Quijano: Sugar Shamed, Mostly By Jingo Quijano Last Round THERES a certain kind of look that Miguel Cottos opponents get when they realize theyre in for a long night. Its somewhat of a hybrid expression bordering between resignation and despair. I saw it in Zab Judahs face after he realized Cotto was having him for lunch. I saw that very same look from Shane Mosley in the middle rounds and I knew he was doomed. Before the fight, Mosley told everybody and anybody who cared to listen that he was a big welterweight and that he would be too strong for Cotto. Although his opinion would later be partially validated by Cotto who admitted that he was indeed hurt by Shanes powerful blows, Mosleys ill-advised feral approach was the very reason why he lost the fight. Early on, Mosley wanted Cotto to let him feel his power and started trading with him. It proved to be his undoing. Just as I expected, Mosley would indeed find a home for his right hands. But what do you do when you throw everything but the kitchen sink and your opponent just wont go away? You start getting that look. Mosleys overconfidence egged him to wing power shot after power shot sporadically, instead of unloading the sweet combinations he was known for. As a result, he got tired very early in the fight. Yep, getting old can indeed be a drag but there are ways to conserve your strength when youre up against a younger, stronger opponent. Throwing wild haymakers isnt one of them. Engaging in unnecessary shoving and pushing isnt going to cut it either. By the time he settled down and starting boxing in the middle rounds, he was already a spent force. And when Cotto slowed down a bit in the latter stages of the fight, Shanes tank was already running on empty. As early as three years ago, Shane Mosley would have easily won that fight. But since this is 2007, Sugar got shamed mostly, and just like that the Last Round is on three-fight losing skid. THEY GOT IT. Among those who correctly predicted Miguel Cottos victory was Last Rounder Jeremy Elape, fight scholar Atty. Dominic Elnar and Nonito Donaire Sr, whom world champ Nonito Jr. fondly refers to as this guy. VIVA PUERTO RICO. Despite being a country with less than four million constituents, Puerto Rico has a rich boxing tradition and Miguel Cotto is just the latest in a steady stream of quality fighters this country has produced. If we have Pancho Villa, Gabriel Elorde and Manny Pacquiao, Puerto Rico counters with legends such as Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfred Benitez, Carlos Ortiz and of course, Felix Trinidad. Gomez is considered to be the greatest of them all. He compiled a terrific record of 44 wins, winning 42 of them by knockout with only three defeats. At one time, he embarked on a 32-fight knockout streak! He beat the likes of Lupe Pintor, Carlos Zarate, and Juan Laporte. Wilfred Benitez has a record of 53-8, with 31 knockouts. He was a champion in three weight categories and holds wins over Carlos Palomino, Antonio Cervantes and the legendary Roberto Duran. Of course, we know who Felix Trinidad is. After retiring and un-retiring twice already, he is scheduled to fight Roy Jones Jr. in January of next year. However, at 35 years of age, its doubtful that Tito still can threaten Gomezs stature as Puerto Ricos greatest. Cotto however is a still in a position to dispute such a claim, depending on how he fares in future bouts. QUOTE OF THE DAY. Maybe I should have boxed more, I noticed that when I boxed more I was getting a little bit the better of him, Sugar Shane Mosely after the unanimous decision loss to Miguel Cotto. Source
You are full of crap my friend. That fight was dead even after ten. Cotto did just enough counter pounching the last two rounds to win the fight. I had Cotto 115-113 with a reservation that Shane might have taken one of the last two rounds, in which case it would have been a draw. Cotto made all the adjustments, props to him, to barely pull at a great win. The fight was very exciting and SSM was not Shamed no way. Trash talking aside both fighters gave it there all. SSM Age did him in at the end. He had no gas left in the tank, after the tenth. Cotto cut mouth and all sucked it up got on his bicycle and showed us some counter punching the likes of which we had not seen from him before All in all it was a mini classic for boxing fans. No shame for Cotto either for only winning a very close decision.
I had it 114-114, that's hardly 'shame' for a 36 year old that's been in the wars Shane has. I suspect had they both been around the same age it would have been a relatively easy nights work for Shane.
Clearly just some Rican just jizzing everywhere over Cotto's win. Twas a great fight, I personally dont think it was all that debatable. But if I had been watching it with the eyes of someone who had picked Mosley, had some emotional or financial investment in the fight then I could see why people think it could have went to him.
Garbage article. I read up until he said Puerto Rico is a country. He knows even less of boxing than he does geography.
My man that started the post, I have to agree with the others responses. I don't care if you are Puerto Rican or not, that is neither here nor there. What I do care about is you disrespecting Sugar shane like that. He is a sure fire future hall of famer and one of the classiest men ever to grace the squared circle. Big ups to cotto on his win, but if this fight had taken place in 2002-2004, the out come may have been much different. Mosely is 36 and a damn sharp 36, but 36 non the less. This was a verrrrrryyyyy close fight, and I am not saying I disagree with the verdict, but if it was for a vacant belt, it could have went either way.
Damn. nowadays when a star boxer get's beat, the statement "he wasn't in his prime", comes up. Even oscar and bernard said, "he fought like he was 26". Don't give me that excuse "if he was younger, he would oh beat cotto". Vernon Forrest whipped mosleys a$$. Vernon forrest in his "prime" can't hang with cotto.
