How much does Miguel Cotto have left in the trunk? That question had to be asked after he was upset by the WBA Light Middleweight champion, Austin Trout, conceding his first ever loss in New York, despite the obvious support from the fans in the Madison Square Garden.
Cotto, as expected, wasn’t exactly gracious and accepting in defeat. In the post fight interview he asked the fans who they think won the fight. There really wasn’t any doubt, as Trout won with a unanimous decision, 119-109, 117-111, 117-111. Some broadcaster called it a bit closer, but no one really gave the fight to Cotto. The compubox numers weren’t showing anything different: Trout landed 53 more punches than Cotto, including 38 more power shots.
I’m not finished yet. I still have boxing in my mind. I just want to rest with my family the rest of the year.
Cotto, now 37-4, has lost both of his fights in 2012. Instead of setting up a mega-bucks clash against Canelo Alvarez, who was in attendance, getting booed by the New York, pro-Cotto fans, it may be his last fight for the next few months. He’s still a big draw, but taking the loss has certainly put doubts in the minds of many regarding Cotto’s chances in the future to be a relevant and dominant champion. After getting his revenge on Antonio Margarito, maybe it is time to think long and hard if he really has enough to still make an impression on the boxing world.
For Trout, it looks like the beginning. The 27 year old Southpaw spent his entire career, until 2011, fighting in New Mexico, Texas, Kansas, Panama and Mexico. Six months ago he beat Delvin Rodriguez in California for his third consecutive title defense. Now, still a champion, he claimed the biggest win of his career.
Miguel Cotto is a great fighter. It was just a great honor to be in this ring and an even greater honor to beat him in New York. To have my hand raised with a kingpin like Miguel Cotto, it is a dream come true.
Trout did have his problems midway through the fight; he got called twice for low blows, but that did not shake him. He got caught with a big left to the head in the sixth; stuck on the ropes, taking a few shots from Cotto late in the 10th. Then he adjusted his gloves, and came back blasting in the final two rounds. Cotto’s face was the one that showed he was having the rougher night, all red and swollen. Trout did enough to impress early and regained control of the fight in the final two rounds to secure his win by points, improving to 26-0 in his professional career.
Next up for Trout? He wants Alvarez. Canelo got to hear what Trout thinks of him at the end of the fight, as the champion was shouting for Alvarez to get a deal done in an attempt to unify the WBC and WBA Light Middleweight title belts. According to most, Trout isn’t a big enough name for Alvarez to take on at the moment, with the Mexican having plans for big fights in terms of money. Trout, while probably up for it when it comes to the boxing point of view, just isn’t a big enough cash cow, yet.
One response to “Austin Trout – Miguel Cotto Should Have Been a Tougher Fight”
[…] Trout impressed a lot of people with his unanimous decision win against Miguel Cotto on December 1, 2012, becoming the first fighter to beat Cotto in New York, where he enjoys a huge home advantage. For Trout, everything is changing fast, and after a career of fighting in Texas and El Paso, he’s seeing the big fights, the big money, the big stages. […]