Cotto is Back!!!!

Inside of a chilly Amway Center, on a warm October night in Orlando, Florida, Miguel Cotto showed that he still has something to offer as an elite level fighter.  In a truly dominate performance, Cotto looked as strong and focused as he has in years, in destroying Delvin Rodriguez in less than 3 rounds.

Cotto started off smoking from the outset, looking lively in the first round and digging in left hooks to the head and body.  That pattern continued in the second round, as Cotto stalked and battered an uncomfortable and listless Rodriguez.  In the closing seconds of the 2ndround, Cotto badly hurt Rodriguez along the ropes, only for the bell to prevent a likely knockout.  Without much time to recuperate, Rodriguez continued to get waylaid in the 3rdround, and eventually stumbled to the floor after weathering Cotto’s assault.  The referee did not even bother to count, as he waved off the bout.  The crowd erupted in jubilation.

Tonight showed a few important things.  First of all, Miguel Cotto is about to make a huge payday in his next bout.  Whether he challenges Sergio Martinez, Canelo Alvarez, or waits for a rematch with Mayweather, Cotto’s explosive performance and legendary name, will be a big part of the 2014 PPV boxing landscape.  Also, the union with Freddie Roach was obviously a rousing success.  Lastly, Orlando, Florida is a serious fight town, with a large Puerto Rican population.  Cotto packed the Amway Center with a raucous, chanting and drumming crowd, and then sent them all home happy.

In the co-feature, unbeaten lightweight, Terence Crawford (22-0, 16KOs) bored the crowd to tears with a methodical performance that mostly resembled a sparring session.  He took his time, did as he pleased, and barely broke a sweat in beating previously undefeated, Andrey Klimov (16-1, 8KOs).  The 10th and final round produced two sets of “Bronx cheers”: (1) When they announced it as the last round of the lame and uninspiring bout and (2) when Crawford suddenly, inexplicably, showed some fire in the closing seconds of the bout.  This was a very fight savvy crowd.  All three judges scored the fight as a shutout win for Crawford, 100-90.  Crawford will certainly need to step up his game in the future, if he plans to be showcased on premium cable.  It looks like he is now in line for a shot a Ricky Burns’ lightweight belt, sometime in early 2014.

source: 3 more rounds