Thoughts on Boxing, Boxers and Fights: Madison Square Garden

Showing posts with label Madison Square Garden. Show all posts

Monday, December 03, 2012

Miguel Cotto: A Fghter and His Son!!

Miguel Cotto doing his best to console his son.

By Randy De La O

The hurtful downside of boxing. I feel for his son. You know his father is his hero. Man, this photo really touches me. To Miguel Cotto, nothing to be ashamed of, you fought the good fight. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose, you've had a great career and you are a shoo in for the Hall of Fame! To his son: Your Pops will always be a hero, nothing can change that!! He did things most men couldn't or wouldn't.

Now I understand why Cotto was in a hurry to leave the ring. He had bigger things to contend with. Family will always come first to a real man!

Austin "No Doubt" Trout vs Miguel Cotto: Trout by Unanimous Decision

Miguel Cotto, Louie Burke and Austin "No Doubt" Trout at the end of the 12th round.
At Madison Square Garden, New York

By Randy De La O

Last Saturday night, December 1, at Madison Square Garden in New York, Austin Trout, from Las Cruces, New Mexico, successfully defended his WBA Super welterweight/junior middleweight title against always tough, former champion Miguel Cotto, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, with a 12 round unanimous decision. Trout was the champion but he was definitely the underdog going into this fight.

In the weeks leading up to the fight Trout and his trainer Louie Burke expressed their confidence in a victory. Trout, who has made it a habit of beating fighters on their home turf seemed undisturbed with fighting Cotto at the Garden, where Miguel Cotto is so popular he has out sold Muhammad Ali as a headliner.

Cotto, recently coming off a successful rematch with Antonio Margarito and with an exceptionally strong performance in his loss to Floyd Maywether was equally confident. Perhaps a little too confident and thinking ahead to a fight with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Still, you could hardly blame him, he was building momentum leading up to this fight.

I personally took some exception with certain boxing customs and protocol that were broken leading up to the fight. The fight was billed as Miguel Cotto vs Austin Trout. Traditionally, it is the champion who receives first billing. A minor gripe maybe, and a far second to entering the ring first, as well as being introduced first. These are privileges given to a reigning champion. Privileges that have been earned. I have no doubt that was negotiated but it's a safe bet it will never happen again.

Trout, who is known as an defensive fighter came out aggressively in the first round, and maintained that aggressiveness throughout most of the fight. It was no surprise to anyone that Trout would use his jab, hand speed and counter punching abilities in his fight with Cotto. What was a surprise was his willingness to trade punches on the inside and even more surprisingly, beating Cotto on the inside. Trout was consistently going to the body and using effective combinations throughout the fight.

Cotto had his best rounds in the middle of the fight where, for a time, he seemed to be gaining some momentum in the fight and possibly turning things around. By round 7 Trout seemed to regain control of the fight and was again dictating the tempo. He maintained control for the remainder of the fight.

That's not to say Cotto did not have his moments, he did, but overall Trout never seemed hurt or in trouble during this fight. Trout, maybe remembering where he was, closed the show with a strong finish in the 12th round. When the fight was over I don't think even the biggest fans of Miguel Cotto were in doubt of the outcome. Judges Steve Weisfeld and John Poturaj had it 117-111 in favor of Austin Trout, judge Adalaide Byrd also had the fight in Trout's favor with a score of 119-109.

The thing about scores is they don't always tell the whole story. I think Austin won most of the rounds but a few of them were close. They were hard fought rounds by both fighters. Both fighters had to dig down but in the end Trout dug a little deeper. Both fighters are deserving of respect. I don't know if this was a “Last Hurrah” for Cotto but if it was it was the only good way to go out, still on his feet, against a young strong champion out to prove he is the best, not unlike the Miguel Cotto of a few years back. It was the passing of the torch. Best of luck to both fighters in all they do and thanks for a great fight!!

Congratulations to Austin Trout for a great performance, as well as trainer/cornerman Louie Burke, Randy "Moose" Gomez and the rest of Team Trout. Congratulations Las Cruces, New Mexico!

Friday, November 30, 2012

Austin Trout vs Miguel Cotto

Austin Trout (Defending his WBA Super welterweight Title) vs Miguel Cotto

12 Rounds, December 1, 2012

Madison Square Garden, New York

By Randy De La O

There is no denying that Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico, will be the biggest test in New Mexico's Austin Trout's professional career. For the better part of the last decade, Cotto has been at the forefront of the elite fighters, losing only to Antonio Margarito, Manny Paquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. In both the Margarito and Pacquiao fights, he was severely beaten, however he did avenge his loss to Margarito in a rematch last December when the fight was stopped due to swelling and damage to Margarito's eyes. During the course of his career Cotto has faced and fought the best, including Zab Judah, Sugar Shane Mosley, Ricardo Mayorga, Joshua Clottey, Alfonso Gomez and many others

Austin Trout, fighting as a professional since 2005 is one boxing's newest and freshest face. Trained by New Mexico native and former boxer Louie Burke his entire amateur and professional career, he is well prepared for whatever awaits him this Saturday night in his fight with Miguel Cotto. Much has been written since the fight was signed about Madison Square Garden and New York in general, being Cotto's home turf, but Trout has been there before, winning the title in Guadalajara, Mexico with a hard fought 12 round unanimous decision against tough Mexican Rigoberto Alvarez (older brother of Saul Alvarez), and then held his first title defense in San Luis Potosi, Mexico against native Mexican David Lopez. Trout has entered the lion's den before. The concept is nothing new to him.

Still, Trout will need all his focus and confidence to beat Cotto. No easy task but definitely doable. Trout has never lost a fight. He holds the title. He has the height and hand speed advantage and he has youth on his side. He is a good defensive fighter. If it becomes a battle of attrition I have to believe that the man who has been beaten thrice will have a harder time digging deep.

All that of course means absolutely nothing. Each man will fight for his own destiny and future. Nothing that you or I believe will change anything. It's up to them. Me? I'm going with Austin Trout. I think that Miguel Cotto will bring out the very best in Austin Trout. Look for a good hard fought 12 rounds.