My Thoughts On Cotto Vs Clottey

                If I may just say, this match was kind of anti-climactic aside from the first and last round, and some pretty amusing instances in the rounds in between.  I use the term amusing loosely though.

                Clottey came out dancing.  Did somebody tell him it’s a dance competition?  Cotto, on the other hand, came out very serious as usual, with his son carrying the title belt.

                First round saw Cotto ablazed and bringing Clottey down the mat.  That made Clottey less aggressive and reluctant to get in there.  Who wouldn’t?  Cotto has a twenty-seven KO’s out of thirty-three wins.  They both got some quality shots tough.

                In the third, an accidental head butt caused a cut on Cotto’s left eyebrow, which bothered him for the rest of the match.  He kept wiping off the blood flowing from it.  Clottey was fighting smart and took full advantage of it.  He got some good combinations in there and gave Cotto a lot of trouble.

                Funny thing happened in the fifth round with 45 seconds left, Cotto must’ve been watching wrestling lately and got an idea of throwing down Clottey to the mat.  Referee called it accidental, but it was really hard to call from his angle.  Clottey seemed to have injured his knee then or something because he couldn’t stand for several seconds and the ref had to help him up.  But, he was told to shake it off and he did.

                In the sixth, Cotto got Clottey in the corner and gave him a flurry of shots.  The knee might have still bothered Clottey as he can’t seem to slip out of the corner.  I just wonder why Cotto can’t knock him out already.  He had Clottey but he just never seemed to give him a really solid punch.  Where’s the firepower I liked about him? 

From then it was pretty boring.  The two fighters seemed to have agreed to split the rounds.  “You take this round, I take next?”

Cotto fought with his heart though.  He could’ve asked the fight to be stopped but he didn’t.  And he did have his moments too, getting Clottey cornered.  But seems every time he did, he gets a few punches in, which by the way didn’t seem to faze Clottey, and then he backs up.  I think he was wary because of the cut on his eyebrow.

Last round was controversial if anything.  And I’ll say why.  They both did bring everything on the table at this round, as they should.  But, before I say the next bit I’m going to say, may I just say Cotto is not and never have been a dirty fighter.

Clottey was constantly trying to get a point taken off of Cotto.  Cotto did hit him at the back of the head, but that’s because he turned around.  Remember, the rule states “Protect yourself at all times.”  You do not turn your back on your opponent unless the clock is not ticking.

He asked for a foul to be called again after that, and I didn’t even see what for.  It might have been a lowblow or a head butt but the referee called it accidental, and told Clottey to “suck it up!”  That was funny at least.

Cotto won by split decision as you already know.  Now, what do I think of all this?

1.                   Cotto used to be exciting to watch.  He’s one of my favorite boxers and still is, but I think he lost some edge after that Margarito match.  I can’t blame him though, as that was a really awful way to lose.

2.                   Cotto shouldn’t fight Pacquiao.  The Pacman’s going to destroy him.

3.                   Clottey thinks the referee Mercante was giving him the short end of the stick.  I think Mercante did a great job officiating, and called it as it is.  So suck it up, Clottey.