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© Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
The impossible may be possible tonight when Chorley, England’s Michael Jennings meets former champion Miguel Cotto for the WBO Welterweight title at the Mecca of boxing, New York’s Madison Square Garden.
For Jennings, it’s a massive leap into the big time. For Cotto, it’s a chance to get his career back on track after his first professional defeat against Antonio Margarito last July.
One year ago, things were going great for Cotto. Undefeated and looking like the next superstar in the sport, he was seen by many as the man to carry the welterweight division.
After a reign as junior welterweight champion, Cotto seemed to have found his perfect weight division when he moved up to 147 pounds. That changed in July when, in a gruelling fight, he literally had his heart broken e route to a stoppage loss against Antonio Margarito in 11 rounds.
Jennings too has lost only the once, in a British Welterweight title defence against Young Mutley back in 2006 on points. The one loss on both fighter’s records is really where the comparison ends.
Jennings is no-one’s fool. He knows it will be an uphill struggle on Saturday night. Although he has won the WBU version of the title, he has faced no-one remotely resembling a fighter of Cotto’s class.
Cotto has mixed punches with the likes of Shane Mosley, Margarito, Kelson Pinto and Zab Judah, where as Jennings has exclusively fought at British title standard level.
I think the result on Saturday night will have more to do with how Cotto has recovered from the Margarito defeat rather than what Jennings does.
Comparisons have been made in this match up to ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson vs. Randy Turpin and Donald Curry v. Lloyd Honeyghan, but there’s a far bigger gulf than that.
I prefer to compare this one to when Kevin Lueshing faced Felix Trinidad for the welterweight title back in 1997. In that one, Lueshing floored the Puerto Rican before losing in the third round.
No matter what happens Saturday night, it will be a great experience for Jennings and he’s bringing along 200 fans for the ride.
It’s easy to let your heart rule your head when predicting these fights, but I feel Cotto will be the man with his hand raised on Saturday whilst Jennings will be richer in both money and experience.
