Controversial Fight Series: Cotto-Clottey

by Dafs117, Siren1927 and Mentaldynamo

As part of The Boxing Tribune’s preview of Yuri Foreman’s maiden defence of his WBA junior middleweight title against Miguel Cotto, we revisit Miguel Cotto vs. Joshua Clottey in the Puerto Rican’s closest fight of his career.

At The Garden – WBO Welterweight Title
MIGUEL COTTO (33-1, 27 KO, WBO Titleholder)
vs.
JOSHUA CLOTTEY (36-3, 29 KO)
June 13, 2009 | Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

June 13th, 2009

This was Miguel Cotto’s first real comeback test since his devastating first career defeat to the hands of Antonio Margarito. Suspicions were raised when Shane Mosley’s camp found an illegal substance in Margaito’s handwraps, which led many to believe that his win against Cotto was not legit. The victory still stands, and Cotto had begun his comeback trek with a one-sided beatdown of Michael Jennings, stopping him in the fifth round.

Joshua Clottey was no Michael Jennings. Viewed to many as an underrated top-end welterweight, Clottey was going to be a much tougher opponent for Cotto to break down. In 2006, Clottey had gone the distance with Margarito, starting brightly before a hand injury forced him into retreat. The Ghanaian was coming off the most impressive victory of his career, a technical decision over Zab Judah to capture the vacant IBF welterweight title.

Clottey didn’t defend his IBF title and blamed Cotto for failing to file paperwork on time to make the contest a unification fight. This had no effect on the purse however, as the marketing was successful and the gate was huge, partly because it was held on the eve of the Puerto Rican Parade.

This was Miguel Cotto’s first fight without long-time trainer and uncle Evangelista Cotto, who were involved in several arguments in their fiery relationship. In front of a pro-Cotto crowd, Clottey’s defence frustrated Cotto early on, and it proved in the middle rounds as Cotto resulted into wild shots. Cotto was also cut in round three, the worst cut of the year. Was Cotto’s late surge enough for victory? Or did Clottey’s middle-round cleanout ensure an upset?

The Boxing Tribune have replaced the judges with our own set of scorers. The three judges will be Dafs117, Siren1927 and mentaldynamo. They will give their round-by-round opinion, with a quest to find if Cotto was on the right-end of a split decision at the Garden.

Round 1

Dafs117 – “Both fighters start well, not landing much but getting their punches off in bunches. Cotto begins to land a couple of body shots as he begins to stretch out a lead in the round, and very late on, he lands a left hook which catches an off-balance Clottey who touches down.” 10-9 Cotto [-1 knockdown for Clottey]

Siren1927 – “Great start to the fight, with both fighters jabbing well and both looking to attack the body early. Cotto is finding a home for his straight right already, and it’s a pretty even first round until Cotto drops Clottey, who to be fair looked off balanced.” 10-9 Cotto [-1 knockdown for Clottey]

Mentaldynamo – “High tempo start from both fighters, knockdown clinches it for Cotto.” 10-9 Cotto [-1 knockdown for Clottey]

Round 2

Dafs117 – “Clottey begins to land a couple more scoring shots this round, sweet uppercut and a nice right hand at the end of the round to win the round. The more accurate punches came from Clottey and probably the best defence.” 10-9 Clottey

Siren1927 – “Cotto is firing away nicely but he cannot break through the guard of Clottey. Clottey keeps on firing uppercuts which are mostly blocked too. Cotto is throwing a lot, but not landing. Clottey landed the most telling blows in this round for me.” 10-9 Clottey

Mentaldynamo – “Although Cotto looked more active, Clottey landed the cleaner, sharper blows.” 10-9 Clottey

Round 3

Dafs117 – “Clottey’s left hand can’t miss in the opening minute as he fires a hook followed by a handful of jabs onto Cotto’s chin. Cotto’s peek-a-boo style is ineffective, as Clottey finds his range to land left uppercuts. Cotto throws more punches, but they simply don’t find their target, and a nasty clash of heads causes blood to trickle above the Puerto Rican’s left eye. This round should separate the judges, Lederman gives it to Cotto for out-jabbing, but for me, he doesn’t land anything to compare to Clottey.” 10-9 Clottey

Siren1927 – “For the first minute, we have Cotto teeing off and landing one punch. Clottey is again landing clean, he’s found a home for that left to the body. Cotto uses the jab he forgot in the last round to actually catch Clottey twice, then he forgets it again. However he is starting to catch Clottey now and he takes the round on activity for me.” 10-9 Cotto

Mentaldynamo – “Clottey controlled the round with his jab, backing Cotto up and using it to land his right.” 10-9 Clottey

Round 4

Dafs117 – “Clottey again starts strongly, and his defence is just excellent. They trade heavy leather with Cotto going to the body and Clottey firing back. The cut is really bothering Cotto as he wipes the blood away. Kellerman suggests that Cotto can’t see the right hand coming, and he’s right. Cotto with a late flurry and Clottey tries to answer back. Brilliant round!” 10-9 Cotto

Siren1927 – “Both start the round on fire, throwing and connecting, though if I’m honest Cotto's head movement wins the early exchanges. Clottey then comes right back and Cotto, looks as though he is going to steal the round then acts like a clown and Cotto steals it right back.” 10-9 Cotto

Mentaldynamo – “Controlled the round with the jab, and again backed Cotto up with right hands. Clottey also blocked most of Cotto’s punches.” 10-9 Clottey

After 4 Rounds: Dafs117 – 38-37 Cotto; Siren1927 – 39-36 Cotto; 38-37 Clottey;

Round 5

Dafs117 – “Clottey blocks Cotto’s shots before landing a huge right hand. Another right hand lands from the Ghanaian, and another. Cotto keeps pawing at that cut and it’s really hurting him. Clottey comes in with another right and Cotto basically just slams him to the canvas. Clottey complains, and rightly so in my view, that was a cheap shot from Cotto. Poor officiating from Arthur Mercante Jr., who tells him to walk it off, and on the replay, Clottey slips more than I originally thought. This is getting feisty and Clottey complains about his knee.” 10-9 Clottey

