Experts Sniff an Upset: Foreman-Cotto Picks
“Graham Houston (FightWriter.com & Boxing Monthly)
“Foreman, then, is a boxer who must be taken seriously. Yet for all his evasive skills, I have no doubt that Foreman is going to get hit in this fight, likely harder than he has ever been hit. If he can take Cotto’s punches without wilting and maintain his movement and jabbing, he has a tremendous opportunity to score a memorable victory.
Having Emanuel Steward as his trainer is a huge plus for Cotto, but, despite this, I am going with Foreman to spring the upset — I have the feeling that he has the size, the speed and the style that can carry him to victory”.
Dougie Fischer (Ring tv.com)
“Foreman will plant his feet a little more in the late rounds and land thudding one-two combinations that get Cotto’s respect and the attention of the judges, but Cotto will also land a few counter left hooks that wobble the future rabbi. Foreman will hold to survive these rocky moments and then get on his bicycle for the remainder of the round. The fight will be close in the championship rounds and Foreman’s jab and lateral movement will not only enable him to survive,but will rack up important points.
Foreman by close, perhaps majority, decision”.
Tim Starks (QueensberryRules.com)
“Here’s my question about Arum’s motives in calling it a 50-50 fight: He’s made no bones about the pride he’s taken as a Jew in Foreman’s success. Would he put Cotto in with Foreman if he thought Cotto could deliver one of his old school beat downs to one of his cherished favorites? I doubt it.
But I’m going to go against my cynical impulses and go with the established candidate. Foreman’s best win has an element of doubt about it, but either way he’s not proven he can beat anyone half as good as Cotto at his best. Even if Cotto’s at 75 percent of his best, I think he can pull out the win. But I’m betting he’ll do it by decision, not knockout.”
Steve Farhood (Showtime analyst & Boxing Monthly)
“I like Foreman in a mild upset. He’s bigger than Cotto, much quicker, and closer to his prime. I don’t think that he’s the fighter that Cotto is, but he might be getting this matchup at the perfect time.Foreman didn’t move all that much in winning the title from Daniel Santos. He’ll return to his old ways at Yankee Stadium, moving left and right, keeping the fight outside, and minimizing the exchanges.
Foreman by close 12-round decision.”
Kevin Iole (Yahoo.com)
“Yuri Foreman by decision. Foreman is not exciting, but he’s an expert boxer with good range. He’ll keep Cotto outside and frustrate him with his jab and elusiveness.”
Tim Smith (New York Daily News)
“You wonder just how much Miguel Cotto has left, even fighting at 154 pounds. Yuri Foreman fought a great match against Daniel Santos to win the title. But he’s going to have to raise the level of his game to beat Cotto, who is a very good boxer. It should be a close fight, but I see Cotto ekeing out a narrow decision. Cotto wins by 12 round decision.”
Kieran Mulvaney (ESPN.boxing & Reuters)
“Pound-for-pound, peak vs. peak, Miguel Cotto is a vastly better fighter than Yuri Foreman. Cotto is more naturally skilled, has shown impressive adapatability, and at his ferocious best, packed the kind of power in his heavy hands to make opponents wilt.
Two years ago, I wouldn’t have given Foreman a chance. Now, I think that he is catching Cotto at the right time. I think he will have enough to win on points in what may be a fairly lackluster contest.”
Matt Christie (Boxing News magazine)
“In truth, the extra pounds may not do Cotto any favours. But weight in this contest will not be the factor that the clash of styles could be. Can Foreman’s awkwardness morph into the sustained effectiveness required to keep Miguel at bay for 12 long rounds? While finding the answer to that we should discover how much the Puerto Rican has left. The feeling is that he’ll have more than enough to walk through his rival’s best and overwhelm an outgunned Foreman around the eighth.”
Jerry Izenberg (Boxing historian)
“Well, I think that Yuri Foreman is going to come out and try to fight the perfect fight, and that that’s how he will win it. He really has to focus on landing all of his punches throughout the fight. I see Yuri Foreman winning a decision.But I also think that he can cut up Miguel Cotto and possibly win a TKO. But here is the thing: What he’s got to do is really win the fight on fire and ice. The ice equals patience, and the fire is turning it on when he has to and when the opportunity presents itself.”
Joe Santoliquito (Managing Editor, Ring Magazine)
“I just need to see more from Foreman to be convinced that he’s a Cotto-caliber fighter. I don’t think that we will see it against Cotto, whom I still believe has something left after taking some brutal beatings by Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao. Apparently, Bob Arum doesn’t agree with my assessment of Cotto. Why else do you think the Hall of Fame promoter is risking Foreman in with Cotto? Apparently because he doubts Cotto could beat him. I have no doubts: Cotto smashes Foreman.
But — and it’s a BIG BUT — if Foreman does win impressively, this victory makes him a star (Miguel Cotto KO 7 Yuri Foreman).”
Result: Foreman 6 Cotto 4
Leave a Reply
Blog at WordPress.com. Theme: Duotone by Automattic.
