One of this summer?s biggest fights is upon us and Miguel Cotto and Yuri Foreman are hours away from a Jr. Middleweight clash with huge implications. Foreman?s WBA title will be on the line and some have even gone as far to say that Cotto?s career is also at stake. It is a fascinating blend of styles and personalities with everything reaching a climax tonight at Yankee Stadium.
Heading into the bout both fighters have serious question marks surrounding their careers for different reasons. For Foreman the ponderings are because he is unproven on the big stage although his title-winning effort against Daniel Santos last November was certainly a step in the right direction. On the same night Cotto would suffer a terrible loss to Manny Pacquiao and this is his fight to prove whether or not he is still a world class fighter.
Wanting to get a feel for what people in the sport are saying about the contest I reached out to some boxing minds to gather their thoughts. I asked people their thoughts on how much they felt Cotto had left in the tank and how they liked his chances against Foreman.
Here is what everyone had to say?
Joe Quiambao, matchmaker for Dibella Entertainment… ?This is a hard fight for me to pick because I was in the amateurs with Yuri, and got to know him real well since he was promoted by us. He actually headlined my very first boxing show ever which I was the matchmaker. He defeated world rated Jesus Soto Karrass over ten rounds.
I do think Cotto has been slipping a bit. He has been in many wars much to the delight to the boxing fans. As good as it was for us, it looks like it has taken its toll on his body. I figured he would take a year off after the Pacquiao fight to refresh his body as well as his mind. He has been in some tough fights and has given us as boxing people/fans something to get excited about but your body can take so much.
Although Yuri looks far from a fighter, a fighter he is. I remember him from the Golden Gloves going head on with all the tough amateurs from Brooklyn, The Bronx, etc. Unlike some fighters who would get scared and fight tentative, Yuri even back then fought with the same confidence and skills regardless what the opponent was ranked in the country, how muscular his opponent was or where he was from, etc. He was and always been a fighter which is why I am picking him in this one.
The way I see this fight panning out is with Yuri sticking and moving throughout the fight while Cotto stalking him and trying to land that left hook to the head and body. Their will be a moments in the fight where it will get interesting when Yuri will have no choice but to stand his ground and trade with the hard punching Cotto but I think he is tough enough and smart enough not to “get his hand caught in the cookie jar” and keep with the plan long enough and box box box his way to a close decision…..?
Andre Ward, undefeated WBA Super Middleweight champion of the world? ?I really like both guys. Cotto is a humble guy and hardworking guy. I just really appreciate him. As far Yuri Foreman I could see him outboxing Cotto and frustrating him but I could also see the experience overpowering and breaking down Yuri Foreman. [Foreman] is very determined and his is fighting in his backyard in his adopted home of New York so he is going to bring it. Cotto is coming off of pretty bad loss against Manny Pacquiao but he has gotten new life in his trainer Emmanuel Steward. It?s going to be a good fight and it will be very interesting.?
Matt Yano, publicist for Prize Fight Promotions and co-owner of www.GardenStateFightScene.com… ?Cotto is on the downside without a question. He took a tremendous amount of punishment against both Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao, getting viciously stopped in both bouts. The number of clean blows to the head he took in both fights quite honestly could have ended another fighter’s career, especially one who is as financially successful as Miguel Cotto.
Miguel Cotto did a great job of bullying his opponents at 140 and 147 lbs; difference was at those weights, he was physically stronger than every opponent he faced not named Antonio Margarito. At junior middleweight, Cotto’s physical advantages are all but gone. He is facing a bigger, fresher opponent who has more left in the tank and looks to be a solid pick by decision.
Foreman displayed against the well regarded Daniel Santos that he is a better puncher than his record indicates in addition to being a classy boxer. Foreman should retain his title with a competitive decision in which he effectively boxes and moves, giving Cotto little to no chance to fight on the inside.?
Kili-Scott Madrid, former undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect who can now be found gracing ESPN?s airwaves in his new profession as part of The World Series of Poker? ?Miguel Cotto is an incredible warrior and one of my favorite fighters of my generation. Saying Miguel is on the downside of his career could possibly be a fair statement because of the wars that he as been in starting even early on in his career. It’s clearly evident that Migel has the heart of a lion but its quite possible that he could possibly be the under dog in this up coming fight for more than one reason 1. He’s moving up in weight 2. Yuri Foreman is slightly faster 3. Foreman hasn’t taken half of the punishment to his body as Cotto has which might make him still a fresh young fighter. This is an interesting match up and I can’t wait till they face off.
I feel that Miguel will start fast and take the fight to Foreman and Foreman will use his speed and foot work and try to avoid Cotto’s left hook.
Who do I want to win? Miguel Cotto. Who do I pick? Yuri Foreman.?
Roger Mayweather, Las Vegas based trainer… ?If he is anything like Pacquiao he is going to whip Cotto?s ass too. I don?t know how good Cotto is anymore anyways. He may be shot, I don?t know.?
David Estrada, Welterweight prospect coming off an impressive win over previously undefeated Orlando Lora? ?I do know Cotto finally has a good trainer and that he has to win this fight or his high-profile career is over. I think Cotto will pull it off because he has to.?
Tommy Rainone, Welterweight hopeful from New York who is fighting on the Cotto-Foreman undercard. To read about Tommy?s last fight please click HERE? ?Well Cotto hasn?t gotten any better, that?s for sure but at the same time every fighter is different. No one took more punishment than Arturo Gatti who was written off and considered shot after three straight losses in 1998 at only 26 years old. We saw what he did from that point on. He fought on an elite world class level until finally slowing down for good in 2006 at around 35 years old. On the other end of the spectrum Fernando Vargas had some really tough fights and deteriorated with each performance until he was finished at only 29 years old, i think cotto still has something left in the tank but the combination of moving up to 154, coming off such a devastating loss against a slick boxer mover might be to tall an order. Cotto is closer to the end then the beginning.
The fight is an interesting clash of styles and I actually could envision Cotto coming out of the gate and getting an early lead before Foreman settles in during the middle rounds and gives Cotto all kinds of trouble. Yuri usually gets better throughout the fight and Cotto has a track record that shows he tends to tire and slow down later in the fight. One thing is for sure and that is that Cotto must fight moving foward at all times applying constant pressure. Cotto is not the same fighter backing up and being that Yuri is expecting to be chased and used to playing the role of the matador, if Cotto starts backing up this could give Yuri all the added confidence in the world. The addition of Emmanuel Steward in Cotto?s camp and corner can only help him. I think it?s going to be a close seesaw type fight with a few lead changes but in the end i see Yuri taking a close 12 round decision.?
Zab Judah, former unified Welterweight champion of the world? ?It?s a good fight. It?s a good fight for Cotto. It?s a good comeback. I?ve known Yuri a long time, he?s a Brooklyn boy. I?m going to lean to my Brooklyn side and it?s going to be a hell of a fight. It?s a part of history because it?s the first fight in the New Yankee Stadium. I just wish them the best.?
