Wayne McCullough looks back at the WBO welterweight title clash between Miguel Cotto and Joshua Clottey.
Will Cotto set his sights on Pacquiao?
Miguel Cotto had lost only once prior to this past weekend's fight with Joshua Clottey in New York. That loss came at the hands on Antonio Margarito even though a question mark hangs over the defeat following Margarito's suspension due to possible tampering of his hand wraps at his fight with Shane Mosley.
The Cotto v Clottey fight was a great match up and a tough defence for Cotto's WBO welterweight belt which he had successfully defended once against England's Michael Jennings since the loss to Margarito. Clottey had won 5 times since his most recent loss, also to Margarito.
Clottey was the underdog going into his fight with one of the top ten pound for pound fighters in the world. Cotto dominated the first round, dropping Clottey with a left jab near the end of the round. However, he came out in the second and landed left hooks of his own and got right back into the fight.
Cotto, a natural southpaw turned orthodox, was in trouble in the third when a clash of heads opened up a nasty cut on his left eye that bled throughout the rest of the fight. He was the fan favourite and had the Puerto Rican supporters there to cheer him on.
In the 5th round, Cotto body slammed Clottey to the ground. Clottey complained of a sore leg but the fight went on. The rounds were close and, during the middle of the fight, Clottey was landing rights to the head possibly proving that the cut over Cotto's eye was preventing him from defending himself on that side.
Cotto's left was, as usual, his dominating hand but Clottey matched him punch for punch. Cotto got his boxing skills going using his hand speed and foot work to steal the last few rounds while avoiding any toe to toe conflict with the visibly stronger Clottey.
Cotto was awarded a split decision of 116-111, 115-112 and 114-112 for Clottey. Maybe Clottey deserved a little more credit in the 116-111 score as he was the one pushing and making Cotto fight. But he didn't step it up even when he had Cotto hurt and just followed him around the ring.
A rematch would be expected after a close fought fight but it looks like Cotto may now set his sights on a bout with Manny Pacquiao who was witting ringside with his promoter, Bob Arum. Cotto got hit a lot by Clottey and if a fight with Pacquiao is next he really needs to tighten up his defence.
With word that the Floyd Mayweather Jnr v Juan Manuel Marquez fight being postponed due to Floyd's rib injury will they reschedule or is Mayweather hoping to get a fight Pacquiao or Cotto instead?
Unfortunately promoters look at the revenue fighters can bring and a Mayweather v Pacquiao or Cotto fight is a bigger draw and money maker.
