Cotto Vs Jennings SPOILER

[Bard of Boxrec]

Anyone think Cotto looked sluggish in there? The greatness of Cotto when he was coming up was those crisp, fast combos. He just looked more slow and sluggish than normal IMO, I really feel the margarito fight might have taken it out of him.

[harrygreb]

definately not. cotto was really out for a stretching exercise and an easy one at that. plus a confidence booster after being out of the ring for a good spell. jennings was a clever pick for an opponent by team cotto. both men came out of it with credit.

[saad muhammad]

As wev'e all said Jennings, did all he could
with the tools he had, the first time he
exchanged with Cotto it was good night.
As for pavlik i think if mundine is strong at
the weight he could give the ghost a good
fight.

[Autobarn]

Mundine could box his ears off. But Mundine could also go into a shell and let someone like Pavlik win the rounds. I'd like to see it.

Pavlik v the Williams-Winky winner would be good. Pavlik has some big statements to make following that feeble showing vs Hopkins.

[Eraserhead]

Terrible mismatch. As nice a guy as Jennings is, he shouldn't have been anywhere a ring with Miguel Cotto. Jennings looked petrified on his way to the ring and fought like a man who was petrified. He didn't want to commit to anything in fear of what might come back. No shame on his part...he knew he was out of his depth. Cotto is a brilliant fighter.

To be honest, Cotto probably could have got Jennings out of there in the first if he'd have gone for it.

[n1ebf]

You're always going to struggle against a man who punches 3 times as hard as you do. That's the top and bottom.

I thought I would have got more flak by now for a post I made earlier on this thread - namely - did Jennings go to get paid or to have a go, or a tear-up if you like.

I want to know what people think....I'm not detracting from Michael Jennings. There's people hinted on this and other thread in current scene Jennings took an exit, rather than go out on his shield.

What I want to know is - should he have gone for "shit or bust" and tried to wallop Cotto a few times (and 99% likely got done in) OR, should he have skirted round the ring a bit waiting to get taken out?? Because if you think the second option then I say to you what was the point in this fight in the first place??

It would seem to me the answer is, it suited both, Jennings got a nice payday and a run out at the Garden, Cotto got redemption and a confidence boosting return.

[steve689]

He gave a competitive, credible showing and I think surpassed a few peoples expectations. The only shame was the fional moments as he cupped his hands and lay on the ropes trying to defend himself, I would have loved to of seen Mikey plant his feet and really have a go at Cotto before he went out. Of course it's so much different watching it and being in there but it would have made an interesting spectacle.

[teddy007]

You're always going to struggle against a man who punches 3 times as hard as you do. That's the top and bottom.

I thought I would have got more flak by now for a post I made earlier on this thread - namely - did Jennings go to get paid or to have a go, or a tear-up if you like.

I want to know what people think....I'm not detracting from Michael Jennings. There's people hinted on this and other thread in current scene Jennings took an exit, rather than go out on his shield.

What I want to know is - should he have gone for "shit or bust" and tried to wallop Cotto a few times (and 99% likely got done in) OR, should he have skirted round the ring a bit waiting to get taken out?? Because if you think the second option then I say to you what was the point in this fight in the first place??

It would seem to me the answer is, it suited both, Jennings got a nice payday and a run out at the Garden, Cotto got redemption and a confidence boosting return.

If I fought for the world title at Madison Square Garden I would of gone out on my shield and gave it my all even if I knew from early on I was unlikely to win. Jennings didn't do that and maybe that will always be with him, but at least he can live to fight another day and say he fought for the world title at the garden even though he probably didn't give his absolute all.

[Dioufy]

He did better than I thought he would do, although that's not saying a lot. Jennings showed heart, getting up from them vicious body shots. That hook that initially wobbled him too was a great one. I was proud of him though in the end.

[fluxstuff]

Cotto looked fine - his jab came off sharp, he was back in stalking mode rather than defensive as he was against Margarito, so he was able to take his time.

As soon as he got Jennings going, he was fast, accurate and hurtful. he did exactly what you're meant to do to a guy many levels below you: despatch them.

Unlike Pavlik who was made to look a novice yet again.

[MightyWarrior]

Of course Jennings getting a #1 rating always looked stranger than fiction, but at least he'll look back and know he gave it his very best shot.
No nerves on show at all at the start, and his moving, fast jabs and the occasional sneak right hand seemed his only realistic option in there. When he did finally set his feet and exchange punches, you could see he'd last about a minute if he tried that again...

He put on a better effort than Rubio, who seemed to be fighting at half tilt for 90% of the contest. Maybe those 1st rounds bombs stunned him for the next 20 minutes, because he didn't seem to wake up till it was almost over.

[gobbles]

Of course Jennings getting a #1 rating always looked stranger than fiction, but at least he'll look back and know he gave it his very best shot.
No nerves on show at all at the start, and his moving, fast jabs and the occasional sneak right hand seemed his only realistic option in there. When he did finally set his feet and exchange punches, you could see he'd last about a minute if he tried that again...

He put on a better effort than Rubio, who seemed to be fighting at half tilt for 90% of the contest. Maybe those 1st rounds bombs stunned him for the next 20 minutes, because he didn't seem to wake up till it was almost over.

