The story here is not so much the courageous losing effort which resulted in a knockout loss for Yuri Foreman, but the highlight was the resurgence of a “new” Miguel Angel Cotto who from the very first round perhaps from the short 8 weeks under the expert tutelage of Emanuel Steward, displayed a controled but savage discipline in his quest of Foreman’s W.B.A. Super Welterweight title.
We were excited in anticipating this new era of professional boxing in the new Yankee Stadium after an over 34 year hiatus, this past Saturday, June 5, 2010. We were not prepared although advertised in that fashion, for the actual slugfest that we witnessed, under the great tropical breeze of the Stadium.
Yes, Cotto fooled the skeptics but it is in the brutal manner that left us stunned when we saw a determined former 3 time world champ begin his initial brutal offense by jabbing at Yuri Foreman with such force that by the end of the 2nd. round Yuri’s face was a red mask with blood beginning to streak down from his nose. Of course Foreman moved as is his style from side to side and staying out of harm’s way, but Cotto moving constantly forward and cutting off the ring was able to catch up to Foreman, and punish him.
In the 2nd. round Cotto hit Foreman with a right hand that actually staggered him which in a sense began to paint the picture of the outcome of the fight as it progressed from to round to round. The skeptics who felt that Cotto was a shot fighter as well as the Foreman camp, pretty soon realized that they were in for a shocking surprise, and Foreman was forced to give up ground to the well prepared, strong, determined Cotto while trying to figure out how to stop this “raging bull”, who seemed to be on a “search and destroy” mission with boxing gloves.
By the 4th. round which actually was the only one that Foreman won very closely, it was apparent that his corner was in a desperation mode advising him to side step and move to his right to avoid the destructive avalanche of Cotto’s from head to body and back, attack which resulted in cuts to both eyes, his nose to bleed profusely, and his body to reddened.
Without a doubt this Championship fight was not a complete shutout, it was indeed a slug fest as advertised, as Foreman fought back courageously hitting Cotto with combinations of punches, and then moving away, and especially in the seventh round when Foreman fell down on a suspected wet canvass and severly reinjured his right knee. This was the result of an old injury forcing him to enter the ring with an elastic knee brace. Not wanting the fight to be stopped, Foreman moved forward throwing punches in bunches hitting Cotto repeatedly, but it was for naught since you could detect the he was in severe pain which caused him to fall down a second time.
This time the pain was agonizingly registered on his face prompting the referee Arthur Mercante, Jr. to halt proceedings, but, oddly enough, telling Foreman he would give him time to recover, as if he had been fouled, and also encouraging him, to continue and not lose this way by saying,”suck it up kid, you’re the champ, I give you 5 minutes”.
To add to the confusion at this time a towel of surrender was thrown in from the Foreman corner, which Referee Mercante immediately threw out refusing to let the fight end in a surrender, while at the same time asking Yuri Foreman if he wanted to continue, which was ridiculous because a fighter’s will to continue will always prevail especially a champ like Foreman. The ring was a madhouse of confusion until order was restored, and the fight continued into the ninth round, when a severly injured Foreman was knocked out by a vicious left hook to his liver by Cotto, prompting the Referee to finally end the fight at 42 seconds of the round.
It was a very emotional experience to see Foreman laying on the canvas, bloodied, and in pain not only in his right knee, but now also on the right side of his body from Cotto’s patented punishing left hook.
It is mind boggling to me at least how a veteran referee and the son of a hall of fame referee, the late Arthur Marcante, Sr. would encourage a fighter already in pain to risk more pain or quite possibly career ending injuries to continue to fight when Foreman could not fight anymore. This is the “hurt business” and Foreman was indeed hurt.
I thought a referee’s responsibility was to give the fighters their instructions as per the Marquis of Queeensbury Rules, protect the fighter, and also stop the fight when the fighter is injured and apparently cannot continue as in Foreman’s severe right knee injury, or, is defenseless from a punch. Yet, Mercante who evidently was not in any pain, kept encouraging Foreman to suck it up and continue.
I am curious as to what opinion the Boxing Commissioner would render in this troublesome and somewhat questionable situation by a referee.
We were later advised that the towel of surrender was thrown in by Joe Grier, Yuri Foreman’s Trainer at the behest of Yuri’s wife Leyla Leidecker, not wanting to see her husband hurt anymore. Referee Mercante rejected the towel surrender, because there is a rule in the Boxing Commission Dockets that stipulates that only the referee could stop a fight. But my question is, does he have the right to encourage a fighter to continue while suffering severe injury? We have a history of ring fatalities, so whoever is in the fighter’s corner, or the ring Doctor, or Commission Inspector, or Boxing Commissioner, etc., that feels that a fight should be stopped for the protection and life of the fighter, should have the authority to be able to do so, not just the referee.
This great fight was marred by this controversy which will be talked about for years to come and actually and hopefully, studied for improved measures as to when to stop a fight and by whom to save a fighter from further injury or ring death.
Yuri Foreman’s, 28-1, 8 k.o.’s , whose courageous efforts won many fans was already losing in the Judge’s score cards, since both Judges, Donald Ackerman and Steve Weisfeld, scored the fight, 79-74, Cotto, and Judge, Tony Paolillo, scored it, 79-74 also for Cotto up to the knockout. I scored the fight, giving Foreman only the 4th round,, 80-73 up to the k.o.
Well what is next for a redeemed, and new world champ, Miguel Angel Cotto, 35-2, 28 k.o.’s, who earned a $2 million dollar purse, while Yuri Foreman earned $750,000.00 dollars? Cotto and Bob Arum’s Top Rank are now planning after short vacation for Cotto and his family, a campaign for bigger money fighters either in the 147 or 154 pound level, whichever is more lucrative, such as a possible rematch with Manny Pacquiao, Antonio Margarito, or maybe W.B.O. 147 pound champ, Andre Berto.
As for super courageous Yuri Foreman, a long rest to help him plan his options and to also give his knee enough time to recover completely, and of course continue his Rabbinical studies. If he decides to continue to fight and not retire, he will be welcomed back in the ring.
Yes, this innaugural championship fight beginning a new era of boxing in the new Yankee Stadium, left us wanting to see more fights in an open dome like Yankee Stadium, or just like Jerry Jones’ Cowboy Stadium where apparently Manny Pacquiao is scheduled for a return fight on Saturday, November 13, 2010, with Floyd Mayweather, the mega fight that the world awaits.
