You can label Saturday night’s Miguel Cotto -
DeMarcus "Chop-Chop" Corley affair the "Battle at Bayamon" and be right on
the money - the pace was nonstop from the opening bell, and by stanza five
both gloved gladiators had earned their stripes.
This one was expected to be a thriller … past WBO champ Corley had the ideal
blend of experience, decent power, strong chin, and technically sound while
working from the port side advantage - and Cotto would be seriously tested.
No sooner the opening bell and it’s Cotto on the offense with a blistering
two-fisted assault … finishes off a barrage with a big left hook that has
"Chop-Chop" on the canvas - but the nite was young and Corley would return.
Cotto continued bringing it to Corley during stanza two with hurting power
shots to the body that easily offset some decent, selective scoring by the
southpaw - a point reduction charged to Cotto for a low blow saw this stanza
a 9-9 entry.
Come candle three and the pro-Cotto crowd would be silenced when the still
attacking, albeit careless local favorite, would be nailed by a Corley right
hook to the temple that left him "legless" with over a minute left in the
round.
And while most saw "upset" as part of the "rest of the story," the 24 year
old defending champ had other thoughts, as he survived the round while
showing the savvy one would expect from a more seasoned champion - and near
the close of the stanza he was returning fire.
Once the big opportunity came and went for Corley, it would once again
return to the Cotto show … round four was all Miguel, with Corley showing
signs of wear and tear … is also charged a point for low blow that was
targeted well below the DMZ … thus a 10-8 Cotto round.
And then stanza five, and the end of 12 rounds of fistic fury squeezed into
four candles and 2:45 seconds, with Cotto successfully retaining his bauble.
End neared with Corley down from left hook that followed a flurry - beats
count but in trouble, takes a knee to avoid further punishment and referee
Ismael Quiñones Falu quickly calls it no-mas.
Cotto remains undefeated with 23 wins and 19 stops - Corley drops to 29-4-1,
16 KO’s.
Closing Comments: Miguel Cotto ~ It says here, this young champion has now
answered all the questions needed to be stamped as the Island’s heir
apparent to current favorite Felix Trinidad. We knew the kid could punch
with both hands. We knew he’s always arrived fit and ready for battle. Toss
in a now proven ability to overcome serious adversity, and we have the
complete package.
His comeback from the affects of the power shot to the temple that resulted
in a Cotto version of the Zab Judah "hucklebuck" in the Tszyu fite, and
going on to finish the round without once being dropped, and then closing
the show one stanza later, stamps him as something special.
DeMarcus Corley ~ At a now age 30, can
still audition for HBO - Showtime work. Proven pro with excellent skills and
solid chin, thus an ideal roadblock for new faces at 140 - or maybe 135 as
he declared in post-fite ring chat with Merchant. Only caution light I might
have seen, was his seeking referee assistance when in trouble. Wasn’t a need
when at prime time.
Referee Enrique Quiñones Falu ~ Liked most of his
work … let them fight without hovering over them with verbal idiocy. Only
negative was the point deductions charged to each fighter for low blows.
Think Corley stole one with the exaggerated antics of pain when the punch
made contact a fraction below waistband. Then two rounds later he loads up
with a healthy one well below the DMZ … closer to Pusan than the 38th
Parallel, and quite telling was Cotto dismissing the offered gratuity of 5
minutes, and quickly resumed the offense. Neither infraction could be seen
as intentional. Some may question the stoppage as a quickie … I see it as
proper call. Going down without being hit, after just being dropped, to me
is synonymous with waving a French flag of surrender.
