MANILA, Philippines – Freddie Roach and his Filipino assistant Marvin Somodio will be in the corner of former three-time world champion Miguel Cotto when the Puerto Rican fighter takes on the Dominican Republic?s Delvin Rodriguez in Orlando on Oct. 5.
Cotto, 32, is training at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood with Roach and Somodio taking turns in the punch-mitt drills. The day after the fight, Roach will fly to General Santos City where Manny Pacquiao has set up camp in preparation for his make-or-break showdown against Brandon (BamBam) Rios in Macau on Nov. 23. Pacquiao began training with Buboy Fernandez last month and intensify his workouts when Roach arrives for the last 6 1/2 weeks of camp.
Somodio, 29, will fly to General Santos City the day after he works Russian Ruslan Provodnikov?s corner against Mike Alvarado for the interim WBO lightmiddleweight crown in Colorado on Oct. 19. The Iloilo-born Somodio, who had a brief three-fight pro career in 2011, will arrive with strength and conditioning coach Gavin McMillan who takes over chores from Alex Ariza. McMillan, head trainer and biomechanics specialist at the Sports Science Lab of San Juan Capistrano, California, is working with Roach in training Cotto and Provodnikov.
Somodio said Cotto is on track in reaching peak form for the Rodriguez bout. ?Cotto is doing very well,? he said. ?He?s a hard-working and focused fighter. He?s been away for nine months since his last fight. Little by little, he has adjusted to Freddie?s training. Freddie has been working on timing and speed now. You can see the improvement with Cotto.?
Somodio said he has high hopes that Cotto will once again become a world champion. ?He?s still young and he?s at the right age,? said the Filipino who was personally recruited by Roach to join his Wild Card staff last year. ?All he needs is a good camp for his fight against Rodriguez. After he lost to (Floyd) Mayweather and (Austin) Trout, he took a layoff which was good so he could rest his body and mind from boxing. Now, you?ll observe that he?s excited again to get back in the ring.?
Somodio said he?s backstopping Roach in prepping Cotto and Provodnikov. They work closely as a team. As for Provodnikov, the Russian nearly beat unbeaten WBA welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, last March. Provodnikov, who had won five in a row, floored the ?Desert Storm? in the 12th round but couldn?t finish him off. Bradley won a close but unanimous decision with Raul Caiz, Sr. scoring it 115-112 and both Marty Denkin and Jerry Cantu,114-113. Bradley, who took away Pacquiao?s WBO crown, will defend the throne against Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on Oct. 12. Dean’s Corner ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Cotto himself said he has at least three more fights left before hanging up his gloves. Roach said he is working in the gym to improve Cotto?s head movement in defense, punch count and boxing skills.
Cotto turned pro in 2001 and three years later, claimed his first world title in demolishing Kelson Pinto in the sixth round for the WBO lightwelterweight diadem in Puerto Rico. After six defenses, he relinquished the throne and defeated Carlos Quintana for the WBA welterweight belt in New Jersey in 2006. In his fifth defense, he was halted by Antonio Margarito in the 11th round in 2008. Margarito lost the crown to Sugar Ray Mosley then after the WBA title was vacated, Cotto regained it by knocking out Michael Jennings in the fifth round. Then, Cotto lost the title to Pacquiao in his second defense in 2009. Cotto won his third world title in the lightmiddleweight division by halting Yuri Foreman in Yankee Stadium in 2010. He surrendered the crown to Mayweather on points in May last year and failed to capture a fourth title in losing to Austin Trout last December.
In his prime, Cotto was considered one of the sturdiest and toughest brawlers in the fight game. Pacquiao, however, blew his cover and exposed his inability to adjust to situations. After Cotto won the opening round getting the jump on Pacquiao with his left jab, the Filipino used a dope-a-rope trick to invite the Puerto Rican to slug it out from close range. That made it easier for Pacquiao to counter. Cotto dispensed with his left jab, which bothered Pacquiao in the first round, and went on the attack, falling into the Filipino?s trap. By the time Cotto realized that Pacquiao had outsmarted him, it was too late. Cotto was battered, bruised and bludgeoned when referee Kenny Bayless stepped in at 0:55 of the 12th. The Puerto Rican was in no condition to continue.
?Everything?s going really, really well,? Roach said referring to Cotto?s camp. ?Things are starting to click with each other. I love working with guys like that. He?s a very talented guy and things are going great so far.?
