Roach sees Cotto having his way with Sergio Martinez

By Boxing News - 05/22/2014 - Comments

CottoMartinez-headeBy Chris Williams: Miguel Cotto (38-4, 31 KO’s) has got one of the toughest fights of his career coming up on June 7th against WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez (51-2-2, 28 KO’s) in their catch-weight fight at 159 lbs. Cotto’s trainer Roach is talking about Cotto having added more bulk for this fight, and Roach believes he’s going to be the stronger guy each time he’s able to get in close to Martinez on June 7th. I bet.

Cotto will be a pumped up middleweight in this fight, and not the real thing. There is a difference, you know. Roach may have put weight on Cotto, but he’s still little more than a light welterweight at heart because that’s where he started his career at and that’s what his frame is built for.

“We brought the weight up a little bit and put on a little more muscle,” Roach said. “I think actually he [Martinez] might be taller, but I think we’re going to be much stronger on the inside, much more physical on the inside than he is, and we’re going to push him around with no problem.”

Will Cotto even get inside on Martinez? Instead of Roach talking about how Cotto’s going to be able to shove Martinez around in close, he needs to be talking about how Cotto will be able to get in close. That to me is the real problem that Cotto – and Roach – will have in this fight. Cotto is too tiny to be trying to work his way in close against a known mover like Martinez. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who is a lot better inside fighter than Cotto, couldn’t get inside on Martinez due to his movement, so how is Cotto going to be able to do that?

“I think inside, we’re the bigger, stronger person,” Roach said. “We’re going into the fight thinking he’s going to be the best he can be and that’s what he should be. I mean, it sounds like he’s already making excuses, but the thing is we expect him at this best and we’re going to beat him at his best.”

Roach is planning this fight like he’s reliving Cotto’s bout against Delvin Rodriguez. Roach’s grand vision for Cotto about being the stronger guy on the inside was good for Delvin, but it’s horrible and useless for a fight against Martinez, because no one gets on the inside against Martinez, ever. He doesn’t let people do that with him. Roach is dreaming.

Cotto needs a victory here real bad to keep himself as a viable name for big money fighters like Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao. A loss here it’s probably over for him.



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