In a rousing, remarkably even fight, Miguel Cotto retained his WBA welterweight title by defeating Sugar Shane Mosley before a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden last Saturday night. The ringside judges scored the fight 115-113, 115-113, and 116-113, all for Cotto,.
The momentum of the fight changed hands several times with the 36-year-old Mosley repeatedly landing looping right hands to the side of Cotto's head and Cotto, 27, using a surprisingly effective jab to set up hard, straight, right hands. Both fighters punished each other with bodyshots with neither man willing to relent.
On the undercard, Antonio Margarito blitzed Golden Johnson in 2:28 of the first round to give notice to the welterweight division that he hasn't gone away after losing his WBO belt to Paul Williams last July and must be considered in the title picture.
With Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ricky Hatton fighting on December 8, and Kermit Cintron and Paul Williams clashing on February 2, 2008, the 147 pound division is setting itself up for a 2008 that may overshadow a magnificent 2007.
Here's a breakdown of what we can expect:
Mayweather-Hatton
It's a testament to Mayweather's skills that he has won titles at welter and junior middleweight by beating Zab Judah, Carlos Baldomir, and Oscar De La Hoya, because he is really a junior welterweight. Still, he will be the bigger man against Hatton in what is in reality a 140lb clash billed as 147.
Mayweather should box the ears off of Hatton, but the "Hitman" can't be taken lightly and has always found a way to win. Mayweather by decision.
Cintron-Williams
The 6'2" Williams comes off the best performance of his career with his victory over Margarito. After a KO loss to the same Margarito in 2005, Cintron has reinvented himself with the help of legendary trainer Emmanuel Steward. Cintron has learned to better set up his devastating right hand, but isn't likely to get it close enough to the lanky, 100-punch-per-round southpaw. Williams by unanimous decision.
Mayweather-Cotto
Up to this point in Mayweather's career he has succeeded on talent which is head and shoulders above the rest of the division, but this fight will test his will. If his heart is on par with history's great welterweights like Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard, he wins this fight. If he shows Cotto any weakness, his title reign is over. Toss-up.
Williams-Margarito
In this rematch of tall welterweights Margarito is 5'11" the only fighter who can improve upon his performance in their first meeting is Margarito. If his destruction of Johnson last Saturday is any indication, he already has the mindset to get it done. Margarito by TKO.
Margarito-Mayweather/Cotto
If Mayweather has to fight Margarito, you can bet he'll do everything in his power to slow the pace and box his way to victory. Mayweather would win this one, but he won't make any fans doing it.
Margarito vs Cotto is a matchmaker's dream--it would be for Bob Arum since he handles both fighters--and has all the makings of a legendary brawl between two hard punching tough guys. Fight of the year candidate? Yes. Fight of the decade? Yes. This fight has Hagler-Hearns potential. It isn't just Arum's dream, it's every fight fan's dream.
 |
 |
