Cotto-Clottey
Posted: 14 Jun 2009, 00:33
What a fight. Shame about the 2 American commentators. I thought they were talking nonsense for most of it. I mean the first was for me a clear 10-8. Don't see any argument for a 10-9.
Up until the cut I actually thought Cotto was boxing Clottey's ears off. When he did get cut I was actually very disappointed with Cotto. He seemed to be feeling sorry for himself. That gave Clottey the bit between the teeth and he got more into it.
I was pretty stunned by Clottey's unnecessary antics in rounds 5 and 12. At least in the last round the commentary team called the Ghanian on his bullshit. In the 5th Cotto got frustrated that Clottey had lunged at him and that he was cut. So he basically shoved him and Clottey hit the deck. But the yanks were shouting for a possible dq and I heard the classic line "He spun him to the floor!"
I mean how do you spin someone to the floor? 
Then they kept on banging on about an injury of which there was zero evidence and finally admitted that they hadn't actually seen the incident and it could have been a slip. I mean for a while they were rivalling the infamous Rawlings-McKenzie double act.
The beat down that Clottey took in the 6th was a result of being hurt by a big shot early in the round and I also think Clottey was biding his time. Its no coincidence he then laid a beating on Cotto over the following 2 stanzas.
After that I thought Cotto reverted back to the tactics deployed from the mid rounds onwards against Mosely. In that fight they disappointed me as I saw no real reason for him to fight defensively. But considering the punishment he'd taken, the terrible cut he had and the fact it was clear that Clottey wasn't going anywhere they made perfect sense and were performed masterfully. Its easy to simply say that Clottey took his foot off the peddle etc whilst conveniently ignoring the wonderful counter punching and backwards movement of Cotto.
Anyway a split decision surprised me. I honestly can't see how you could score it to Clottey but at least the right man won IMHO.
The Ghanian for me posseses the best chin in the the sport. He was buzzed clean by Cotto as he was in bouts with Judah and Margarito and tonight was the first time I seen him hurt and even then it was only temporary.
At the same time Cotto also proved he still has the heart of a lion and a vastly underrated jaw himself. Most fighters would have gone down or even quit in the 7th and 8th. Indeed at one point I thought Cotto was a beaten man but he adjusted and boxed brilliantly. I think a bout with him and PBF is the highest quality boxing match out there. Pacquio brings explosive speed and power as well unrelenting aggression but Cotto is a great thinker and has possible the most economic punch output at world level.
To sum a great fight. I thought the right man won. Clottey deserves another go but I think Arum has a Pac Man-Cotto bout in his sights. Clottey should take care of Andre Berto who still hasn't fight a legit top 10 welter contender yet has already made about 3 defences of his bogus world title.
PS: Wasn't impressed by Korobov. He looks lost when his opponent doesn't fold.
Up until the cut I actually thought Cotto was boxing Clottey's ears off. When he did get cut I was actually very disappointed with Cotto. He seemed to be feeling sorry for himself. That gave Clottey the bit between the teeth and he got more into it.
I was pretty stunned by Clottey's unnecessary antics in rounds 5 and 12. At least in the last round the commentary team called the Ghanian on his bullshit. In the 5th Cotto got frustrated that Clottey had lunged at him and that he was cut. So he basically shoved him and Clottey hit the deck. But the yanks were shouting for a possible dq and I heard the classic line "He spun him to the floor!"
I mean how do you spin someone to the floor? Then they kept on banging on about an injury of which there was zero evidence and finally admitted that they hadn't actually seen the incident and it could have been a slip. I mean for a while they were rivalling the infamous Rawlings-McKenzie double act.
The beat down that Clottey took in the 6th was a result of being hurt by a big shot early in the round and I also think Clottey was biding his time. Its no coincidence he then laid a beating on Cotto over the following 2 stanzas.
After that I thought Cotto reverted back to the tactics deployed from the mid rounds onwards against Mosely. In that fight they disappointed me as I saw no real reason for him to fight defensively. But considering the punishment he'd taken, the terrible cut he had and the fact it was clear that Clottey wasn't going anywhere they made perfect sense and were performed masterfully. Its easy to simply say that Clottey took his foot off the peddle etc whilst conveniently ignoring the wonderful counter punching and backwards movement of Cotto.
Anyway a split decision surprised me. I honestly can't see how you could score it to Clottey but at least the right man won IMHO.
The Ghanian for me posseses the best chin in the the sport. He was buzzed clean by Cotto as he was in bouts with Judah and Margarito and tonight was the first time I seen him hurt and even then it was only temporary.
At the same time Cotto also proved he still has the heart of a lion and a vastly underrated jaw himself. Most fighters would have gone down or even quit in the 7th and 8th. Indeed at one point I thought Cotto was a beaten man but he adjusted and boxed brilliantly. I think a bout with him and PBF is the highest quality boxing match out there. Pacquio brings explosive speed and power as well unrelenting aggression but Cotto is a great thinker and has possible the most economic punch output at world level.
To sum a great fight. I thought the right man won. Clottey deserves another go but I think Arum has a Pac Man-Cotto bout in his sights. Clottey should take care of Andre Berto who still hasn't fight a legit top 10 welter contender yet has already made about 3 defences of his bogus world title.
PS: Wasn't impressed by Korobov. He looks lost when his opponent doesn't fold.