Siren1927 – “Clottey starts this round really well and around the two minute mark lands a lovely double jab right hand combo. Cotto slams Clottey to the ground and special mention must go to the ref who simply tells Clottey be a man, be a champ and walk it off. Clottey wins the round but by God I wish I could take a point off for being a wimp.” 10-9 Clottey

Mentaldynamo – “Clottey blocks Cotto’s shots before landing his own right hands. Clottey wins because he lands the cleaner, more precise shots.” 10-9 Clottey

Round 6

Dafs117 – “Cotto presses and Clottey stands still and gets hit. Cotto traps him in the corner, digging at him punch by punch. Clottey counters with a straight left and they trade, before Clottey goes back into defence mode. Cotto keeps him in the corner landing heavy shots, but Clottey keeps on firing back. Clottey’s mobility is non-existent this round, maybe his knee is a problem. Big round for Cotto, but also a tough round for the Puerto Rican.” 10-9 Cotto

Siren1927 – “Cotto is on fire at the start of the round, throwing and landing multiple shots. Clottey’s mobility is clearly an issue here. Cotto traps him in the corner, but Clottey fires back and catches Cotto, but he’s still trapped in there. They trade leather at the end but Cotto kept him in that corner all round.” 10-9 Cotto

Mentaldynamo – “It looks like Clottey took a round off, getting his breath back after a high tempo start. Cotto dominates and wins the round easily on my card.” 10-9 Cotto

Round 7

Dafs117 – “Cotto really taking control of the fight right now, and I don’t know how much Clottey hurting from that slip/throw has to do with it. Cotto with four unanswered punches, two land. Clottey’s movement is better this round for sure, but getting outpunched. Clottey gets away a combo that ended with a nice right hand. Clottey hurting Miguel, but Cotto gets out of danger. Clottey is the one cranking up the pressure. Another big right, and he takes this round fairly handily. Cotto fires hard near the bell.” 10-9 Clottey

Siren1927 – “How else can you explain this round other than say Clottey just simply beats Cotto up. Cotto fires enough back to at least be competitive but Cotto has a massive target on that cut eye and Clottey’s right hand can’t miss.” 10-9 Clottey

Mentaldynamo – “Again, Clottey landed the cleaner shots and backed up Cotto with that lead left jab.” 10-9 Clottey

Round 8

Dafs117 – “Cotto goes back to pressure Clottey on the ropes again, but Clottey is still able to get his punches away. Cotto then backs himself onto the ropes, de ja vu to the Margarito fight. Clottey lambasts Cotto with rights, that uppercut is hurting Cotto as he grabs both eyes. Cotto now unloads in the corner. Clottey shakes his head like a badass. Clottey takes the round for me, but very close.” 10-9 Clottey

Siren1927 – “Before we even start the round, I’m wondering why the fight hasn’t been stopped, that eye is terrible and I’ve seen far less serious cuts stop fights. The actual round starts with Clottey still in his groove; he gets inside and lands some decent shots. Cotto backs him to the ropes before Clottey flurries out of it. Cotto is continually dabbing at his eye and Clottey is punishing him for it. The amount of right hands Clottey is landing is unreal. Cotto backs him back into the corner in an attempt to steal the round however, Clottey shakes his head and I shake mine.” 10-9 Clottey

Mentaldynamo – “Cotto’s exciting burst at the end of the round not enough to win it. His flurry of punches is not as good as the cleaner 1-2’s from Clottey.” 10-9 Clottey

After 8 Rounds: Dafs117 – 76-75 Clottey; Siren1927 – 76-75 Cotto; 77-74 Clottey;

Round 9

Dafs117 – “It’s Clottey’s turn to stalk early in the round as Cotto moves backwards, not doing much. Another Clottey right lands again. Cotto coming forward with 40 seconds left, but not finding much. Now he’s punching! Clottey resets at mid-ring and jabs Cotto. Cotto’s just not breaking the defence enough to win these rounds, in my humble opinion. Clottey landed the better shots this round.” 10-9 Clottey

Siren1927 – “Nothing of note in the first minute, seconds later Clottey lands a nice straight right then flurries almost straight afterwards. Both fighters are feeling the pace and are not doing much. Both fighters come to life in the last 30 seconds both landing roughly equal. It’s a tough round to score, but I’ve given it to Clottey based on accurate punching.” 10-9 Clottey

Mentaldynamo – “More effective punches came from Clottey in that round, and Cotto doesn’t seem to have anything left as his cut gets worse.” 10-9 Clottey

Round 10

Dafs117 – “Clottey chasing Miguel around again for the first half of the round and Cotto is just not in this fight right now. Lampley thinks Clottey is slowing, I agree, but Cotto is just staying away more than before. Cotto, like in the Margarito fight, has just stopped his work to the body and is head hunting albeit unsuccessfully. Round is winnable for either with 40 seconds to go. They trade leather, most punches miss. Another card-splitting round. I’m going with Cotto.” 10-9 Cotto

Siren1927 – “The first minute of the round is beautiful for Cotto, he doesn’t land much but his footwork and ring generalship are on display for everyone here. Cotto has found something here; he is bobbing and weaving, throwing a few and then moving out of range. It almost wins him the round, but Clottey lands around 12 punches in the last 40 seconds to steal it.” 10-9 Clottey

Mentaldynamo – “Not much action in round ten, but Clottey kept coming forward so I award the round to the Ghanaian on effective aggression.” 10-9 Clottey

Round 11

Dafs117 – “Everyone from HBO is excited. Cotto outworks Clottey, who has really slowed down now. The pace is getting to him, and Cotto picks and pecks. Good idea, he needs the rounds. Clottey lands a meaningful right, but it’s Cotto’s round.” 10-9 Cotto

Siren1927 – “Another close round, it’s now Cotto’s turn to throw the most of the punches and starts to fire back at Clottey. Both fighters have their moments and it’s another tough round to score. You have the sense that if Clottey had thrown a few more he would’ve taken the round hands down. He just about took it, but only just.” 10-9 Clottey

Mentaldynamo – “Much of the same as Clottey keeps coming forward and dictating the pace of the fight.” 10-9 Clottey

