<![CDATA[CENTRAL FLORIDA REVIEW .COM

<![CDATA[CENTRAL FLORIDA REVIEW .COM - Miguel Cotto]]>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:55:05 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Cotto vs rodriguez fight night (oct. 5, 2013)]]>Sat, 05 Oct 2013 04:14:14 GMThttp://www.centralfloridareview.com/miguel-cotto/cotto-vs-rodriguez-fight-night-oct-5-2013

(ORLANDO FL) Let me first start off by saying that: WE NEED TO HOLD MORE PROFESSIONAL EVENTS SUCH AS THIS IN ORLANDO! I had attended the Pacquiao / Mosley fight in Vegas a few years ago at the MGM Grand. The Vegas event was WEAK in comparison to what went down Saturday night at Orlando's Amway Center. Orlando's Amway Center was bigger, brighter, and a whole lot louder. If the bass-thumping sound system wasn't knocking you off your feet, then the screaming fans (which were overwhelmingly in support of Cotto) filled in the rest of the audible void. It was loud and it was awesome. I cannot recall ever hearing our Amway like that for a sporting event, and I don't recall any part of the night in Vegas being able to overcome the Orlando experience.

Delvin Rodriguez is the first fighter to enter the ring. He doesn't seem right though. The entire week leading up to this night, he seemed like the GQ-looking model type of guy, someone very confident in their abilities. Upon his entry into the ring, he looked worried and unsure of himself.

Cotto, on the other hand, came in looking strong and determined. He looked like he was ready to put on a boxing clinic. He looked 'reloaded'.

From the moment the bell rang to start off Round 1, Cotto came out hard. He was banging Rodriguez's body immediately. He was aggressive. He stood toe-to-toe with Rodriguez, quickly driving Rodriguez backward with almost every punch. it becomes readily apparent that Rodriguez needed to think of a backup here, lest he be faced with a very quick ending to a much anticipated fight. Shot after shot, exchange after exchange, we quickly saw Round 1 come to an end. What also became very apparent is that we were watching the former Miguel Cotto; that is to say, we were watching a very hungry Cotto who was eager to fight any and every one.

Round 2 opened and we were beginning to see the 37 year old Rodriguez's boxing light being extinguished. The fire of likely-future-hall-of-famer Cotto was burning brighter and brighter into the night. I felt bad because I had grown to like Rodriguez, having gotten to spend some time with him and his camp this week. But Cotto was relentless and Rodriguez was finding himself off balance repeatedly, unable to answer any of the vicious punches being thrown his way.

In the 3rd and final round, it was obvious to the attendees and apparently referee Frank Santore Sr that Cotto was just too much for Rodriguez to handle. 18 seconds into the third, Cotto fired off a flurry of shots to Rodriguez's head sending Rodriguez to the mat. Referee Santore quickly shielded Rodriguez, thus stoppingthe fight, and Cotto wins by TKO.

At the post-fight press conference, both men were very cordial and respective of one another, highlighted by the hug that Cotto offered to Rodriguez immediately upon entering the interview room. In less than 6:30 minutes of boxing, Cotto had caused some pretty impactful bruising to Rodriguez's left eye. Rodriguez stated that he didn't feel that the referee had given him a chance to prove himself in the fight and that he was capable of continuing. He respected Cotto's strength admitting that he was hurt in the 2nd round and that he (Rodriguez) had taken his mind off of Cotto for a second by relaxing and that's when Cotto overpowered him. Rodriguez further stated that that was something that you couldn't do against a boxer like Cotto.

Cotto came out attributing much of the victory to 'the mastermind, Freddie Roach' and that Cotto just 'stuck to the plan'.
He had hinted of a possible fight against Sergio Martinez at 160. He enjoyed the support from Orlando and he expressed that he felt like a fighter reborn. Freddie Roach further instilled that this was indeed the best training camp that he had ever had, in part because Cotto's great work ethics would put him into the gym on time... 'as opposed to having to wait 31 days for his fighter to show up' (taking a jab at his friend and fighter, Manny Pacquiao). Roach continued that he believed that he had the correct fighter in Cotto, and the correct formula to earn a victory over Martinez, and that Cotto in his current state would have beaten Floyd Mayweather on their previous go-around in which Mayweather took the decision.

We shall see what is in store next for Cotto who may be moving up in weight before he makes his final exit from the ring. In this writer's opinion, it does seem that the partnership with Freddie Roach and a future fight in Orlando being very likely.

]]><![CDATA[Cotto / Rodriguez (weigh-in; 10/4/13)]]>Fri, 04 Oct 2013 18:57:00 GMThttp://www.centralfloridareview.com/miguel-cotto/cotto-rodriguez-weigh-in-10413

(Orlando FL) Amway Center's atrium is packed solid with fans and media. This is a very big difference over yesterday's significantly lesser-attended press conference. Puerto Rican flags and gloves are held by almost every other fan standing by the medical area to the stage. With Miguel Cotto owning a home in Orlando, it seemed clear that Cotto would be the clear crowd favorite.

That is, until the announcer polled the crowd.

Cotto's supporters were strong and loud, eagerly awaiting their champion's redemption over his previous 2 losses. Cotto's family was there in full support. Undercard teams were adorning their tracksuits. Music was booming over the speakers framing the main-stage area.

