Tuesday, May 06, 2008 Quijano: Cotto first before Floyd By Jingo Quijano Last Round
IN THE end, Rodel Mayol got what he wanted. A much-delayed return to his winning ways, and a soothing salve of a victory to stitch up his tattered confidence.
But last Saturday, I saw a very tentative fighter who seemed flustered at his inability to put away his opponent early.
The memories of those two consecutive stoppage losses were probably still too fresh in Rodel’s mind. Or maybe he was too eager to score an impressive kayo win for his manager, Manny Pacquiao, who was seated at ringside.
Whatever the case, his timing was a bit off and it took him a quite a while to get to his overmatched foe.
Wisan Sur Suchanya didn’t appear hurt at the time the fight was halted, but it was a correct stoppage, as he wasn’t effective anymore, and prolonging the agony might in the long run endanger the boxer’s health. No howls of protest either, coming from him or his corner.
NOT YET. As unremarkable as it may have been, I’m not ready to write off Rodel Mayol. Not just yet.
Just as there is that temptation to anoint an upcoming boxer as the next best thing, so is there an inclination to label a fighter who looks unimpressive coming off a loss, as a shot fighter who has seen better days.
Yes, there are beatings that linger, and some fighters never recover from them. Think Fernando Vargas at the hands of Felix Trinidad or Vernon Forrest from Ricardo Mayorga.
But for every Vargas and Forrest there’s an Iran Barkley or a Carl Thompson. And Rodel is still a young man who has plenty of time to shore up on his weaknesses and improve.
NOT TOO GOLDEN. Oscar de la Hoya wasn’t splendid either. While it may have been one of his best technical displays in recent years, his face bore welts and lumps at the post-fight press conference—damning evidence that his porous defense will continue to be an Achilles heel.
Be that as it may, I would have to consider that it’s really hard for anybody to look good against Steve Forbes. He throws punches from all angles, and covers up really well with both hands.
He also employs an unorthodox offense and the fact that he’s never been down before certainly made matters more difficult for the Golden Boy.
JAB. It was also an opportunity to witness the return of what used to be one of the best jabs in boxing.
Oscar’s jab cut up Julio Cesar Chavez’s face so bad he looked like he just had a throwdown with Freddie Kruger. It made its last public appearance during the first half of his rematch with Shane Mosely. Then inexplicably, it disappeared.
Oscar’s jab is an important component of his offense as it sets everything up for him. I know that’s what a jab is supposed to do, but in Oscar’s case, he likes to hook off the jab and his strong hand is his left.
COTTO FIRST. Which brings me to believe that Oscar would be better off fighting Miguel Cotto first before his planned rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
If he loses to Floyd in September there might not be much of an impetus for a Cotto bout. Obviously the superfight would be between Cotto and Mayweather. Also, if he can beat Cotto, that would add much more oomph to a Mayweather rematch.
Floyd Mayweather will always be a difficult opponent for him, while on the other hand, the more feral Cotto would be a perfect match-up. The latter’s defense isn’t exactly iron tight and he has been knocked down by the smaller Ricardo Torres and hurt by Zab Judah’s uppercuts.
A bout with Cotto would bring much more excitement than another technical waltz with Floyd Jr. After playing it safe against the feather-fisted Forbes, Oscar should give the fans the fights that they crave for in the last days of his career.
LAST ROUND. It’s on one of the best cornermen a Last Rounder could have, Atty. Ramil Esguerra who celebrates his birthday this week. Cheers!