Round 12

Dafs117 – “Both come out to win the round and Cotto moves around the ring as Clottey pressures. Cotto lets his hands go, Clottey follows suit, nothing lands though. Cotto turns to southpaw and smacks Clottey in the back of the head. Good call from Mercante Jr., it looked an accident. Clottey tries to find time as he complains for a low blow, nothing given. Cotto with five punches, nothing coming back from Clottey. Left hand from Cotto, and a right from Clottey. Brilliant fight, a rough tussle.” 10-9 Cotto

Siren1927 – “Another tough round to score and unfortunately, more Joshua Clottey bad acting classes. Cotto is just much more active and his defence is actually better in this round. Cotto stole it for me. He didn’t so much as win the round; it was Clottey that lost it.” 10-9 Cotto

Mentaldynamo – “It was a close round, but Cotto just did enough to win it. Cotto had his moments, but that was it, just moments.” 10-9 Cotto

Official Scores: Don Trella – 116-111 Cotto; John McKaie – 115-112 Cotto; Tom Miller – 114-113 Clottey;

Miguel Cotto successfully defends his belt by split decision

BTBC Scorecards: Dafs117 – 114-113 Cotto; Siren1927 – 114-113 Clottey; Mentaldynamo – 116-111 Clottey;

Joshua Clottey wins via split decision

BTBC Combined Scorecard

Round 1 – 10-9 Cotto (3-0); [-1 knockdown for Clottey]
Round 2 – 10-9 Clottey (0-3);
Round 3 – 10-9 Clottey (1-2);
Round 4 – 10-9 Cotto (2-1);
Round 5 – 10-9 Clottey (0-3);
Round 6 – 10-9 Cotto (3-0);
Round 7 – 10-9 Clottey (0-3);
Round 8 – 10-9 Clottey (0-3);
Round 9 – 10-9 Clottey (0-3);
Round 10 – 10-9 Clottey (1-2);
Round 11 – 10-9 Clottey (1-2);
Round 12 – 10-9 Cotto (3-0);

Total – 115-112 Clottey;

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Money, Money, Money: Odds on Foreman-Cotto and The Weekend Action

As a keen boxing fan, I take a healthy interest in what the books are thinking, as it normally is a good indication to see how the fight will turn out in the casual fans’ mind. Maybe once in a while I’ll back up my predictions with putting some money down, but for enjoyment and the profit, not to fuel any sort of addiction.

For those unfamiliar with how it works, it’s not that difficult. For example, a fighter is -300, it means every $3 you win a $1. If a fighter is +300, it means you bet $1 to win $3. And the line varies on how big a favourite/underdog a fighter is.

Junior Middleweight: Yuri Foreman vs. Miguel Cotto (HBO) [12 Rounds]

Yuri Foreman +200, Miguel Cotto -250

Close fight on paper, closer than expected fight in the books. For those who think that Miguel Cotto is shot and favour the Rabbi, you could make a healthy profit out of this fight with the tempting price. Cotto is also at a juicy price, and I expected that his star reputation would make him an obvious favourite.

Cruiserweight: Steve Cunningham vs. Troy Ross (Polsat) [12 Rounds]

Steve Cunningham -500, Troy Ross +333

This will be the first time one of our House Fighters will be in a title shot, and it’s a big ask for Troy Ross to pull it off as he’s a clear underdog going into the fight. Cunningham is regarded as the best in the division, and you could strongly argue that he’s head and shoulders above everybody else in the top 10.

Middleweight: Sebastian Sylvester vs. Roman Karmazin (Polsat) [12 Rounds]

Sebastian Sylvester -250, Roman Karmazin +188

In his prime, Karmazin would probably beat up Sylvester over the distance. But the battles are beginning to catch up with him, as was displayed in his come-from-behind knockout win over Dionisio Miranda in January. Sylvester is on a four-fight winning streak since he lost to Felix Sturm, and I favour him to extend his run to five.

Junior Middleweight: Vanes Martirosyan vs. Joe Greene (HBO) [10 Rounds]

Vanes Martirosyan -200, Joe Greene +150

This might be the most intriguing fight this weekend, despite three other strong contenders. Both fighters are undefeated and are expected to put on an explosive fight. Martirosyan is a slight favourite due to his background.

What do you think will happen? Get involved in The BTBC's new fantasy boxing betting game!

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Cotto Confirms Steward As Trainer

In one of the worst kept secrets in boxing, Miguel Cotto officially announced on his Twitter account that his new head trainer will be legendary hall of fame trainer Emmanuel Steward. Steward has already joined Cotto in his training camp and will remain with the Puerto Rican star until his fight with Yuri Foreman on June 5 for the WBA junior middleweight title.

Cotto will be aiming to become a three-weight world champion with victory at the Yankee Stadium in New York against Foreman who'll be making his first defense. Steward was on the verge of agreeing terms with Foreman's camp as a consultant, but Team Cotto managed to change his mind at the last minute.

Joe Santiago, Cotto's former head trainer, keeps his spot in the corner with Joe Chavez and his brother Jose Miguel Cotto.

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2009 Welterweight Report

by Dafs117

If gray is the new black, and Macau is the new heights of Las Vegas, then welterweight is the new heavyweight. “If the heavyweight division goes, so does boxing” is another cliché that‘s just plain nonsense. It’s the glamour division filled with X factor fighters and marquee names that HBO executives live off. It’s no secret that the 147 pounds is star-studded, but the depth of the division is what makes the welterweight field the best of the lot, and one of the most intriguing fields in the open era. It’s right up there with the featherweight class of ’01, the welterweights of ’81, maybe even the middleweights from the early ‘50s.

What more could you want than to have the two best pound-4-pound fighters and two of the most marketable fighters, challenging each other for the pleasure of millions of hardcore fanatics across the world’s surface, and grabbing the attention of many casual fight fans in the major boxing nations. At the top of the division, there are two faces that have made their case for the fighter of the decade, followed by a revitalized future hall of famer, an exciting Puerto Rican, a undefeated heavily hyped titlist, and a seemingly unending list of recognizable faces that includes a balanced mix of veterans and youngsters, punchers and boxers.

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2009: The Boxing Tribune Year-End Awards

by Paul Magno

2009 resembled an Arturo Gatti fight.

