Cotto a three weight champion after Foreman victory
Miguel Cotto answered critics who said his career was over with victory over undefeated Yuri Foreman on a controversial Saturday night at Yankee stadium.
By taking the WBA light-middleweight title, Cotto becomes a three-weight champion, while Foreman must now bounce back after suffering his first loss in professional boxing.
It was a night of high drama, as referee Arthur Mercante Jnr ignored a towel thrown in by Foreman’s corner and insisted that the fight continued after the Israeli aggravated a knee injury that left him affectively fighting on one leg.
The bout hinged on the seventh-round incident when the champ twice went down on his right leg, slipping on the wet floor of the ring. Foreman wears a support over his knee anyway having suffered from this injury for some time, but it was clear he would not be able to fight on once it went as his bouncy, weaving style is epitomised by his mobility. Having bravely fought on for another round, his attempts to withdraw from the fight were rejected disgracefully be Mercante Jnr, who effectively forced the injured fighter to continue about when he no longer wanted to.
Things started as you would expect from these two fighters, Cotto ever the warrior worked an aggressive jab from the opening bell. Foreman undoubtedly schooled on the bullish nature of “Junito” responded by bouncing around trying to find range to pick-off the Puerto Rican. As expected Cotto tried to cut off the ring from his lanky opponent and that forced Foreman into a rethink, he became more aggressive trying to land combos in the second while zipping around the ring like he was doing the Macarena.
The third round and things were pretty even, although Foreman lost his mouth piece at one point. Both fighters landed some sturdy lefts as they tried to adapt to each other contrasting styles and Foreman’s nose was blooded in the fourth, but it was the Israelis best round as he connected with Cotto on a number of occasions. The fifth and sixth were tight but entertaining as Cotto chased Foreman around, unable to corner him, but landing some heavy jabs all the same.
Then the bizarre seventh round. While moving around the ring Foreman slipped twice clearly injuring his suspect leg. Against a fighter like Cotto, Foreman was like a flightless bird at a cattery. The ref should have called it off, but Foreman showed the mentality of a true champion by fighting on, hopping around on one leg.
As the fight entered the eighth stanza it was clear the Israeli’s undefeated record was teetering ion oblivion. A limited Foreman was basically out of ideas without his mobility and Cotto had him with some left-rights in close quarters. Foreman tries to throw a punch and basically falls over, so in comes the corner the match is over.
But the ref decided otherwise.
At no point in boxing should a ref be able to cancel a retirement, it’s entirely a fighter and his camp’s prerogative, what was Mercante Jnr thinking?
The ref decided he didn’t know which corner it came from and can’t see a reason to stop the fight. A joke of an excuse which brought about an absolute farce of a ninth round.
Foreman came out head-butted Cotto who returns with a crisp left hook and down goes the champion. That’s it this time the ref sees sense and the fight is over.
It is poor judgement that the ref decided to fight on and he really should have known better. About nine years ago he proceeded over an ill-fated match-up between George Khalid Jones and Beethaeven Scottland, which saw Scottland slip into a coma and die shortly after this fight as a result of the injuries he sustained in the ring. While Mercante Jnr wasn’t deemed culpable should be more than aware that fighter safety is paramount.
Aside from that Cotto looked much more assured than he did against Manny Pacquiao. He made the step-up in class with ease, his power carried up to light-middles and didn’t cut up. As for Foreman he looked a nimble tricky fighter who showed the heart of the lion and enhanced his reputation tenfold with his bravery.
This fight will bring up questions of how much control over a fight referees should have and be remembered as a shocking example of how to officiate a world championship boxing tie.
Underneath it all thought was an exciting fight by two fighters of very different styles, but a matching warrior instinct. A rematch should be on the cards, hopefully by the end of the year.
Providing Foreman doesn’t decide to leg it that is.
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