Fight week has officially arrived for this weekend’s Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga WBA junior middleweight title fight and the evening’s participants could be found inside of the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon. The fight is a contrast of character with Cotto’s subdued nature being on the same stage as the wild theatrics of Mayorga.
For as much curiosity and intrigue as a guy like Mayorga brings to a promotion, this fight is about Miguel Cotto and the last leg of his career. The 30-year old used to have an almost invincible feel about him but over the past two and a half years he has shown himself to have weaknesses on the big stage, as evidenced during his TKO losses to Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao under dire circumstances in Las Vegas.
Cotto was stopped by Tijuana’s Margarito in the 11th round in July of 2008 after fading late in a contest he was in control of. Against Pacquiao he fought fire with fire early before being dropped in rounds three an four and overwhelmed the rest of the way, ultimately losing via 12th round stoppage.
<--- Slideshow: Miguel Cotto and Ricardo Mayorga in Los Angeles
Each of those losses have dug deep at Cotto and he has expressed his desire to one day extract revenge on the only two men to defeat him. Before anything he must find a way to get rid of Mayorga and he insists that he isn’t focusing on exactly what his Nicaraguan opponent brings to the table. ?We just have to take care of business,” Cotto told the assembled media. “We can?t think about anything specific regarding Mayorga. We just have to think about ourselves. I think Mayorga is past his peak. He was at his best maybe five or six years ago.?
During Cotto’s early years as a prizefighter he was a calculated assassin who endeared himself to audiences with his seek and destroy style. He appeared to show weaknesses in his armor in getting buzzed by the likes of Ricardo Torres and DeMarcus Corley but he always found a way to persevere, showing Arturo Gatti-esque shades along the way.
You could always tell there was something special about Cotto and he insists that after hooking up with trainer Emanuel Steward last year, that he is looking to go back to his old ways.
?Just the confidence in myself,” Cotto said of the changes the Kronk trainer brings to his psyche. “We are trying to find the Miguel Cotto of 10 years ago. To get me back to the way it was when I started. After 10 years to change things about my style is very hard.?
It can’t be the easiest thing dealing with the constant antics of a guy like Mayorga, who seems to behave more like a child than a real man at times, but Cotto isn’t fully buying his outlandish facade.
?Before the press came in he came over to my table and said hello. I think it?s an act just to sell the show,” said Cotto.
Whether or not the show sells remains to be seen but it appears that Cotto is dialed in and ready. Five days and counting until Cotto-Mayorga kicks off at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