Controversy caused by Antonio Margarito's loaded hand wraps and a weak economy had boxing on the ropes for a good portion of the year. To top things off, tragedy hit the boxing world hard as three hall of fame talents were lost: Arturo Gatti, Vernon Forrest and Alexis Arguello.

However, like any good Gatti fight, the underdog battled back and finished strong as quality contests and innovative ideas brought the live gate back in droves and encouraged millions to pay their hard-earned money to watch on TV.

From Plaster Gate to The Return of "Money" Mayweather to The Super Six Tournament to Firepower, here's a look at the best of the best (and the worst of the worst) of 2009:

Fighter of the Year: Manny Pacquiao

For the second year in a row, the Filipino Buzzsaw takes top honors with two outstanding performances. Pacquiao followed up a brutal second round knockout of Ricky Hatton with a slow and ugly destruction of reigning WBO Welterweight champ, Miguel Cotto. Things don't get any easier for Pacquiao as he's slated to face Floyd Mayweather Jr, in the first half of 2010 and that could either mean an end to his grasp on FOY honors or a sure 2010 win in this category.

Runners up: Paul Williams, Timothy Bradley


Fight of the Year: Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Juan Diaz

This one had it all. An experienced old pro looking to make his mark in a young lion's home division of 135; Pressure vs. Precision; Fury vs. Technique.

Marquez vs. Diaz exceeded all expectations in a bout full of ebbs and tides and harsh brutality in Diaz's own hometown. At one point, it looked like youth and aggression would prevail as Diaz seemed to be getting to the 36-year old Marquez. However, in the end, it was Marquez's gym-forged and rage-sharpened fundamentals that won out.

Marquez would end up stopping a bloodied Diaz in the ninth to top off a true classic.

Runners up: Bernard Dunne TKO 11 Ricardo Cordoba, Andre Berto UD 12 Luis Collazo


Event of the Year: Firepower

Nothing had boxing fans more energized in 2009 than the clash between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. The buzz was evident for weeks prior to the event and the internet was lit up with both sets of loyal fans making their cases and with an assortment of experts offering their individual takes on the match-up.

In the end, Pacquiao prevailed in a relatively one-sided bout, but that doesn't erase the energy generated by this event and the attention brought to the sport by way of over 1.25 million PPV buys.

Runners up: The return of Floyd Mayweather Jr., The Super Six World Classic Tournament



Knockout of the Year: Manny Pacquiao KO 2 Ricky Hatton

Take one perfectly-timed left hook and combine it with a defensively sloppy Ricky Hatton and you get the most devastating knockout of the year.

Hatton would be left in a heap in the middle of the ring for several moments while Pacquiao celebrated this most brutal of all endings. As surprising as it was crushing, this was a definite career-defining moment for Manny and a sure bet Knockout of the Year.

Runners up: Arthur Abraham KO 12 Jermain Taylor, Randall BaileyKO 4 Frankie Figueroa


Round of the Year: Marcos Maidana vs. Victor Ortiz (Round 1)

This was supposed to be Ortiz's coming out party and the first step in his path to becoming the next Golden Boy. Unfortunately for him, somebody forgot to tell Maidana that he was a stepping stone. Maidana established his will from the opening bell and, despite being knocked down with a hard shot, answered back by decking Ortiz just a few seconds later with a bullet right hand. Ortiz would end up quitting the war in the sixth, but it was the first round that established the fact that Maidana would not be broken by a junior league Golden Boy.

Runner up: Carlos Abregu vs. Irving Garcia (Round 4)


The Pernell Whitaker Virtuoso Award: Shane Mosley

Coming into his bout with Antonio Margarito, there were some smart boxing people who were even going so far as to worry about the 37-year old's safety. After all, Margarito was coming in as the beast who stopped Miguel Cotto.

Mosley would execute a brilliant game plan, devised by new trainer Nazeem Richardson, that made Margarito look impotent and absolutely amateurish.

The one-sided domination of Margarito was somewhat overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Margarito's loaded handwraps prior to the fight, but nothing should take away from Mosley's performance that night in The Staples Center. Mosley proved himself to be a true virtuoso.

Runners up: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (vs. Juan Manuel Marquez), Lucian Bute (vs. Librado Andrade)


The Oliver McCall Puzzling Non-Performance in a Prime Time Drama Award: Daniel Santos

Santos was fighting on the Pacquiao-Cotto undercard, the biggest card of the year, after more than a year of inactivity and he was up against an inexperienced and unproven Yuri Foreman. This would've been the perfect time for Santos to step back into the picture and re-establish himself as a force at 154. Instead he lumbered and slept his way through twelve dull rounds and even allowed himself to be out-muscled by the feather-fisted Foreman.

Runner up: Ruslan Chagaev (vs. Wladimir Klitschko), Nikolai Valuev (vs. David Haye)


UK Fighter of the Year: Carl Froch

Froch spent 2009 proving that his win over Jean Pascal in late '08 wasn't a fluke. He would struggle for large portions of his bouts with Jermain Taylor and Andre Dirrell, but he would ultimately prevail in both. The finish of his bout with Taylor was exceptionally thrilling as he stopped Taylor at the 2:46 mark while trailing on two of the three scorecards.

Runners up: David Haye, Amir Khan


Breakthrough Fighter of the Year: Andre Ward

Prior to 2009, Ward was a gold medalist with a "blah" career, fighting club fighters and looking just competent in his victories.

2009 would be Ward's breakthrough year as he would step things up, big-time, by winning his first world title against favorite Mikkel Kessler via the Super Six tourney. He would also claim dominant victories over Edison Miranda, Henry Buchanan and Shelby Pudwill.

Andre Ward has arrived and will be in the perfect position to build upon his outstanding 2009 by sweeping the 168 pound tournament.

Runner up: Timothy Bradley, Amir Khan


Upset of the Year: Juan Carlos Salgado TKO 1 Jorge Linares

Salgado was merely a stepping stone for WBA Super Featherweight champ, Jorge Linares. Golden Boy promotions had just signed Linares and was already counting the money that could be generated by the well-regarded Venezuelan technician. Unknown Mexican club fighter, Salgado, ruined plans by crushing Linares in seventy three seconds.

