COTTO Vs. MARGARITO
THE BATTLE
COTTO VS. MARGARITO
THE BATTLE
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Distributed by Canadastar Boxing Inc.
To Canadian Commercial Establishments
On Closed Circuit-Pay Per View
MIGUEL COTTO
PROFILE AND BIO
- As At 31 May 2008-
At the age of 27, Miguel is a seven-year pro. The WBA welterweight world champion, won the title in December, 2006, and has made four successful title defenses.
Miguel is in his prime and making his mark as one of the top fighters in the ring today.
He will be in one of the most highly-anticipated fights of the year when he faces former IBF and WBO welterweight world champion Antonio Margarito on July 26 in Las Vegas.
Promoter Bob Arum told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, “I get really excited about a fight like this because I know it can't be anything but great. That’s why we’re calling it ‘The Battle.’ It’s a tough-ass fight. Two real men fighting. There won’t be any playing around. No ducking or dodging. These are two guys who will go at it. That is their style. And don’t forget the element that it is Mexico vs. Puerto Rico, which is the great rivalry in boxing.”
These guys both have great chins, great determination and great power. It’s going to be some battle.”
Miguel is coming off a dominant performance in his last fight in April, a fifth-round TKO against Alfonso Gomez.
After the fight, Fightwriter.com’s Graham Houston reported, “Miguel Cotto just seems to get better all the time. He was faster and slicker than I have ever seen him in his five-round win over game but outclassed Alfonso Gomez.... The methodical, break-them-down fighter of his early career has evolved into a multidimensional boxer-fighter who can, as they say, do it all.
“Gomez was just as game and willing as I had expected him to be but Cotto was on a far higher level. It was master against pupil, a latter-day version of Kid Gavilan’s famous beatdown of Chuck Davey.
“Cotto’s combination punching and hand speed were breathtaking, while his left jab has developed into a jarring weapon, quite possibly as hard as the right hand of some fighters. You don’t often see a fighter knocked down by a jab, but Gomez was, in the fifth round, by which time everyone had seen enough.
“It was not as if Gomez fought badly. He jabbed, hooked, threw right hands, and gave it his best effort, but Cotto was vastly superior in every aspect of the game.
“Now Cotto is to meet Tijuana’s Antonio Margarito in a clash that will be as eagerly anticipated as any big fight in recent years. As long as compelling fights such as Cotto versus Margarito continue to be made, boxing will be just fine.”
Miguel scored his his career-best win in his previous fight in November, 2007, a 12-round unanimous decision in an exciting fight against former lightweight, welterweight, and super welterweight world champion Shane Mosley.
After the fight, Kevin Iole reported on Yahoo.com, “Whatever superlatives you apply, it is clear that Miguel Cotto has arrived at the top of the boxing heap. Cotto proved his worthiness to rank alongside boxing’s greatest champions by besting Shane Mosley in a pitched battle. The result wasn’t so much an old star fading off into obscurity as it was of a world-class fighter stepping up his game and toppling a still-formidable foe.”
Dan Rafael wrote, “As terrific as Cotto has been since turning pro after the 2000 Olympics, the Puerto Rican star still lacked that true superstar name on his résumé. Now he’s got it after an outstanding performance in an exciting fight against Mosley, a surefire Hall of Famer.
“All in all, it was a tremendous performance from one of the sport’s stars. Cotto...is in his prime right now. He’s zooming up the pound-for-pound list and is must-see TV when he fights.”
Graham Houston wrote, “Viewers watching on TV or in the crowd of more than 17,000 saw a fight well worthy of the welterweight division’s long and proud history. This was a high-quality contest, 12 rounds of sharp, smart boxing and solid hitting on both sides, with Cotto doing a little more to earn a well-deserved verdict...
“Round after round each man was giving of his best - matching wits as well as wicked punches. Neither ever seemed to be in serious trouble or on the verge of going down but the punches they gave and took would probably have halted lesser men.
“Cotto found himself in a fight that was tough and intense - the closest fight of his career - but he kept an impressive composure and showed real ring intelligence to go with his well-known strength and pressure. This was a fight that Cotto won by virtue of boxing skills rather than body blasting.
“It was Cotto’s night, and he looks like the sort of fighter who will just keep getting better, but Mosley was magnificent in defeat. As Jim Lampley said, there were no losers in this fight - and boxing was the big winner.”
After the fight, Shane Mosley said, “It was a great fight. Miguel is very strong. Not only was he powerful with pressure, but he can also box. He really mixed it up and did a great job out there tonight. He’s a young lion on his way to greatness.”
