WBA 154-pound champion Miguel Cotto recently discussed the controversy which fell on the shoulders of his popular countryman, Juan Manuel Lopez. Two weeks ago, Juanma was hit with a one-year suspension by the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission. The PRBC punished him for the post-fight comments about referee Roberto Ramirez Sr. – which Juanma made after last month’s ten round TKO loss to Orlando Salido.
“I believe that accusing [a referee] with the calibre of Ram?rez Sr., who is a [respected] person in boxing, of being a gambler, is a big mistake. If [Juanma] had the [nerve] to say something like that, then he must also face the consequences,” said Cotto to Carlos Gonzalez.
?It is not my position to say whether the [punishment] from the Boxing Commission is too much or too small. They had a person study the case and [they] determined what the [punishment] should be.”
Cotto later said that Juanma “opened his mouth when he didn’t have to open it. A good athlete has to demonstrate maturity after a defeat.”
Like other Puerto Rican boxers have stated in recent interviews, Cotto has advised Juanma to use the one-year suspension to reflect back on his career and to fix any of the mistakes which led to his TKO defeats to Salido.
