Miguel Cotto rumored for a bout with Andre Berto, also meeting up with Mayweather in Puerto Rico
Subscribe
Cotto is back in the picture (AFP-Getty images)
In the sport of boxing you are only as good as your last fight and that is a reality that can be both beneficial and detrimental depending on the circumstances. Last November Miguel Cotto’s career seemed to be at stake as he attempted to defend his WBO welterweight belt against the rising surge of Manny Pacquiao. The Filipino icon was coming off of back to back stoppage wins over Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton and was a clear favorite to upend the Caugus, Puerto Rico native.
Cotto hadn’t fully recovered from the public perception that followed after his brutal TKO loss to Antonio Margarito in July of 2008 and he fought the early rounds against Pacquiao with the urgency of a prizefighter with his back to the wall. Despite starting strong and having success pinning Pacquiao to the ropes and tagging him with power shots, Cotto would be dropped in rounds three and four before being dominated and stopped in the 12th. It was a punishing defeat, one that made you wonder where exactly Cotto would go with his career.
He would end up linking up with legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward and moved up in weight as he prepared to tackle Yuri Foreman at Yankee Stadium last month with the Belarus’ fighter’s WBA Jr. Middleweight prize on the table. Cotto showed no effects from the brutal loss to Pacquiao, coming out strong in the early rounds and controlling Foreman with a stealth jab and building up points from his work to the body. Foreman injured his left leg in the seventh round and would be stopped for good after suffering a viscous left hook body blow in the ninth. Cotto pumped his fists in celebration and his name was instantly thrust back into the spotlight.
When it became obvious that the efforts towards making a November 13th clash between Pacquiao and Mayweather were in vein, promoter Bob Arum told the media last weekend that he would also be looking into fights with Cotto and former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito for his prized charge. It was announced yesterday that Margarito will indeed be facing Pacquiao this winter but instead of being left out completely Cotto has been the center of discussion involving two of the sport’s most talented champions.
Undefeated Andre Berto and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have both been linked to Cotto in recent discussions and the latest developments suggest that one of the men could be facing him next. Mayweather Jr. is currently vacationing in Puerto Rico and will be meeting with members of Cotto and his team during his trip, reported Joseph Sanchez via BoxingScene.
It should be noted that just because Mayweather and Cotto are coming face to face that it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be discussing a personal bout between the two. Jhonny Gonzalez at BoxingScene notes that the two men will discuss the possibility of co-promoting events in the future. Mayweather has his own promotional company, Mayweather Promotions, and is reportedly keen on promoting events on Cotto's native island. It was also announced last month that Cotto had worked out a deal where he will be co-promoting events with Golden Boy Promotions, who Mayweather has a close working relationship.
_____________________________________________________________________________
PHOTOS: Miguel Cotto's career revivial
_____________________________________________________________________________
While a Cotto-Mayweather clash is obviously enticing it appears it is nothing more than a mild rumor at the moment. A fighter who may very well have a stronger chance of meeting the Puerto Rican is WBC Welterweight champion Andre Berto, who is dying for a big fight since pulling out of his proposed clash with Shane Mosley earlier this year due to personal reasons connected with the January earthquake that rocked his native Haiti.
Berto’s promoter Lou Dibella has discussed the fight with Arum in the past and with Cotto now out of Pacquiao’s future he will be looking to make the contest again. Berto had pushed for a shot against Cotto when they were both at 147 pounds and Dibella says it makes perfect sense to host the bout this fall on HBO, as reported by BoxingScene.
Stylistically a Berto-Cotto showdown would be mouthwatering, as both men have a great offensive attack and have shown the propensity towards lacking certain defensive fundamentals in the past. The power advantage wouldn’t sway too favorably in either man’s direction and each guy knows how to attack the body with tremendous tenacity, especially Cotto when digging in his left hook.
Berto’s most difficult fight was his January 2009 affair with Luis Collazo, in which he had to dig down deep with a late round rally in order to pull out a split decision in a fight filled with wild exchanges and momentum swings. Cotto is a higher class of fighter than Collazo and would likely be favored over the 26-year old Berto, who has yet to test himself consistently against world class competition. If it comes off the fight would be for Cotto’s WBA belt and require that the Winter Haven, Florida native move up in weight.
Related image galleries
Left for Dead: Miguel Cotto’s revival
Click on the image gallery for a closer look at Miguel Cotto’s professional journey and how he managed to turn his career around following his losses to Margarito and Pacquiao…