He is experienced against top opposition and has beaten current or former world champions Shane Mosley (W12), Zab Judah (TKO11), Paulie Malignaggi (W12), Ricardo Torres (KO7), DeMarcus Corley (TKO5), Randall Bailey (TKO6), Carlos Maussa (TKO8), and Cesar Bazan (TKO11). He has also beaten previously undefeated contenders Carlos Quintana (TKO5) and Kelson Pinto (TKO6), as well as veteran contenders Muhammad Abdulaev (TKO9), Victoriano Sosa (TKO4) and Lovemore Ndou (W12).
Miguel's webpage address is www.miguelcotto.com.
KEY FIGHTS
2008
APRIL 12 - 4TH WBA W WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - in his last fight in Atlantic City, NJ, he TKO’d Alfonso Gomez (18-3-2): the fight headlined at Boardwalk Hall, and Miguel dominated. He scored a knockdown with a right hand to the body in 2nd round, then scored another knockdown with a left hook to the body in the 3rd. Miguel scored a knockdown with a jab in the 5th round, and the referee stopped the fight after the round.
2007
NOVEMBER 10 - 3RD WBA W WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - Cotto won a 12-round unanimous decision against former lightweight, welterweight, and super welterweight world champion Shane Mosley (44-4) in a close, exciting fight. Both fighters gave impressive performances and the momentum shifted back and forth: Miguel started fast, landed the sharper punches, and swept the 1st round on all three scorecards, but Mosley scored well with right hands and won the 2nd and 3rd on two scorecards. Miguel was more consistent and swept the 4th round, but Mosley rallied and swept the 5th. Miguel came back to sweep the 6th and after six rounds, led by scores of 58-56, 58-56, 57-57; the 7th was a three-way split. One judge scored for Miguel, one for Mosley, and one had it even. Miguel swept the 8th and changed tactics in the 9th round. He boxed and moved and Mosley became more aggressive. Miguel won the 9th round on two scorecards, Mosley won the 10th on two, then Miguel came back and won the 11th round on two. Miguel was cut over his right eye by a clash of heads in the 12th, and Mosley won the round on two scorecards; scored 116-113, 115-113, 115-113.
JUNE 9 - 2ND WBA W WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - Miguel Cotto TKO’d lefthanded former IBF and WBO jr. welterweight and undisputed welterweight world champion Zab Judah (34-4). The fight was a sensational battle. Judah started fast - he rocked Miguel with a left uppercut midway through the 1st round, but went down later in the round from a low blow (Replays showed it was just below the belt.) Judah staggered Miguel with a straight left hand late in the 2nd that cut Miguel’s lower lip badly, but went down from another low blow in the 3rd round. (Replays showed it was very low.) Miguel was penalized one point for the foul but kept pressing forward and rallied in the following rounds. Judah was cut over his right eye in the 4th from a clash of heads, but it was not ruled by the referee and his nose was bloodied in the 5th round. Miguel was cut badly over his right eye in the 6th from a clash of heads. Judah came back in the 7th round and staggered Miguel with a left uppercut, then rocked him with a series of punches later in the round. Miguel rallied and scored a knockdown with a series of punches, finished with a left hook, that dropped Judah to one knee in the 9th. Miguel scored another knockdown with a series of punches that put Judah flat on his back in the 11th round – he got up, but Miguel staggered him with another series of punches and the referee stopped the fight at 0:49
MARCH 2007 - 1 ST WBA W WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - in his last fight, he TKO'd former three-time world title challenger Oktay Urkal (38-3). Urkal gave a good effort, but Cotto dominated the fight. He constantly pressed forward, landed the harder punches, and used a strong body attack. Miguel was cut over his left eye by a clash of heads in the 5 th round, and Urkal was penalized one point for another head butt in the 7 th round and penlized another point in the 11 th round for the same foul. Urkal's corner stopped the fight at 1:01.
DECEMBER 2006 – WON VACANT WBA W WORLD TITLE - Cotto TKO'd previously undefeated lefthander Carlos Quintana (23-0). Miguel was very impressive; he started fast and rocked Quintana with a right hand midway through the 1 st round and landed the sharper punches in the 2 nd, but Quintana rallied in the 3 rd and 4 th rounds. Miguel stepped up his pace in the 5 th – he rocked Quintana with a left hook midway through the round, and scored a knockdown moments later with a left hook to the body; Quintana got up, but Miguel scored another knockdown with a series of punches, and Quintana, battered and bruised around his eyes and with a bloody mouth, did not continue after the round.