Runner up: Shane Mosley TKO 9 Antonio Margarito


Trainer of the Year: Nazim Richardson

Brother Nazim wrapped this prize up in the first month of the year as he devised the perfect game plan for Shane Mosley to beat Antonio Margarito and also uncovered Margarito's use of illegal hand wraps. It was Richardson's astute cynicism that led to his intense inspection of Margarito's wraps which thereby uncovered one of this era's most notorious cheaters.

Runner up: Freddie Roach




Robbery of the Year: Kermit Cintron D Sergio Martinez

It sure seemed as though the Florida state commission was determined to not let Martinez walk away with the win. After controlling the first half of the fight, Martinez sent Cintron to the mat hard at the end of the seventh and referee Frank Santore Jr. reached the count of ten. The fight was apparently over and then, a few minutes later and against all common sense, Santore waved the fight back on and ordered for both fighters to continue for the eighth. The rest time aided Cintron and allowed him to come back and take it to Martinez in the following three rounds. Then, in another shocking move, after a great round by Martinez in the eleventh, Santore took a point from Martinez for hitting behind the head. Still, even with the missed knockdown and bogus point deduction, Martinez seemed to be the clear winner...Surprise! The fight was ruled a draw.

Runners up: Ali Funeka D Joan Guzman, Chris John D Rocky Juarez


The George A Romero Gore Award: Miguel Cotto

Cotto's face took a real beating twice in 2009. First, a massive cut over his eye against Joshua Clottey and then a brutal pulverizing at the hands of Manny Pacquiao. There's one thing for sure when it comes to Cotto: his face shows the signs of a real beating. Last year he was the runner up to this award when he was beat by Margarito; This year, he takes top honors. Congrats Miguel, I guess...


Gutsiest Effort of 2009: Nate Campbell MD 12 Ali Funeka

Weight drained and having been stripped of his titles earlier on, the 37-year old Campbell walked into a 6ft 1, South African punching machine and had to literally fight for his life. Campbell came on strong early and even knocked Funeka down in the second. However, Funeka recovered and gained complete control in the middle rounds. Campbell, behind on the cards and seeing his career on the line, pushed himself through shear exhaustion and battled back to a Majority Decision win.

Runners up: Marcos Maidana TKO 6 Victor Ortiz


Comeback Fighter of the Year: Brian Viloria

At one time considered a top prospect and classy world champ, a couple of tough losses sent Viloria into such a tailspin that nobody in their right mind was giving him much of a chance against long-reigning IBF Jr. Flyweight champ, Ulises Solis. Viloria didn't win easily and Solis didn't go down without a major fight, but somehow, some way, "Hawaiian Punch" once again found the inner drive to push onward and he KOd Solis in the 11th, in front of a packed pro-Viloria card in Manila, the Philippines.

Runners up: Robert Guerrero, Rodel Mayol


The Rat F*ck Douche Bag Award: Antonio Margarito and Javier Capetillo

Prior to the fight against Shane Mosley, illegal hand wraps containing a plaster-like substance were discovered on the hands of Margarito. There were denials and ridiculous excuses made by Margarito, Capetillo and promoter Bob Arum...even charges of racism were leveled. However, the end result was a one year suspension for these scum bags who were willing to put the lives of their opponents in jeopardy to make up for their own flaws and inabilities

Runners up: The Texas and Florida State Commissions, All Boxing Promoters


The Chris Brown vs. Rihanna One-Sided Beatdown Award: Manny Pacquiao TKO 12 Miguel Cotto

This was being built-up as a real dangerous match-up for both fighters where both guys had an equal chance of being destroyed. The reality was that, barring a couple of shots in the early rounds, this was an easy, one-sided win for Pacquiao. By the last few rounds, Miguel Cotto was literally running from Pacquiao's punches.

Runner up: Floyd Mayweather Jr. UD Juan Manuel Marquez, Vitali Klitschko TKO 9 Juan Carlos Gomez


The Dr. Phil Non-Expert Analysis Award: R.A. The Rugged Man

Somehow, some way, this hard-luck, middle-aged rapper found his way on to internet boxing shows and websites as some sort of expert analyst. With the mentality of a message board troll, this failed Beastie Boy wanna be, is actually sought after as a voice of real analysis. His presence is a real kick in the head to all boxing analysts who actually do have a working knowledge of the sport, but lack the exposure. "Rugged Man" is to boxing analysis what Vanilla Ice was to Hip Hop.


The Transformers II Needless Sequel Award: Chad Dawson vs. Antonio Tarver II

What's worst than a relatively one-sided unanimous decision? Answer: A rematch of a relatively one-sided unanimous decision. Chad Dawson clearly proved himself to be the better fighter of the two in their first encounter, but a Tarver rematch clause forced the rematch. The yawner, his first on HBO, actually lowered Dawson's stock.

Runner up: Chris John vs. Rocky Juarez II


Paula Abdul Worst Judge Award: Gale Van Hoy

First, he turned in a ridiculous 114-114 score for Chris John-Rocky Juarez I. Then, he topped himself with a ridiculous 118-110 score for Juan Diaz over Paulie Malignaggi. Texas judge, Van Hoy, has proven himself completely inept at scoring fights featuring Texas' favorite sons.

Runners up: Pierre Benoist (119-110, Paul Williams over Sergio Martinez); Alan Davis, Benoit Roussel (114-114 Ali Funeka-Joan Guzman)


Dumbest Move of 2009: James Kirkland's Parole Violation

Kirkland was one of the brightest stars coming into 2009 and seemed to seal the deal as a legit power with his dominant performance over Joel Julio in March. Shortly after, Kirkland was arrested for parole violation in an attempt to purchase a firearm. He was sentenced to two years in a federal prison.

Runners up: Monte Barrett's attempt to jump over the top rope in his ring entrance vs. David Haye, Miguel Cotto caving in to every concession prior to the Pacquiao fight


The "Hey, That Guy Works at Footlocker" Award: Shelby Pudwill (vs. Andre Ward)

This is The BTBC's annual award given to the most pedestrian fighter who somehow finds his way on to a major network. Congrats on making the Showtime telecast, Shelby!




