On Oct. 5, former three-division titlist Miguel Cotto will step back into the ring, when he takes on Delvin Rodriguez at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. in what will amount to a homecoming of sorts, for the Puerto Rican star.
Cotto (37-4, 30 KOs) is reuniting with his longtime promoter Top Rank, which directed Cotto?s career since turning pro after the 2000 Olympics, but ended after his rematch with Antonio Margarito. After the fight, Cotto?s contract had expired and instead of resigning, opted to work with Golden Boy Promotions in order to seek a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Cotto would end up getting the fight, and subsequently lost his 154-pound title, before taking on Austin Trout for his own junior middleweight bout ? a bout that ended up in Trout?s favor via clear-cut decision.
After two bitter losses, Cotto is not only coming back to Top Rank, but also making some changes on his team, specifically adding Freddie Roach as his new head trainer. With Roach at the helm, Cotto will train out of the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif., instead of in Puerto Rico or Florida.
Despite not training in Florida however, the fight with Rodriguez will bring him back to the state that he enjoys so much, and will participate in the fight boxing card to take place in that arena ? home of the Orlando Magic.
?I?ve been away from boxing for a long time, it?s been since last December and it?s great to be back,? said Cotto. ?It?s great to feel the energy. You guys being here today. I?m going to L.A. for the first time in my career to train and I?m going to bring my best. Every morning at the track, every day at the gym to come here in the the best way possible to make a great fight for all of you, all the fans here and all over the world. I hope Delvin had a great camp, I?m going to have a great camp to make a great fight for all you fans. Thank you.?
Cotto, at 32 years of age, is clearly past his prime but despite two straight losses, has shown that he still has the skills to compete at a high level and Rodriguez might just be the kind of opponent to get him back on track.
?I want to end my career in the best way possible, and I will train hard and on Oct. 5, I will give my best,? said Cotto after Tuesday?s press conference.
An action-oriented fighter, Rodriguez (28-6-3, 16 KOs) has been in two title fights before, losing to Isaac Hlatshwayo and to Trout, but has won two straight fights by KO since the 2012 loss to Trout.