JUNE 2006 - 6 TH WBO JW WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - Cotto won a 12 round unanimous decision against previously undefeated Paulie Malignaggi (21-0). In this exciting fight; Miguel dominated the early rounds – he cut Malignaggi over his left eye in the 1 st round and scored a knockdown with a left hook in the 2 nd. Malignaggi gave a tremendous effort and rallied in the middle rounds to win the 5th, 6th and 9th rounds on all three scorecards, but Miguel finished the fight strongly and gave him a severe beating. Malignaggi had a bad swelling on his right cheek. Both fought hard until the final bell and had the fans on their feet. Malignaggi underwent surgery a week later for a fractured right cheekbone.
MARCH 2006 - 5 TH WBO JW WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - Cotto TKO'd Gianluca Branco (36-1-1). A capacity crowd of around 15,000 started chanting, “Cotto…Cotto…” during the start of the undercard bouts and continued through the main event. Miguel gave a strong performance and dominated the fight. He outworked Branco, worked the body well, and steadily wore him down. Branco was cut on his scalp by a clash of heads in the 5 th round, and was swollen under his right eye and on the right side of his jaw in the 6th. Miguel landed a left hook to Branco's right shoulder in the 8th round, and Branco grabbed his shoulder in pain and turned away from the action. The referee stopped the fight at 0:49.
2005
SEPTEMBER 2005 - 4 TH WBO JW WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - Cotto TKO'd previously undefeated WBO No. 1 ranked contender Ricardo Torres (28-0). Miguel fought aggressively and started fast - he scored a knockdown midway through the 1st round, but Torres came back and staggered Miguel early in the 2nd, then scored a knockdown midway through the round. Miguel got up and Torres attacked furiously, but Miguel weathered the storm and staggered Torres late in the round. Miguel wore down Torres with a relentless body attack, and scored another knockdown in the 4th round, but Torres rallied again and staggered Miguel midway throught the 5th. Miguel recovered and scored a knockdown in the 6th , then scored another knockdown in the 7 th round. Torres got up but was unsteady, and the referee stopped the fight at 1:52.
JUNE 2005 - 3 RD WBO JW WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - Cotto TKO'd Muhammad Abdulaev (15-1). It was the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade, and fans waved Puerto Rican flags and chanted Miguel's name. Abdulaev, who had beaten Miguel in his first fight at the 2000 Olympics and went on to win the gold medal, gave a strong effort and relentlessly pressed forward, but Miguel dominated the early rounds. He boxed and moved effectively, consistently outworked him, and won the first five rounds on all three scorecards. Abdulaev stepped up his pace and won the 6th round on one scorecard and the 8 th on all three; Miguel continued to score with sharp combinations, and Abdulaev, with his right eye completely shut, signalled the referee to stop the fight at 0:57 of the 9 th round.
FEBRUARY 2005 - 2 ND WBO JW WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - Cotto TKO'd former WBO jr. welterweight world champion and lefthander DeMarcus Corley (29-3-1). Miguel scored a knockdown with a left hook in the opening minute of the 1 st round, and staggered Corley later in the round, but Corley rallied late in the 2nd. Corley staggered Miguel early in the 3 rd with a right hook to the temple, but Miguel weathered the storm, recovered, and outworked Corley in the 4 th ; Miguel rocked Corley midway through the 5 th , then scored a knockdown with a left hook to the body. Corley got up, but Miguel pressured him, Corley went to one knee, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:45.
2004
DECEMBER 2004 - 1 ST WBO JW WORLD TITLE DEFENSE - Cotto TKO'd former WBO jr. welterweight worlrd champion Randall Bailey (28-4). The fight was co-featured with the Wladimir Klitschko-Danny Williams main event . Bailey started fast and landed two hard right hands in the 1 st round, but Miguel dominated the rest of the fight. He scored one knockdown with a right hand that dropped Bailey to his knees in the 2 nd round, and another with a right hand that dropped Bailey to one knee and cut him over his left eye in the 3rd. Miguel steadily wore down Bailey with hard body punches, and the referee stopped the fight on the advice of the ringside doctor at 1:39 of the 6 th.
SEPTEMBER 2004 - WON VACANT WBO JW WORLD TITLE - Cotto TKO'd previously undefeated Kelson Pinto (20-0). Pinto had beaten Miguel two times as an amateur. Miguel dominated the exciting battle. He staggered Pinto with a left hook in the 1 st round and scored a knockdown with a right hand-left hook conbination in the 2nd , but Pinto kept coming back and there were some fierce exchanges. Miguel staggered him again in the 3rd and 4 th rounds, then scored a knockdown with a left hook in the 5 th ; Miguel scored another knockdown with a series of punches in the 6 th , and Pinto's corner threw in the towel to stop the fight at 2:28.
