“If you want loyalty, buy a dog.” Ricky Hatton
I know for a fact IamInuit did. I'm sure others did but I can't recall.
I had it as a toss up, I like them both and just wanted a good fight.
I think everyone had serious doubts about the condition of Martinez's legs and his age.
Surprisingly, A LOT of the staff over at Boxingscene, picked Cotto, many by stoppage:
Sergio Martinez-Miguel Cotto: BScene Staff Predictions - Boxing News
"You knocked him down...now how bout you try knockin me down ?"
I had picked Sergio for most of the lead up, but when that shit came out about him not being allowed to wear his knee brace my confidence started to fade and it kind of struct me just how bad Sergio's condition was. I never picked Cotto to win officially but I did kind of foreshadow what was going to happen.
"For Cotto nuthuggers who were going on about how brave Cotto was for moving up a division (well, kind of) to fight Sergio, here's the reality check:
He's fighting a 39 year old who needs a KNEE BRACE to fight."
I agree with that... martinez wearing stupidly long shorts to hide this indicated to me he was having serious problems... but martinez was on noodle legs after the first real punch from cotto and I dont think that can be put on his knee surgery... the guy was lucky to survive the first round against a smaller guy, thats not good, martinez has bigger problems than his knees it seems :S... he's been knocked down in his previous 4 fights I think... the guy is finished.. Good work from cotto he fought great but it was very opportunistic match making so cottos team get a big assist but he beat the guy who was the champ fair and square... so their cant really be many complaints... 1 pound below the middleweight limit is not that big...
Martinez forgot what quite a few people forgot, Cotto is a converted south paw and he is considered a bit awkward but hasn't anyone noticed he compensates any lack of speed catching his opponents when they are lazy about research and just assumes he is right handed? He moved the way they do from a right hand stance. Look at some of his wins where he doesn't forget the body. By the way, I liked Martinez and Cotto.
Roach deserves credit. He has trained the best southpaw on the planet for years and a man that beat Cotto. What better man to train you how to beat one. That right hand was ubiquitous and heavy. Martinez could never set. It was a brilliant game-plan executed perfectly.
I picked Cotto by KO in the prediction contest.
For sure, I think it was more than knees. Sergio is just washed up in general, and we've seen his sharp decline over the last few years. The legs aren't there, his punch resistance has gone with age (like it does with all great champs).
Unfortunately for Sergio, he "hit it big" at a very advanced stage in his career. It took him over 10 years to actually get a shot and win a world title, and even then he only really became a "name" 13 years into his career when he beat Pavlik and Paul Williams.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Bookmarks