Tiger Woods Cheat Award: Antonio Margarito

Mrs. Tiger Woods Cheated-On Award: Ali Funeka

Should've Happened: Steve Cunningham vs. Tomasz Adamek II

The Jermain Taylor, All Messed-up Award: Jermain Taylor

The Nostradamus Award: Paulie Malignaggi (for predicting his own screw job against Juan Diaz)

Worst Pay Per View: March Badness

Stick a Fork in 'em, They're Done: Jermain Taylor, Jeff Lacy, Danny Williams, Jesus Chavez, Roy Jones Jr. (again), Carlos Hernandez, Monte Barrett

2010 is Their Year: Who knows? There's a lot of parity in the sport right now and not many clearly dominant forces...Let's opt out of this one and make an obvious choice: The Boxing Tribune and The BTBC Fan Forum will continue to grow and prosper in 2010, becoming a true force in the sport. Viva BTBC! Happy 2010!

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Welterweights Beware! Can the division survive the fast approaching black hole?

by dafs117

As the talent rich, money making welterweights relax before the festive vacation, none of them will predict the turmoil that could eventually see the division collapsing, as one of the main money sources in 2011.

Star after star, the galaxy of welterweights will drastically fade in 2010, with retirements, defeats and weight jumping, destroying the near perfect atmosphere within the weight class.

And when Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather finally turn towards each other, they would create the biggest buzz ever created in the modern era of the sport. The 147 pound division will be the centre of the universe as both red giants collide in a battle of the supernovas.

Win or lose, retirement beckons for both fighters. Boxing would be dealt a massive marketing blow, as two of the brightest stars quickly shoot off the scale. But what about the welterweight division? The loss of Pacquiao and Mayweather cannot be put into words as the welterweight division would lose the elite class.

Where does that leave Shane Mosley? If he loses to Andre Berto, there’s no-one to fight at 147 pounds, as Miguel Cotto wouldn’t dare cross paths with Sugar Shane again. In his hour of need, will Paul Williams be his knight in shining armor and battle him at the 147 limit? Highly unlikely.

Welterweight could lose three superstars in half a year. Three pound-4-pound ranked fighters. Three legends that have truly left their mark on the sport with outstanding, but all different legacies which stand out from the rest.

And if Miguel Cotto had anything left after last year’s loss to Antonio Margarito and his split decision victory over Joshua Clottey, Manny Pacquiao would either bring it out of him, or beat it out of him. He duly delivered, and probably smashed Cotto’s half life into smithereens. That’s another slightly more faded welterweight star, gone.

Can the icons make another impact, such as Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and Jose Luis Castillo? They might even turn to each other, in a true crossroad elimination process that would see the loser retire, for good.

With Joshua Clottey and Carlos Quintana likely to move up in weight, and once-great Zab Judah scampering down south, the depth of the division is quickly deteriorating. Names like Luis Collazo and Carlos Manuel Baldomir are simply stepping stones in the asteroid belt, waiting for a young rocket to dent.

Is the division’s superhero and savior Andre Berto? He’s hardly impressed in his recent performances against immobile Juan Urango and a post-prime Luis Collazo. Can he step up to the thrown and take over the reigns as the leader of the new welterweight revolution?

By 2011, Saul Alvarez would surely have stepped up his level of competition, and maybe young Brit Kell Brook can cause a stir among the HBO missionaries. Could Mike Jones be the next great American welterweight?

If the stars of today hang up their gloves in 2010, the welterweight division would be in a transition period. As the greedy, inflated egos of Mayweather, Pacquiao and Mosley disappear into the black hole, they would be replaced by the hungrier bright stars of tomorrow. Could the 2010 black hole be good for the division?

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Nothing Heroic About Chicken Cotto

by Madcow

Sometimes I sit back in my fortified bunker and just go from website to website, reading all the absolute crap that somehow finds a home onto the vast, barren information super highway called the internet. Sometimes I'm amused...sometimes downright red-assed.

The latest garbage involves Miguel Cotto and his performance against Manny Pacquiao this past Saturday. I've seen the words "brave," "heroic," "classy" thrown around to describe his effort. But wouldn't it be nice if we told the truth just this one time? Replace those adjectives with real descriptions of what we just saw from Cotto: "cowardly," "weak-willed," "yellow."

Listen, before I start taking flack for calling any fighter a coward when they are surely braver than some fat slob behind a keyboard, let me just remind you that these are guys that are making their living as professional warriors. They've put themselves up there to be judged, analyzed and critiqued as a breed apart from the average man.

Cotto's performance on Saturday was reminiscent of my performance back in '87 when a chain-wielding member of the Sacramento branch of the Hell's Angels chased me around a VFW parking lot for a good thirty minutes while I ducked behind cars and yelped like a lady.

And, like Cotto, I eventually succumbed and took my ass beating...but without a 10 million dollar check waiting for me and sans several thousand apologists calling my flat-out chicken-defense "heroic."

Cotto, as soon as he felt the pressure, began to run. He ran more than any runner has been accused of running in boxing. Cotto's sprinting went beyond defense. His "Fight or Flight" instinct went off and he decided to run...run...run.

There were times when I felt like I was watching Mel Gibson's Apocalypto instead of a PPV main event, billed to be the fight of the year.

Even the usually even-tempered Pacquiao was finding Cotto's pugilistic track meet to be distasteful as he openly showed his frustration at Cotto's unwillingness to actually fight in the second half of the bout.

And this isn't the first time that Cotto has put in such a limp-wristed performance. Against Mosley, he began to run at the end when Mosley started coming on strong; Against Margarito, he sprinted from corner to corner, like he was looking for a place to hide inside the ropes; Even against Clottey, when the going got tough, Cotto got the urge to be the Puerto Rican Jesse Owens.

So, let's call a spade a spade. Cotto's a great front-runner; Awesomely brave when he's beating up an inferior opponent. But when the chips are down and he needs to pull out a big win against an unrelenting foe, he'd much rather be doing road work.