MAY 2004 - 5 TH WBC INTERNATIONAL SL TITLE DEFENSE - Miguel won a 12 round unanimous decision against former world title challenger Lovemore Ndou (38-6-1). Miguel pressed the action in the early rounds - he outworked Ndou, consistently landed the harder punches, and buckled Ndou's knees in the 6 th ; Ndou gave a tremendous effort, kept fighting hard, and rallied in the late rounds, but Miguel boxed and moved effectively and won by scores of 117-111, 116-112, 115-113.
FEBRUARY 2004 - 4 TH WBC INTERNATIONAL SL TITLE DEFENSE - Cotto TKO'd former two-time world title challenger Victoriano Sosa (37-3-2). Sosa gave a strong effort and rocked Miguel late in the 2nd round, but Miguel scored a devastating TKO. He bloodied Sosa'a lip and staggered him with a left uppercut in the 3 rd round; Miguel scored three knockdowns in the 3 rd - the first with a left uppercut to the chin, the second with a left hook to the head, and the third with a left hook to the body - and the referee stopped the fight without a count at 2:51; after the fight, Miguel said, “Sosa's a good fighter, as he showed against Mayweather and Spadafora. He's the best I've fought. But my team thought he would be a good fight for me, and I won. I'm just trying to get better every time I go into the gym. I'm glad people think that I have.”…
2003 – 3 RD WBC INTERNATIONAL SL TITLE DEFENSE - on 12-6-03 in Bayamon he TKO'd previously undefeated Carlos Maussa (16-0): the fight headlined at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez and drew an announced crowd of 10,000, and Miguel gave a sensational performance; Maussa is tall, awkward and very determined, and was coming off an impressive TKO win against unbeaten prospect Jeffrey Resto, but Miguel dominated the fight; he scored a knockdown in the 3 rd round and steadily wore down Maussa; Miguel staggered him in the 8 th round, and Maussa's corner stopped the fight at 2:02; after the fight, Miguel said, “The fights are won in the ring, not by talking or at the press conferences. He was tall and had long arms, and that's why it was difficult to attack his body. But little by little, I wore him down.”; Maussa went on to win the WBA super lightweight world title…
2 ND WBC INTERNATIONAL SL TITLE DEFENSE - WBA SL WORLD TITLE ELIMINATOR - on 9-13-03 in Las Vegas he TKO'd former world title challenger Demetrio Ceballos (26-4): Ceballos gave a good effort and pressed forward, but Miguel dominated the fight. He boxed and moved effectively, consistently outworked Ceballos and landed the harder punches, then switched to the lefthanded stance in the 6th round and rocked Ceballos several times. He rocked Ceballos with a series of punches in the 7th and Ceballos's corner stopped the fight at 2:28.
JUNE 2003 - WBC INTERNATIONAL SL TITLE DEFENSE - Cotto knocked out former three-time world title challenger Rocky Martinez (38-8-1). Miguel was very impressive. He cut Martinez over his right eye in the 1st round, then scored a knockdown with a left hook to the body in the 2nd and Martinez was counted out at 2:42…
APRIL 2003 - Cotto knocked out former world title challenger Joel Perez (34-5-2). Miguel was busier and sharper, scored a knockdown with a left hook to the body in the 4th round and Perez was counted out at 1:29.
FEBRUARY 2003 - WON VACANT WBC INTERNATIONAL SL TITLE - Cotto TKO'd former WBC lightweight world champion Cesar Bazan (39-5-1). It was a step up in class for Miguel and his most impressive win. He dominated the fight. Miguel scored a knockdown in the 1st round and bloodied Bazan's nose in the 2nd. Miguel consistently kept a busier pace, landed the sharper punches, and wore him down. Bazan kept fighting back hard, but his right eye gradually swelled shut from repeated left hooks. Miguel rocked him in the 11 th round, and the referee stopped the fight at 0:16.
2002
NOVEMBER 2002 - Cotto TKO'd Ubaldo Hernandez (18-9-2): Hernandez gave a good effort, but Miguel steadily wore him down. He bloodied his nose in the 2nd round, then rocked him a couple of times and cut him under his right eye in the 4th. Miguel hurt Hernandez with a body punch in the 7th round, then scored a knockdown and Hernandez was counted out at 1:31…
SEPTEMBER 2002 - He won a 10-round unanimous decision against former four-time world title challenger John Brown (23-9). It was a step up in class of opposition for Miguel and the first time he went 10 full rounds; Miguel dominated the fight , scoring a knockdown in the 2nd round, and staggering Brown in the 8th .
2001
FEBRUARY 2001 - In his professional debut at age 20, Miguel TKO'd Jason Doucet.
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