08.06.09 – By Andrew Harrison, SafeSideOfTheRopes.com – Miguel Angel Cotto wears a haunted look these days.
The dark and solemn eyes which with a single glance could at once wither a man now look as though they’re searching for answers to questions, questions Cotto is asking of himself.
The effects of the brutal beating Cotto suffered at the hands of the now discredited Tony Margarito are still unknown. The Puerto Rican star’s lone outing since his very public ordeal in July of last year amounted to nothing much more than a tool sharpening exercise against the overmatched Michael Jennings.
On Saturday evening we will see exactly what is left in the Cotto locker as he takes on the tough as nails Joshua Clottey in what should be a fizzing Madison Square Garden..
Ghanaian Clottey (35-2) looks like the cat that has finally and belatedly been offered a taste of the cream. Largely avoided, even in a division which has consistently offered up a stream of rugged and compelling battles throughout recent years, involving the likes of Williams, Cotto, Mosley, Judah and Margarito, the adopted New Yorker sees this as his coming out party. He could barely hide his smile when the two came head to head to publicise the fight.
Clottey’s game plan seems clear. ‘I’m gonna jump on him and hit him crazy’, he promised. ‘I’m gonna fight him and he’s gonna run’.
Cotto’s peers it seems believe they have him all figured out. Make him retreat, apply constant pressure and he’ll crack, just as he did against Margarito.
Full of lament, Cotto (33-1) may well welcome Clottey’s approach, utilising the collision as an exercise in regret management. Step one in dealing with regret is acceptance, something Miguel initially embraced after his swollen lips and shattered nose repaired themselves, however the loaded gloves revelations from earlier this year muddied the waters and set him back severely, how can anyone accept that?
Little wonder the Caguas native looks troubled.
An unbeaten fighter has unshakeable belief in themselves and their methodology inside the ropes. Defeat strips this away, sometimes irrevocably, very rarely do the vanquished return with the same conviction they once had in themselves, scars remain long after the bumps and welts disappear.
In defeat however, great fighters are often able to analyse their failings and return with a vengeance, perhaps after a bit of technique tailoring. Easier said than done for Cotto however, was it really his own deficiencies which saw him pulverised or were the dice loaded that night? Clottey gives him the opportunity to clear up any doubts which are lodged and linger within his psyche.
Joshua is as tough a fighter as there is in the sport today. Forged in Accra and now a resident of the Bronx, this is a man who will not discourage easily. He has an assurance about himself; the only confusion he concerns himself with is why so many fighters have passed up the opportunity to get in the ring with him.
He brings more than mere toughness with him to the Garden however. Clottey owns a marvellous defence and has excellent technique. His dismantling of Zab Judah was a master class in how to deal with a southpaw opponent; lead right hands, withering left hooks to the body, stepping outside Judah’s lead foot, it was a textbook display. Let us not forget also that he was giving the aforementioned Margarito fits until he busted his hands, eventually losing a spirited decision.
He’s the type of fighter others don’t relish getting in there against. Even if you can manage to outmanoeuvre him, there’s a cost. Perhaps that’s the point though, perhaps Cotto wants to experience again the searing heat from the furnace of battle which only fighters of Clottey’s ilk can provide, in order for him to answer those nagging questions and to gain peace of mind.
Cotto should have enough pedigree to get by here, Clottey’s offence predominately coming from his left hand side with enough body exposed underneath his high guard for Miguel to exploit. It will likely feature back and forth action with each man covering up before returning fire in a tit for tat type of affair.
Due to the fact I like to size each fighter up throughout fight week, I’ll reserve judgement on my pick until later in the week, where I’ll post my prediction on my blog.
What I can predict with certainty is that boxing fans can expect a tremendous battle between two of the very best practitioners in the sport. True warriors and real fighters pitted against each other on a fitting stage.
Once the dust settles, Cotto will have put to bed some of the questions which hang over him and Clottey will have shown the world just what a talented fighter he has become.