After loss to Manny Pacquiao Miguel Cotto takes on Yuri Foreman
Just call Yuri Foreman the “Rodney Dangerfield” of the boxing world - he “just can’t get no respect”. Despite holding the WBA light middleweight title, few people consider him to be an elite-level fighter. Much of this comes from his lack of pedigree before winning the title - before beating Daniel Santos for the title in November 2009, Foreman had a lack of wins against quality opponents. Also hurting him in gaining respect in the boxing community is his lack of power. He has a perfect 28-0 record but has racked up just 8 KOs during his career - hardly numbers that make him considered to be a dangerous opponent.
So it’s clear that Foreman has a lot of gain and also a lot to lose in his fight on June 5 against Miguel Cotto. The sheer nature and location of the fight automatically elevates its importance - it’s the first fight held at the new Yankee Stadium since it was opened two years ago. But the bout clearly means much more to Foreman’s career than the historical footnote that would come with opening boxing at the site with a win.
Beating Cotto would finally give Foreman a signature victory against a world-class opponent. Beating Cotto would make it very difficult for critics to claim that Foreman is a one-trick pony or a champion created by careful selection of opponents. Unlike Foreman, Cotto is one of the most highly-respected fighters of his generation. He’s considered a warrior who has fought his share of battles over the years and is ready for any obstacle. A victory over Cotto would proven to many people that Foreman’s blazing hand speed and defensive prowess can lead him to victory against even the toughest opponent.
Despite having a distinguished career and place in the Hall of Fame already cemented, Cotto also has a lot on the line in this fight as well. His last fight was a brutal contest against Manny Pacquiao which saw him battered like never before. Although he showed the heart of a champion and refused to quit, he was unable to deal with the speed and precision of Pacquiao’s punches, leading to the fight being stopped by referee Kenny Bayless in the 12th round. It was an embarrassing defeat for one of the proudest fighters in the sport.
Cotto fought against Pacquiao at welterweight and is moving up to light middleweight for the first time when he takes on Foreman. It’s a significant issue - even though fighters do tend to move up in weight classes as their bodies change when they get older, Cotto was never the largest welterweight to begin with (his first world title came at light welterweight) and there have been questions about exactly how effective Cotto can be at the higher weight class.
Certainly, Foreman doesn’t offer a true test in terms of light middleweight power - he’s one of the weakest-hitting champions in boxing - but he does offer major problems in terms of size. Foreman is four inches taller than Cotto and has a five inch reach advantage. In order to be effective, he’ll have to work hard to get to the inside against Foreman - a “tall task” given the champion’s outstanding footwork and quick jab.
Even though both fighters are 29, there is a world of difference in where they are in their careers. Foreman is the 2-to-1 underdog despite holding the title. Losing to Cotto would be a definite setback but might not signal the end of his career. However, with his well-known rabbinical studies continuing, it might ask more people to question whether he has the desire and overall talent to maintain a position as an elite-level fighter. Meanwhile, Cotto is at a different point in his career - he’s the far more experienced fighter with a lot more wear and tear on his body. If he can’t defeat the inexperienced Foreman on a big stage, it might be time for him to consider bringing his legendary career to a close.
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