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BTBC Fight of the Week

Saturday, November 14^th

^{Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao}

<sup>(WBO Welterweight Title)

MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA</sup>

^{The Breakdown:}

^{Miguel Cotto: 34-1 (27 KO), Rated #1 at Welterweight by The BTBC, Rated #5 on the most recent BTBC Pound-for-Pound list.}

^{Age: 29}

^{Height: 5' 7}

^{Reach: 67"}

^{Stance: Orthodox}

^{Career Achievements: 2000 Olympic Silver Medallist,}

^{Former WBO Jr. Welterweight Champ (6 defences)}

^{Former WBA Welterweight Champ (4 defences)
Reigning WBO Welterweight Champ (1 defence)}

^{Notable Opposition: Pauiel Malignaggi (Win via UD 12, Draw), Carlos Quintana (Win via RTD 5), Zab Judah (Win via TKO 11), Shane Mosley (Win via UD 12), Antonio Margarito (Loss via TKO 11), Joshua Clottey (Win via SD 12)}

Pre- Fight Quote: “We’ve trained very hard for this fight and I’m in excellent shape. It will be a great night for boxing and for the Puerto Rican people.”

^*********

^{Manny Pacquiao: 49-3-2 (15 KO), Rated #2 at Jr. Welterweight by The BTBC, Rated #1 on the most recent BTBC Pound-for-Pound list.}

^{Age: 30}

^{Height: 5' 6" 1/2}

^{Reach: 67"}

^{Stance: Southpaw}

^{Career Achievements: Former WBC Flyweight Champ (2 Defenses)
Former IBF Super Bantamweight Champ (4 Defenses)
Former WBC Super Featherweight Champ
Former WBC Lightweight Champ}

^{Notable Opposition: Marco Antonio Barrera (Win via TKO 11, Win via UD 12), Juan Manuel Marquez (Draw in 12, Win via SD 12), Erik Morales (Loss via UD 12, Win via TKO 10, Win via KO 3), Oscar Larios (Win via UD 12), Oscar De La Hoya ­(Win via RTD 8), Ricky Hatton (Win via KO 2)}

Pre-Fight Quote: “This fight is the most important fight in my boxing career because if I win this fight, I think it’s another history in boxing and Philippine boxing and it’s also a big honor to my country, to my family and to me."

^*********

Paulie The Sicilian's Prediction: It's gonna be ugly...Pacquiao won't knock Cotto out flat like Hatton; He's gonna poke him bloody...It's gonna be like watching a man beaten to death with the receiver of a telephone...The moment Cotto slows down, bleeds or gets wobbled, it's being stopped...Cotto will get zero chance to recover and make a comeback..."History" must be fulfilled and Arum's already got his plans...

Cotto is a very live underdog, but all he has going for him is that he punches hard...Fine, he has a chance, but where do people get off seeing Cotto suddenly becoming a Juan Manuel Marquez counter-puncher? When did you ever see Cotto come into the ring with a coherent game plan? He's always fought a black and white style and now, especially with the degradation of his corner, he will come in doing what he always does: punch and if that doesn't work, punch more.

Pacquiao has Roach on his side, who I'm sure has done his homework and has a Plan A, B and C ready to be executed. IMO, just as much as the built-in contractual cheats, having a real trainer in Pacquiao's corner will be the real decisive factor in the fight.

I see Manny coming on fast and strong because every second the fight lasts, Cotto has a greater chance of landing something big. Around the third, Pacquiao will be busted up. He'll fight on bravely, but will not be able to look to his corner to help recover and change the tide.

The end comes in the fifth with a flustered Cotto up against the ropes and Pacquiao throwing shots, rapid-fire style. Despite Cotto blocking most of the punches, the ref waves off the fight just as Cotto's own corner is about to throw in the towel...Bob Arum orgasms in his pants: Pacquiao TKO 5.

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5 Fights That Define Miguel Cotto

Miguel Cotto L TKO 11 Antonio Margarito, 7/26/2008

Cotto suffered a brutal beating at the hands of "The Tjuana Tornado," Antonio Margarito in the biggest fight of his career up to that point.

The controversy exists about whether Margarito was using loaded hand wraps, but there's no controversy about the fact that Cotto absorbed a tremendous amount of punishment that may still be weighing on his psyche.




Miguel Cotto UD Shane Mosley, 11/10/2007

Cotto might have been catching Shane Mosley at the right time, but "Sugar" showed that he still had plenty of life left in his 36-year old body.

Mosley fought an extremely close fight and finished very strong to lose a close decision.

But Cotto proved two things with this win: He could box as well as slug and, most importantly, he belonged among the elite of the sport.


Miguel Cotto TKO 11 Zab Judah, 6/9/2007

A bloodied and severely tested Cotto was pushed to the brink by the supremely talented Zab Judah. After being buzzed early on, Cotto pushed forward with the full support of a Madison Square Garden crowd and eventually wore Judah down.

Despite some controversy regarding several low-blows, Cotto took care of business and established himself as a real force at 147.

Miguel Cotto RTD 5 Carlos Quintana, 12/2/2006

In his first real fight at Welterweight, Cotto unleashed a savage attack on Quintana to capture the vacant WBA Welterweight title.

A game and talented Quintana appeared to be overmatched against a highly motivated and mean-spirited Cotto.




Miguel Cotto TKO 5 DeMarcus Corley, 2/26/08

Far from "Just Another Defense" of his Jr. Welter title, Cotto's adventure with "Chop Chop" saw him meet, and overcome, his first real test.

Despite being knocked down in the first, Corley came back strong in the third and severely wobbled Cotto.

The Puerto Rican champ would survive and eventually stop the quick-fisted southpaw.

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Miguel Cotto & Manny Pacquiao: The Legacies

by Dafs117

The Legacy Of Manny Pacquiao

His legacy so far...

Lehlohonlo Ledwaba – TKO 6 – Took the fight with two weeks notice and destroyed Ledwaba.

Marco Antonio Barrerra – TKO 11 – Came off the canvas to stop the Mexican legend in a thrilling encounter.

Juan Manuel Marquez – D 12 – Fight of the decade contender, Marquez survived three first round knockdowns to earn an epic draw.

Erik Morales – L UD 12 – Lost a close, unanimous decision in their first and only competitive fight.

Erik Morales – TKO 10 – Avenged his third career loss by outlasting the Mexican.

Oscar Larios – UD 12 – Fought a perfect fight against a tough, durable fighter.

Erik Morales – KO 3 – Stopped the shadow of Morales’ former self.

Jorge Solis – KO 8 – The previously unbeaten Solis couldn’t stand the pace of Pacman.

