By Errol Hyppolite – Round 1 – The fight began with Cotto and Clottey boxing cautiously. Both fighters patiently mounted their offense off the jab. Cotto was a bit more aggressive in asserting his jab. Clottey’s jab was a slightly more effective than Cotto’s but he didn’t use it enough. In the last 10 seconds of the round Cotto landed an excellent left Jab that caught Clottey off-balance and put him down for the first time in career.
Score: 10-8 Cotto
Round 2 – Cotto came out in Round two pressing the attack and trying to keep the momentum from the first round with him. One minute into the round, Clottey began working the body and pushing his jab through Cotto’s guard. Clottey also began working uppercuts up the middle. Almost all of Cotto’s punches were blocked this round and Clottey did enough to win the round – Score: 10-9 Clottey
Round 3 – Cotto came out pumping his jab and right hands, which would keep Clottey from punching. Clottey used uppercuts and jabs to penetrate Cotto’s defense. The action was pretty much tit for tat for the remainder of the round until they clashed heads with 20 seconds left in the round. The accidental headbutt opened up a nasty gash over Cotto’s left eye and blood immediately started pouring onto his face. Cotto’s grit and character showed, as he did not complain about the cut when he returned to his corner.
Score: 10-9 Clottey
Round 4 – The pace of the fight increased this round as Clottey came out aggressively trying to take advantage of Cotto’s left eye bleeding. Cotto felt a sense of urgency and responded in kind with body punches. Cotto’s footwork also kept Clottey at a respectable distance. Cotto showed poise and composure in not getting distracted from his game plan. Despite the blood from the cut Cotto actually began to get into a rhythm by landing well timed left hooks and jabs. After he would land he’d effectively use his feet to pivot or slip punches. Cotto clearly took this round on activity.
Score: 10-9 Cotto
Round 5 – Cotto continued to press the fight by mixing in jabs and left hooks to the body. A minute into the round Clottey scraped Cotto’s face with two brilliant one-two combinations that backed Cotto off. As soon as blood would flow back into Cotto’s eyes Clottey took the opportunity to land more right hands to Cotto’s face. With a minute left to go in the round, Clottey went to clinch but Cotto pushed him off and caused Clottey to fall face first on the canvas. Cotto tried to steal the round at the end but didn’t do enough to win it.
Score: 10-9 Clottey
Round 6 – This round the fight was fought in very close quarters with both men trying to land 2-3 punch combinations. A minute into the round Cotto landed an excellent hook to the body and then a hook to the head, which drove Clottey back into the ropes. Once Clottey went to the ropes Cotto poured on his offense. After Cotto would land a flurry Clottey would try and counter to try and get more breathing room but Cotto wouldn’t budge. Clottey did successful counter Cotto in the last 10 seconds of the round but it wasn’t enough to steal the round. Regardless of whether he landed everything or not Cotto clearly won this round by keeping Clottey on the ropers for over a minute.
Score: 10-9 Cotto
Round 7 – Clottey began this round landing a brilliant uppercut that caused Cotto to back off. Cotto learned from the Margarito fight to not stand in the same spot to get hit with multiple uppercuts. Cotto began moving side-to-side to avert Clottey but Joshua was able to pick Miguel off. Clottey chased Cotto down and repeatedly landed right hands and uppercuts.
Score: 10-9 Clottey
Round 8 – Cotto went back to fighting in close quarters and Clottey again landing jabs and right hands. The blood in Cotto’s left eye began to really bother Miguel and Clottey took advantage by chasing him down and landing right hands. If there was a round to consider calling the right because of Miguel’s cut, this was the round to do it.
Score: 10-9 Clottey
Round 9– Cotto decided to box this round and keep the fight at a distance. Cotto effectively use the ring to throw a flurry and get out of the way. The movement was enough to keep Clottey from throwing punches, however Clottey landed enough right hands to win the round.
Score: 10-9 Clottey
Round 10– This round began much like round 9 with Cotto moving around the ring and throwing a flurry to keep Clottey from punching. Clottey definitely lowered his punch output and with the last two left hooks Cotto landed at the end of the round I gave it to Cotto.
Score: 10-9 Cotto
Round 11– Cotto kept his ground a bit more this round and began pressing the attack with jabs and left hooks. Clottey began putting more pressure on Cotto but without throwing many punches. This round was very even with both fighters landing exactly 19 punches. Based on his punch output I gave this round to Miguel.
Score: 10-9 Cotto
Round 12– Cotto continued to use his feet to avert Clottey’s rushes and actually began countering Joshua as he came in. The movement frustrated Clottey and he again began throwing fewer punches. After two minutes, Cotto accidentally hit Clottey on the back of the head as Clottey turned around from being spun around the ropes. It wasn’t a hard punch but Clottey smartly overreacted and tried to get a point deducted from Cotto. Cotto began to get some energy because he knew he was winning the final round. As Clottey would lunge in he would get countered with well-timed left hooks. This was definitely Cotto’s round.
Score: 10-9 Cotto
Final Score: 114 Cotto – 113 Clottey
Where do both men go from here?
It could be argued that Clottey won the fight but I am fine with Cotto getting the nod. I predicted that if the fight went to the cards Cotto would win a decision based on the crowd.
Cotto – While I would certainly enjoy watching a rematch between the two I don’t believe Cotto has to give Clottey one. Perhaps down the line the two of them should fight again but not right away.
Many are calling for a Cotto/Pacquiao but I am not so sure this is the best option for Miguel. Cotto would undoubtedly have to get much closer to 140 where he is not at his best. Cotto’s fights with Judah, Mosley, Margarito, and now Clottey have been wars. Cotto has earned the right to fight a lesser opponent to extend the life of his boxing career and properly heal that left eye. Pacquiao is an all-time great and I believe Cotto should wait a little while longer before taking on such a big challenge.
Clottey – Joshua certainly has the right to cry fowl but I think the best thing for him to do would be to move forward and beat the best in the division. I’d love to see him pick up a fight with Berto. After he gets a belt he would probably be more likely to get Cotto to rematch him in the future.
Random thoughts about the fight:
1. The fighter introductions that HBO put on before the fight were excellent.
2. I was really surprised to hear Clottey say that he felt he could get a fair shake at MSG on the eve of the Puerto Rican day parade. I’m not a fighter and even I knew the only way to assure he would be via knockout.
3. What is wrong with Emmanuel Steward? In round 5 Steward said he could understand Cotto pushing Clottey down because of being down on points. Why would Cotto think he would be down on points at that point of the fight especially given the knockdown? In round 9 Steward stated he couldn’t see any way possible Cotto was ahead in the fight despite the knockdown in the 1st round and Clottey being dominated in the 4th and 6th rounds. Then when pressed on why by Lampley he simply laughs.
4. Shouldn’t Robert Guerrerro take a lesson from Cotto in learning how to fight after getting a bad cut?
Questions, Comments, or Concerns? Feel free to email me at errol_hyppolite@hotmail.com