The announcer then asked who was there for Rodriguez. The room erupted from voices not yet heard. This camp's supporters were there in full effect to cheer on the Dominican Republican boxer out of Connecticut. Both Jr Middleweights made their weight this afternoon, with Cotto coming in at 153.2 lbs and the taller Rodriguez coming in heavier exactly at the 154-lb cut-off.

With both boxers wearing their Orlando Magic jerseys from the city's Commissioner, it seems that we are all getting ready to rumble in the City Beautiful.

]]><![CDATA[Cotto / Rodriguez (press conference; 10/3/13)]]>Thu, 03 Oct 2013 15:17:39 GMThttp://www.centralfloridareview.com/miguel-cotto/cotto-rodriguez-press-conference-10313

((Orlando FL) Miguel Cotto and Delvin Rodriguez will be squaring off at Orlando's Amway Center is just over 48 hours from now. This will be the first major boxing event in central FL since George Foreman boxed at SeaWorld back in 1989.

Having spent some time with each of these boxer's camps, it is safe to say that both are true gentlemen, making time to greet their fans and pose for photographs. At the press conference there was no drama between the two camps. No chair-throwing, no name-calling, no trash-talking. If anything each man spoke very highly of the other.

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach -- typically associated with the boxing camp of Manny Pacquiao,-- said at this presser that 'this was the best camp that I have ever had'. Very high praise from the man who's been in the game for over 30 years.

With a win over Cotto, the veteran boxer Rodriguez currently ranked #4 in the world would be able to push himself toward better-name recognition in the sport. Rodriguez is 5 years older than Cotto so at the age of 37 it is assumed that he is nearing the end of his boxing career and will likely want to end on a high-note. With a victory of likely future hall of famer Miguel Cotto, he would definitely secure that distinction. With a win over Rodriguez, Cotto would erase last year's losses against Floyd Mayweather and Austin Trout.

We have 2 non-boisterous gentlemen boxers looking to make a very loud and defining bang come Saturday night. With the boxing world watching this weekend, we will see whose silence will be broken.

]]><![CDATA[miguel cotto / Delvin rodriguez - media training day]]>Wed, 02 Oct 2013 03:33:08 GMThttp://www.centralfloridareview.com/miguel-cotto/miguel-cotto-delvin-rodriguez-media-training-day(Orlando FL) Miguel Cotto is back in Orlando training for the first major boxing fight in central FL since George Foreman's 1989 fight with Manoel De Almeida at SeaWorld's Atlantis Theatre. Cotto has recently been quoted as telling current trainer Freddie Roach that he (Cotto) has maybe 3 more fights left in him before he retires from the sport.

I walked into the ring area around noon to see Delvin Rodriguez busy at work. Some onlookers behind me saw the Dominican Republican fighter and started chanting 'Cotto! Cotto!' to which Rodriguez began to laugh. Rodriguez worked the mitts with his trainer: former heavyweight boxer Fernely Feliz. Rodriguez's session was over at 1. Now we wait for Cotto.

With wife Melissa, best friend Bryan Perez, Cotto's mother and 2 dogs watching the practice, we watched Cotto warm-up with about 45 minutes of stretching and cardio. He immediately climbed into the ring where we watched him run multiple punch combinations on the mitts with Coach Roach. When he finished with the combo drills, he walked over to the speedball working on his hand-eye coordination. He went inside, changed, and then closed out with some final words to the press. Cotto was gracious to sign for several attendees, and took a few photographs with them as well. All in all, Miguel was there for about 2 hours. He looks to be in excellent fighting condition.

Good luck Miguel!

Delvin Rodriguez:

Miguel Cotto:

]]><![CDATA[Miguel Cotto; training for floyd mayweather]]>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 22:52:07 GMThttp://www.centralfloridareview.com/miguel-cotto/miguel-cotto-training-for-floyd-mayweather(Orlando FL) On May 5, 2012 Miguel Cotto would get into the ring with undefeated champion, Floyd Mayweather. The 2 boxers could not be preparing any more different, with Cotto enjoying his training with his family by his side in a small gym in central FL while Mayweather often being seen on the Vegas strip with his entourage on nights that he was training. Leading up to the fight, Cotto has a new surrounding. He has a new gym (only about 5 minutes from the previous facility where I first met Cotto). Although the new gym isn't fancy, the walls leading up to the ring are nicely decorated in framed Cotto highlights. He is a class act, and I really would have enjoyed seeing him win over his May 5th opponent, but fate would not have the same plan that night as Mayweather would end up winning via decision.

]]><![CDATA[Miguel cotto; training for antonio margarito]]>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:04:18 GMThttp://www.centralfloridareview.com/miguel-cotto/miguel-cotto-training-to-fight-antonio-margarito(Orlando FL) I was invited by this boxing gym's owner to meet Miguel Cotto one evening before Cotto began his scheduled training. Miguel Cotto is a 4-time world boxing champion, and he's training not even 10 minutes from my day job! Miguel is a man of very few words, but in his silence he was quick to shake my hands as I wished him well for his upcoming rematch against Antonio Margarito. In their previous fight, Margarito won a highly controversial bout, after which it was found that Margarito had a plaster-of-paris type substance in his hand-wraps. It was speculated that the wraps are what gave Margarito the edge over Cotto in their first fight, resulting in Cotto's 1st loss as a professional fighter. However, on December 3, 2011 the two would step back into the ring against one another and Cotto would get his revenge by way of a 9th round TKO, from damage sustained to Margarito's right eye.

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