He was actually No 2 in the rankings

[jim wright1]

I don't think Jennings could have done a deal more to be honest so I think he can hold his head high. He could turn the experience to his advantage and come back to get amongst the domestic scene. I'm sure there will now be more of an appetite for a Brook/ Jennings fight now if only to see how Brook would far as a yard stick for his world class potential in comparison to cotto's performance.

I love Boxrec but I wish they would record results as RSF instead of KO as the latter paints an inaccurate picture of how a fight is stopped. Jennings, although looking well beaten, walked back to his corner last night after finishing on his feet, after beating the count and having the ref wave off the fight.

[d]

Gotta say, i think Jennings gameplan will have been to try to stay on the outside and nick the points. That will be the only gameplan that will have been drilled into him if he stood any chance of causing an upset.
So as i see it, he stuck to the plan but Cotto caught up and that was that.
All this talk about how if you get you're big chance and you know you are gonna get beat you would just go for it, and stand and let the bombs go.. everyone thinks that way, talks that way, until you are in the ring with someone who hits so hard that it hurts like hell and you KNOW you are not a puncher, you're shots just bounce off the guy. Then you just don't have the confidence to stand and fire off with them. The confidence to do that just leaves you.
That go's for most boxer's that find themselves in that position i reckon. Its different when its 6 or 8 rounders fighting good prospects etc, but when you're in with an elite fighter, someone who you've read about, watched on tv and is known as one of the best pound for pound.. and has a rep for being a destructive puncher, not many non punchers from these shores would be able to keep it together enough to 'let it all go' and stand and trade.

Once those bombs land on a boxer, its a different story.

He had a high ranking, no.2 i think, has been ranked up there for a long time, so thats how he got the shot. Bit harsh to say he shouldn't have been in the ring with him. Thats boxing, many a man shouldn't have been in the ring with a champ and has pulled off an upset.
I think Jennings can come back and pick up the European title now, his actual performance in himself was sharp and i think he still has a good couple yrs on that showing.. he won't be fighting anyone of Cotto's stature again thats for sure.

[jim wright1]

Good point Dave, How would you have advised Kell if he was in there last night?

[harrygreb]

the guy before is right. if youve gotta game plan stick to it and work it. the only other choice youve got, when it goes belly up and you are on your arse for the 3rd time, is to have a crack. if youre not a puncher though theres not a great deal of point and you sensibly call it a day and take the experience back to the domestic scene. he made the right choice.

[jspain]

hopefully the next time a british fighter goes for a world title shot , they will fight someone in the world top 10 beforehand , so they are not jumping straight from the domestic to world scene. its a massive jump. having said that you cant blame jennings for taking the fight , no one is going to turn down a world title fight and there was always a doubt beforehand of how cotto would perform after the margarito defeat.

[black panther]

He gave a competitive, credible showing and I think surpassed a few peoples expectations. The only shame was the fional moments as he cupped his hands and lay on the ropes trying to defend himself, I would have loved to of seen Mikey plant his feet and really have a go at Cotto before he went out. Of course it's so much different watching it and being in there but it would have made an interesting spectacle.

I was thinking the same thing as I was watching it but of course easier said than done.

[d]

Good point Dave, How would you have advised Kell if he was in there last night?

First advice i would give is to have some fights to bridge the gap before stepping into that league.
HUGE jump in class from british level to elite world level.

[Coco]

So you would have turned down this fight at this point in Mike's career??

[Deadendgeneration]

He was right to take the fight and put in a decent enough effort. Went a round longer than I had my money on. With his lack of punch power I don’t really see much point in him just standing and trading.

[d]

So you would have turned down this fight at this point in Mike's career??

I was asked about Kell mate.
My answer was if Kell was in a situation now where they were talking of fighting Cotto.

Jennings was right to take the fight. He's been highly ranked for about 18 month, just a shame he hasn't been busy through that time but he had to take his opportunity and see how he fares against the elite. He's in his 30's, had about 30 odd fights so yes in my opinion it was a great opportunity.. However, a few fights to bridge the gap would have helped his cause i reckon.

[Coco]

I thought you meant you wouldn't take the World title unless the fighter has had that kind of experience in between.
Do you then expect Kell to get those sort of fights then or would you expect his matchmaking to continue as it is?
In fairness he is still very young though

[Deadendgeneration]

Got to think Kell will step it up eventually hopefully in a more progressive manner.


P.S D where abouts in Sheffield you from? Lived in Crookes/Walkley for 4 years up until October.

[n1ebf]

So you would have turned down this fight at this point in Mike's career??

I was asked about Kell mate.
My answer was if Kell was in a situation now where they were talking of fighting Cotto.

Jennings was right to take the fight. He's been highly ranked for about 18 month, just a shame he hasn't been busy through that time but he had to take his opportunity and see how he fares against the elite. He's in his 30's, had about 30 odd fights so yes in my opinion it was a great opportunity.. However, a few fights to bridge the gap would have helped his cause i reckon.

Fair play Dave on your response.
As for Jennings and the gap-bridging, in fact the Welter pack in Britain as a whole, personally I think it's strange that noone over here has had a crack at Jackson Osei Bonsu the European title holder, at least I think he still is. Instead he ends up boxing in some nothing fight against Carlos Baldomir.