By Robert Soucy
Sergio Martinez defends his WBC middleweight title belt against Cotto on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Miguel Cotto is attempting to become the first Puerto Rican boxing champion to win world titles in four different weight classes as Martinez looks to extend a seven-fight win streak that has lasted four and a half years.
Both fighters are past their prime but that is what makes it such an interesting event, and oh yeah, it is for the lineal middleweight championship of the world. The 39 year old Martinez has a surgically repaired knee that he says is 100% and it needs to be because he is likely to rely on lateral movement in this fight as much as anything.
Cotto is in his 2nd fight with multiple time trainer of the year Freddie Roach. In his first fight under Roach’ tutelage he dominated Delvin Rodriguez and knocked him out in the third round. Martinez hasn’t fought in over a year but doesn’t think ring rust will be an issue.
The animosity between the two fighters has been evident since the fight promotion began. Cotto has made some demands as the “A” side in this match-up and Martinez feels disrespected. Martinez, even as champion, has had to make some concessions that he plans to make Cotto pay for including a weight limit of 159 lbs.
Martinez has been saying all along that he will knock Cotto out while Cotto hasn’t predicted much. However, Roach has been making noise predicting a Cotto stoppage! Both fighters have some pop and conceivably win inside the distance.
As long as Sergio Martinez doesn’t have issues with his surgically repaired knee, he should be able to outbox Miguel Cotto. Martinez is bigger, faster and more athletic than the Puerto Rican superstar.
Cotto has a chance if he can stay close enough to Martinez and land his signature left hook to the body frequently enough to slow down the champion. The usually elusive and awkward Martinez will try to box from the outside and use his superior hand speed.
I see Cotto having some success going to Martinez’s body but otherwise, I don’t think he will have the hand and foot speed to land enough over 12 rounds and win the fight. I look for Martinez to score a knockdown and win a clear decision, something along the lines of 117-110.
