What’s Next for Miguel Cotto?

Miguel Cotto took on one of the most dangerous welterweights in the division, Antonio Margarito. Margarito came into the fight as the underdog. Let’s look at the facts of the fight. Miguel Cotto has one of the most dangerous left hooks to the body in the sport. Margarito has almost the same style as well, but he just never stops punching. Cotto on the other hand, fires in spurts of combinations, and has a couple of problems with his chin as well.

The real reason that Margarito won the fight was his chin, and all the punches that he been throwing that night. The problem with that is Cotto does not have the foot speed to be able to get away from Margarito that fast. So what’s next for the Puerto Rican star? Well it has been stated that if Paul, the Punisher, Williams vacates his championship title, that Cotto will face off with Michael Jennings for the vacated title.

So really, I do ot know what type of threat he is to Miguel Cotto.

Another opponent that Cotto will probably face off with is fellow Puerto Rican, Kermit Cintron. Cintron will be facing Lovemore N’dou in November. If Cotto, a smart and intelligent fighter who has power, could not stop Cintron, what makes you think that Cintron, despite his monster hit, would be able to stop N’dou. Boxer vs puncher. But all around, I think that Cotto could pull this off with his intelligence in the ring and his blinding hand speed.

I know that you probably think that we are thinking a little too far but, if Cotto could get past his next opponent, he would be able to set a rematch with Margarito in June of 09. Top Rank has been saying that if they do not find an opponent for Margarito in Early January, the rematch would take place as early as February.

A.   Tarver-Hopkins - Legacies on the line

Did you catch “The Executioner” and “The Magic Man” this weekend, hyping their June 10th clash in Atlantic City? This bout raises questions for fans: Will it be a snooze? Tarver did his usual “Angry Black Man” routine, complaining about everything! Tarver, you get props for blasting Roy in 2, but here is a news flash… It’s crunch time brother. Hopkins was on the other side of the screen… This guy was lifeless — boring. Bring back the leather mask and the axe-wielding executioners at your side. With two losses in a row to Jermain Taylor, you need this one.

Height goes to Tarver, but only by an inch.

KOs: Tarver has a 5% edge

Bernard fought once more then Tarver in the past three years.

I tracked down some of the biggest names in the game: Emmanuel Steward, Oscar Suarez, Tim Smith, Paul Malignaggi, Brian Kenny, and Johnny Bos.

Oscar Suarez: “It’s going to be an interesting fight, but we always favor the left-handed fighter,” he said a smile. After my regular dose of Dibella’s Broadway Boxing, I went to my favorite diner and bumped into matchmaker extraordinaire, Johnny Bos. “First you will see Hopkins, and then you will see Hopkins on the canvas,” he said. Paul Malignaggi: “I think Hopkins has the style to beat Tarver — rough him up. Tarver has problems with guys like that-just watch his battle with Glen Johnson.”

The NY Daily News’ Tim Smith: “Tarver is the type of guy that loses focus in a bout. ESPN’s Brian Kenny: “I think it depends on what kind of shape Tarver comes in. How easy Tarver gets back down to 175. I think it will be an interesting fight, boring fight, probably dreadful, tactical. As for a pick…I might pick Bernard.”

Trainer and HBO commentator Emmanuel Steward: ”I think this fight is a toss-up, maybe a slight edge towards Bernard Hopkins”. Emmanuel made a keen observation on why not to bet based on size: “Tarver is a big light heavyweight; he has to come down from like 210 pounds. Bernard gets the media nod, 5-1.

Feeling lucky? There’s more money to be made betting Hopkins, and many experts are picking the underdog. But Tarver is vastly underrated. On June 10th, “The Magic Man” retires Bernard Hopkins.

B.   Mayorga VS Mosley

One of the most anticipated fights of the year finally arrives on Saturday night when Shane Mosley (44-5, 37 KOs) battles Ricardo Mayorga (28-6-1, 22 KOs) in a light middleweight bout in Los Angeles that, best of all, isn’t on pay-per-view but on HBO.

Despite the fact that one punch from the wild Nicaraguan could end Saturday’s bout, Mosley isn’t exactly planning to run.

Mayorga’s best chance is to keep punching and hope he catches the wily Mosley off guard.

“I am not afraid of Mosley,” Mayorga said. Mayorga is actually Plan C for Mosley. “Sugar” Shane originally wanted a rematch with Miguel Cotto from their November 2007 bout (won in a unanimous decision by Cotto), but then couldn’t be made to work. Then Mosley was to fight Zab Judah in late May before Judah was injured. That led to this bout with Mayorga.

“I’m a little more psyched for Mayorga,” Mosley said. “He’s a better fighter than Judah. It will be a pretty good fight, but I believe I will knock him out.”

If you go by how these two fighters fared against Vargas, then Mosley should prevail Saturday. Mayorga, of course, beat Vargas as his most recent opponent.

“”I’m the one who won his last fight, not Shane Mosley,” Mayorga said. “I guarantee Shane Mosley is not going to win this fight.”

Mosley also beat Vargas.

“But I knocked him out,” said Mosley, who accomplished the feat twice.

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