Marco Antonio Barrerra – UD 12 – Comprehensive victory in their rematch.

Juan Manuel Marquez – SD 12 – Gets one over his arch rival, even though Marquez thought he’d won.

David Diaz – TKO 9 – Another win, another weight, another title.

Oscar De La Hoya – RTD 8 – Forces the Golden Boy to retirement by annihilating the face of boxing.

Ricky Hatton – KO 2 – Superb second round knockout with a perfect left hook.

Titles in six different weight class, from flyweight to light welterweight. The best left handed fighter to ever grace the sport, and historian Bert Sugar even agrees with me.

How would a win over Cotto enhance his legacy?

Cotto would enhance Pacquiao’s legacy a little bit in a lot of different ways such as his popularity, nationality, the size and the small number on the right side of his record, Cotto would offer a lot even if he is on the way down.

Cotto is considered as a superstar, a reliable ticket-seller, and a quality fighter. He has a strong Puerto Rican following, which would be impressed if Pacquiao stopped their proud fighter. As Pacquiao learned against De La Hoya and Hatton, when you beat a guy with a huge, loyal fan base, people tend to notice.

Then there’s the nationality, Pacquiao has been touted as “The Mexicutioner” for his performances over the best Mexican fighters of recent times. It can’t hurt to add a big name Puerto Rican to his resume, can it?

On to the size. Cotto is considered as a fully fledged welterweight. He’ll be the first opponent that Pacquiao has faced who’s campaigned at welterweight for a number of years. De La Hoya hadn’t fought at welterweight since he stopped Arturo Gatti in 2001.

And finally, there’s the record. Cotto has only one loss on his record and there’s speculation that it came against a cheating fighter with loaded hand wraps. Some might even perceive him as an undefeated fighter. Pacquiao would be aiming to hand a highly regarded fighter his first controversy-free loss.

The Dangers

After watching Cotto cave in against Antonio Margarito, and immensely struggling to deal with Joshua Clottey, he certainly doesn’t look half as dangerous as he used to be. Cotto isn’t a fast fighter and will probably have big problems against the speed of Pacquiao. After his battering from Margarito, you have to question if Cotto’s power is diminished at 147 pounds. Maybe that won’t be relevant against the smaller Pacquiao, but if Pacquiao can take Cotto’s punches, then suddenly the Rican’s biggest advantage is gone.

Cotto has the potential to saw Pacquiao in half with bodyshots, or even turn out the lights with a single left hook to the jaw. It’s a fight where the risk-reward ratio might be just perfect for both boxers. This will be the first time Cotto will be an underdog going into a fight. Will he thrive under the underdog tag?

The Legacy of Miguel Cotto

His legacy so far...

Lovermore N’Dou – UD 12 – Unanimous decision verdict over the durable Canadian.

Kelson Pinto – TKO 6 – Thoroughly outclassed, Pinto was down three times in the fight. Cotto wins vacant WBO light welterweight title.

Randall Bailey – TKO 6 – Another battering, Bailey down twice with fight stopped due to cuts.

DeMarcus Corley – TKO 5 – Cotto hurt in the 3^rd but came back to stop the over the hill Corley.

Muhammad Abdullaev – TKO 9 – Rematch of the 2000 Olympics final, which Cotto lost, he got his revenge by shutting Abdullaev’s right eye in a decent contest.

Ricardo Torres – KO 7 – The big punching Colombian knocked down Cotto for the first time in his career, but Torres was down in 4 rounds. 5 out of the six finished rounds were scored 10-8.

Paulie Malignaggi – UD 12 – The brash Brooklyn fighter showed true courage by lasting the full 12 rounds.

Carlos Quintana – RTD 5 – Stopped his countryman to win his first welterweight title.

Zab Judah – TKO 11 – In front of a packed pro Cotto Madison Square Garden crowd, Cotto proved that he belonged in the elite class by increasing the decline of Judah.

Shane Mosley – UD 12 – Biggest victory to date, Cotto showed that he could outpoint a quicker fighter.

Antonio Margarito – L TKO 11 – A brutal bloody beating from Margacheato.

Joshua Clottey – SD 12 – A horrific cut over his left eye that needed 20 stitches after the fight, Cotto survived another gut check to scrape a questionable decision.

Two-weight world champion that has big names on his curriculum vitae.

How would a win over Pacquiao enhance his legacy?

Where do I start!? Adding Pacquiao to the list of names on the right side of his record would more than double his current status. The Philipino has looked invincible in his last 3 fights and would be the biggest name on Cotto’s record. He would be remembered as the man that beat Pacquiao, probably the best left handed fighter in the open era.

Pacquiao’s fanbase has grown dramatically in the last 12 months. He has captured the hearts of many laidback boxing fans, and many of them will tune-in on November 14. He’s the hero of the Phillipino people, and you can find many of them lurking on message boards around the web, discussing how their man Pacquiao can beat Bernard Hopkins.

Right now, Pacquiao is on top of the world, so a victory against the Phillipino would bump him up in the pound-4-pound stakes and make him a hall of fame contender. Plus, Pacquiao hasn’t lost since 2005, and as the underdog, Cotto will need to prove that he has all the skills to beat the Pac-monster. He’ll be the second fighter to beat Pacquiao over 126 pounds, following in Erik Morales’ footsteps. The Pacman’s record is (10-1, 7 KOs) over the featherweight limit.

And last but not least, there’s the record. Pacquiao has beaten many great fighters over the decade, including Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. Cotto wouldn’t want to be added to the list of great fighters to have been out-foxed by Team Pacquiao.

The Dangers

Again, where do I start!? He’s not only one of the quickest fighters pound-4-pound, but uniquely he has carried his punching power through the ranks and the weight divisions. He has doubts over his chin and stamina, but he doesn’t allow fighters to test his defects. I have doubts over his absorption of body shots, which is Cotto’s prize possession. The doubts must be tested by Cotto if he wants to emerge victorious on November 14.

Pacquiao will be fast, powerful and extremely unorthodox. The odds are stacked against Miguel Cotto, but the fighter has proven time and time again never to doubt his abilities and warrior spirit. Will Pacquiao’s speed be the key to victory?

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