Miguel Cotto vs Sergio Martinez: Boxing or Business?
By Brian Posada
06/15/2014
Miguel Cotto’s first opponent at the 160 lb. division will be against an all time great middle weight Sergio Martinez.
It's a big gamble and challenge for Cotto if Martinez is at 100% health. After all, Martinez has been the king pin at 160 lbs and dominated the division for years. Now that Cotto has reconnected with Freddy Roach the consensus is Cotto has a big chance to dethrone the champ.
Miguel Cotto is no longer the fighter we grew to love. In his final stages of what shoul be a hall of fame career, Cotto has become more business than boxing. He turned down $10 million to face the rising Mexican star, Canelo Alvarez in probably what is the biggest fight in boxing next to Floyd and Pacquiauo. It's been rumored Cotto took $5 to $7 million to face Sergio Martinez at a catch weight 160 title fight.
It begs the question why would Cotto take less money when he's not even a true middle weight? Canelo is closer to Cotto's ideal weight and the move makes little sense until you fully examine Cotto's strategy.
The main reason Cotto took this fight was "Calculated Risk". Cotto was banking that Sergio would not be 100% -- he gets a shot at a fourth title in four weight divisions which cements him as an all time great Puerto Rican fighter. And if Cotto some how were to lose against a great name like Sergio he would simply explain it as the weight was too much. All wins for Cotto's business and reputation.
Sergio Martinez on the other hand has never opted for easy fights. The pretty boy was a killer in the ring for years. From his infamous one-punch knock out to Paul Williams to the clinic he displayed against Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr while the rising star was the next big thing, Sergio put JCC Jr in his place.
Two knee surgeries later and Sergio is a shell of his former self. It's unlikely he rebounds from this loss to Cotto. He's in his late 30s and his best years are behind him without ever truly headlining his own pay-per-view card. It's a bit of a shame for such a great fighter to go out the way he did.
With respect to the businessman Cotto,he will have a lot of options in his future -- from big names Canelo to GGG to Quillen. All of these opponents would make for great fights and sell pay-per-views as Cotto tries to ride out his legacy with a few more pay days. Stay tuned.
