Ut-Oh, Ut-Oh, Ut-Oh, Oh Na-Na… (Or uh, something like that)
I don’t think Miguel Cotto had that creepy, “Crazy in Love” rendition in mind (from that sorry ass”50 Shades of Grey”) when he decided to sign with Roc Nation and Jay-Z the other day (I’m going with the original, giddy version most likely on rotation at his crib), but it was either that, or “Drunk in Love”.
“B” dropped in that infectious track a few years ago that she was “not myself, lately I’m foolish… I don’t do this”, which seemed to echo (ut-oh) the sentiments of Top Rank’s Todd DuBuef, who basically coined Cotto as an indecisive lollipop.
TOP RANK VS. JIGGA
To understand DuBuef, is to understand that he’d considered Cotto a very close friend since orchestrating a deal with Top Rank and Bob Arum for Cotto after the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Cotto had bounced from Top Rank prior to facing Floyd Mayweather in May 2012, but did so with open dialogue along the way- only this time that was not the case.
Still DuBuef, who offered Cotto upwards of 10.5 million (plus other lucrative bonus money in residuals) for a much hyped bout with Saul Canelo Alvarez, wasn’t surprised by the manor in which things went down. He has, afterall, been around to witness the many changes in Cotto’s personal and professional life (.ie myriad managerial/trainer changes and familial strife).
“I don’t know what happened, but ever since I’ve been with Miguel, there’s always been a force trying to pull us apart, to divide us,” DuBuef told ESPN.com. “I can’t constantly fight those that are trying to manipulate him to pull us apart. He is responsible for his own decisions, but he’s always had people around him manipulating him. He has been corrupted by people who are disingenuous. His conduct shows he can be easily polluted.”
Whoa.
The thing is, Cotto has actually never met Jay-Z. We have no idea what he’s been promised (I’m told he’s been promised huge music promotional opportunities in Puerto Rico), what it means for his network affiliation with HBO (he’s essentially a free agent), or who it means he’ll be fighting next (Gennady “GGG”Golovkin has his fingers crossed). But I had some ideas about Cotto a few weeks ago when I sat down to write about Andre Ward signing with Jay-Z (see below).
When the Alvarez talks broke down, it became clear that Cotto was considering something that he was hiding from Top Rank and HBO, and it turns out that it was Roc Nation- which is something I really suspected at the time I wrote that piece.
“I GOT 99 PROBLEMS AND MIGUEL AINT ONE”
I’m thinking to myself…
“So if they signed Andre Ward, don’t they have to sign someone else?” Then I’m like… “Ward isn’t from New York, and isn’t really a major draw at all. Jay-Z will want to throw an event at the Garden. The Barcley’s Center in Brooklyn is nice, but that’s just not big enough for him. He has to get Cotto.”
There is no f*ckin way you sign Andre Ward with the expectation he’ll put asses in seats.
No.
Ward at the Garden by himself – even if Jigga performed with his voluptuous wife beforehand – would wind up being no better than the Knicks without Carmelo Anthony facing the Minneapolis Timberwolves. Nobody would give a sh*t. But they just might if were on a card with someone the hardcore in boxing want him to face: feared IBO/WBA middleweight champion Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (32-0, 29KO’s).
That is, unless the wildly popular Cotto (who is a Puerto Rican “GOD” in New York) exposed him in front of millions on HBO in the 1st defense of his lineal WBC middleweight belt that he snatched from Sergio Martinez. When you get to be in Cotto’s position this late in his career, only the biggest fights matter, and that one makes the most sense (I mean, K9 Bundrage.. Like, Really?).
If you believe Freddie Roach (who came out this week and said “Miguel beats Golovkin 100%”), you make that fight right now. Add Ward to the equation (against say the winner of the April 4 BKB middleweight title bout between champ Gabriel Rosado and Curtis Stevens), and now we’ve got a real “live” card at the Garden.
Plus they now have leverage on HBO and Triple G’s people to raise the stakes. I personally don’t think Cotto gets past 7 rounds against Golovkin, and really gets the sh*t beat out of him, but hey, that’s me. What I do know is that even if that’s the case, Jay-Z or the “Roc” couldn’t lose, and it would push buzz forward on a Ward vs. Golovkin superfight.
Winners: Jay-Z, Roc Nation, Andre Ward and HBO
Losers: Miguel Cotto, Top Rank and the entire Puerto Rican population on the planet (We don’t want Miguel promoting music. Ever.)
SECOND TAKE ON “FIRST TAKE”
When my boy from Real Combat Media hit me up the other morning with news that Miguel was set to appear on ESPN’s “First Take” at 9am EST to make some sort of announcement about his plans, I was enjoying a bowl of Super Sugar Crisp and watching “Banshee” on Cinemax.
It didn’t surprise me at all.
In fact, I almost expected him to tell me that Cotto was signing with the “Roc”. I can even see Jay-Z orchestrating his appearance on ESPN to extend his brand moreso than Cotto’s. It was a smart move. All Cotto did confirm (beyond the obvious), is that he’ll definitely fight on June 6th in NYC @MSG. He didn’t confirm an opponent and never mentioned Top Rank, the partner he jumped out of bed with.
But he did raise eyebrows with his “take” on the upcoming May 2 showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. “I’m going for Manny,” declared Cotto, with a fair degree of certainty. “I think after working with Freddie I think Freddie is going to be huge in the fight. Pacquiao can move in ways to make it really hard for Floyd. His speed, his explosiveness will be too much.”
We’ll see how much Cotto has left after June 6.
