Saturday night.
Foreman is not considered attractive to Pacquiao because of his height and reach advantages.
At the end of the day, I say this fight ends in a draw or no contest. This way you can bring back both fighters. One an undefeated champion coming off off a brave effort against a former champion; and a former champion, fighting for the pride of his country, Puerto Rico.
These two fighters have such a vast difference in caliber of experience, style, size, and shape that while it will be intersting because they will both be trying hard, neither will force the advantage to victory.
