(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'.
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.
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.
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