This coming Saturday night, Kelly Pavlik and Miguel Cotto will step into the ring against competition regarded as ‘somewhat limited’, to put it mildy. What Pavlik, the current WBO and WBC Middleweight champion, and Cotto, a former Jr. Welterweight and Weltweight titlist, have in common is that both men are coming off of devastating losses.
Last July Cotto was in a high pitched battle with Antonio Margarito and despite having early success, would eventually succumb to his Tijuana foe’s constant pressure by way of 11th round TKO .. Less than three months later the boxing world was shocked as Pavlik was beaten clearly and decisively over tweleve rounds by Bernard Hopkins. While Cotto’s knockout loss was crushing, Pavlik’s was equally as demoralizing, and both men will look to regroup in less than two days time.
Cotto will be facing Lancashire’s Michael Jennings for the vacant WBO Welterweight title while Pavlik finds himself returning to 160 pounds as he squares off with well traveled Marco Antonio Rubio.
The results of the Cotto and Pavlik contests shouldn’t be too surprising, but what is peculiar is that their respective showdowns will serve as a Pay Per View twinbill. This is a slap in the face to boxing fans and in all honesty this card isn’t even worthy of an HBO Championship Boxing appearance.
When looking at the return bouts of Cotto and Pavlik, there is no greater voice for reason that the everyday boxing fan. After scouting20some of the biggest and most comprehensive forums online, this is what the fans have to say about the entire Cotto/Pavlik doubleheader.
“I am wondering why so few people give Rubio any chance with Pavlik, personally I think he is a very live underdog in this fight. Yes, he is slow, but so is Pavlik, and he is only an inch shorter, plus he has an inch longer reach than Pavlik, and with 37 kos in 43 wins, you know he can bang. He took out Zertuche quicker than Pavlik did, and beat a very tough Enrique Orneals to get the title shot, and displayed he is pretty damn tough and conditioned in the process. Seeing as how lesser guys like Zertuche and Zuniga gave Pavlik big problems, plus with him coming off the Hopkins beating, I think it is absurd to dismis s Rubio. He is a big veteran, middleweight who legitimatley earned his shot and if Pavlik is not at his best I think Rubio has a shot to stop him late.”
“I dont think there is much respect between Cotto and his Uncle. Cotto isnt 100% dedicated to his craft. The stories of him drunk all the time, shows this. He needs to find a trainer that he can respect and that will watch over him as well as get him motivated. I also dont like the way Cotto trains. He doesnt train with any intensity. Its too relaxed in that gym.”
“I don't think jennings really brings much for Cotto. Cotto is going to beat him down.”
“Rubio is going to get wiped out, and wiped out hard.”
“Pavlik got a thorough ass whupping in his last fight. It's questionable whether he can return to his peak for or not. Maybe rubio can exploit and somehow and turn it into a good fight.”
“I'm much more worried about Cotto than Pavlik. Kelly just got schooled, he can return to form after that. Cotto on the other hand took a true beating, the kind that forever takes something out of a fighter.”
8 0The only thing that keeps me "curious" about this card is only to find out how Pavlik and Cotto look coming back from losses. Its a shame Arum is making fans pay for these tuneup fights...I for one will not be buying it.”
“This double header is bad news.”
“The middleweight division is so crap, that you don´t really know who is ducking whom. If Sturm, Abraham or Pavlik don´t fight each other, they are basically limited to fighting crap. You can´t truly seperate yourself by fighting other stiff competition, because there is none. Therefore you can´t really tell, which champion is comfortable to sit on his butt. Nobody knows how good Mundine will be at 160, which basically leaves the winner of Winky/Williams as the only credible challenger (without a belt).”
“This is getting out of hand. When will promoters realize that not every fight has to be on PPV. I really think that promoters like Arum and Golden Boy are out of touch with boxing fans. I like the fact that Margarito/Mosley will be on HBO but then they20shoot themselves in the foot by putting on these PPV's. It would be interesting to speak with someone who is involved in the business.”
“I feel bad that two likeable guys like Pavlik and Cotto are going to be drawing the criticism for their Promoters Greed. Lost will be the great spectical of Kelly Pavlik fighting at home in front his rabid Youngstown Fans that should be electric, but won't be seen by an HBO audience but only a limited PPV audience. THIS is what's killing the sport.”
“Confidence builder fights on PPV?...No thanks.”
“The PPV rating for this fight will be among the lowest ever. How can this be justified as such with today's economy?”
“Two young former champions, in easy comeback fights against overmatched opposition. Hardly anybody gives a shit about this card. I'm already hoping that both guys win impressively because I am already anticipating their next moves.
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