Miguel Cotto vs. Joshua Clottey: The War Before the Parade

The Puerto Rican Day parade in New York City is now less than a week away and as a boxing fan, thanks to Top Rank Promotions shrewd marketing, it has become synonymous with boxing.  Particularly it’s synonymous with Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto.

Born in Pittsburgh and of mostly German descent, it’s noteworthy that it’s become an annual event for me waiting to see who Cotto will fight on the eve of the celebration.  Annually, I eagerly anticipate the Puerto Rican Day Parade.

When the news broke that the opponent would indeed be Joshua “The Hitter” Clottey, the tough-as-nails Ghanaian former IBF champion, I was like a kid Christmas day, or, on well, like the Puerto Rican day Parade.

Cotto vs. Clottey is a boxing fan’s dream come true.

It’s no secret that boxing has always capitalized on regionalism and nationalism to promote itself (See Joe Louis vs. Max Schmelling).  Hell, I’d be remiss to not include that frequently race plays a major part in promoting a fight (See Larry Holmes vs. Jerry Cooney). 

That aspect of boxing promoting is, in this day in age, somewhat unseemly, however, undeniably it sells. 

An argument could even be made that the promotion of pitting of one nationality against another is a form of the aforementioned, but it does fall short and it also is conducive to an electric atmosphere.  It’s a part of the business.  Always has been and more than likely, always will be.

Several years ago, Cotto fought Paulie Malignaggi, the brash, Italian Brooklynite in the first promotion of a major fight on the eve of the parade.  It was a masterstroke of brilliance for Top Rank.  A pugilistic celebration of ethnicity had occurred and a new Puerto Rican national hero had emerged.

As for the “Campeon Grande del Puerto Rico,” there’s a lot more at stake than national pride with this fight with the rugged Clottey.  Redemption is in the offing. 

Late last June, Cotto suffered the first loss of his career against the oft-avoided Antonio Margarito.  It was a brutal affair to say the least.  I was in attendance for that fight and though I didn’t have a favorite, it was hard not to get caught up in the ebb and flow of the crowd, let alone the fight itself. 

In my estimation, Cotto controlled the entire first half of the fight.  He out-boxed, out-smarted and out-slugged the Mexican hero for all of the first six rounds.  Then something peculiar started to happen.  Margarito wore Cotto down and eventually made him quit.  Cotto looked far wearier than expected and far more battered about the face.

Then something even more peculiar happened.  Margarito and his corner were caught trying to cheat, having loaded his hand wraps with plaster, in his next fight with Shane Mosley.

With no plaster wraps, Mosley dominated and eventually knocked out Margarito.  Could Margarito have and crew pulled this same sickeningly, dangerous tactic against Cotto.  Although it certainly did appear that way, we’ll never know.

Cotto’s opponent, Clottey, didn’t sign up to be the sacrificial lamb for the fiesta.  He’s there to win and has a better than average chance of doing so.  Clottey is as tough as they come. 

Calling Clottey dirty would definitely be a disservice, but he toes that line.  His head and his elbows often get involved.  He’s rough and is best fighting on the inside and to my knowledge, has never been hurt. 

I’ve not even seen Clottey buzzed. 

Clottey’s been in with serious fighters.  He only has two losses, one of which came via disqualification against Carlos Baldomir in a fight in which he was clearly winning and the other came against the aforementioned outlaw, Margarito. 

The fight with Margarito was very telling.  Clottey controlled the fight and looked to be dominating Margarito until he broke his hand. 

Though Margarito got a unanimous decision, the scoring was close, but Clottey wasn’t close to being hurt, save for the hand that he’d hurt on Margarito’s noggin.

As for the fight on Saturday, it should be an all-out war.  Cotto is by far the more polished boxer, but both of these guys are willing to stand in the middle of the ring, forehead to forehead and chop each other down.  Both are more proficient when in close and landing short, chopping uppercuts and hooks…especially to the body. 

As previously stated, Cotto is the better boxer, but in Madison Square Garden with his countrymen cheering him on, will Cotto box or will he fight?  The smart money is on him fighting and that’s exactly what Clottey wants. 

Clottey wants to pummel Cotto into submission in front of the partisan crowd.  Clottey covets the acclaim that Cotto has garnered.

Expect nothing less than blood and a knock-down, drag-out war on the eve of the Puerto Rican day parade in MSG.  Expect the fight of the year. 

This fight will surpass all that we’ve seen thus far in 2009.  I can almost guarantee it.  And the winner will be? 

Too close to call.