Cotto vs. Martinez Picks

Staff Standings:

Last Event Winner: Luke Irwin (9-3)

Ben Kohn: 58-26 .690
TC Engel: 69-35 .663
Josh Hall: 33-18 .647
Luke Irwin: 111-63 .638
Earl Montclair: 51-31 .622
Lucas Bourdon: 3-2 .600
Nolan Howell: 60-45 .571
Dan Galvan: 5-6 .455

WBC Middleweight Championship: Sergio Martinez (c) (51-2-2) vs. Miguel Cotto (38-4)

Luke Irwin: This is a tough one. Martinez can get hit; he can get touched. Chavez, Paul Williams, Pavlik, Darren Barker, Macklin, etc… have all put hands on Martinez. Martinez is also too tough and proud for his own good sometimes, choosing to go out on his sword than be “cowardly”. I think this will be close as all hell and be a fantastic fight. Cotto will tag Sergio a few times, but Sergio is a fighting champion, is crafty, and, as he always does, will survive and win…barely. Martinez via SD.

Nolan Howell: Miguel Cotto is a hard fighter to place nowadays. Though impressive in his last fight, it was against Delvin Rodriguez. His last three wins have been the Rodriguez win, Antonio Margarito, and Ricardo Mayorga. His last three losses, conversely, are against high-level fighters like Austin Trout, Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquiao. Sergio Martinez has his defensive liabilites and probably can’t afford those against Cotto. However, Cotto will not be able to land his lead left hook that reappeared against Rodriguez and Martinez has just shown to be too consistent against top competition as of late in comparison to the streaky Cotto. Expect a close contest, but Martinez to ultimately walk away clear here. Martinez by UD.

Ben Kohn: I really do want to watch this fight and hope I can watch both this and the UFC card as well. Anyway, Cotto as mentioned by the other has not been consistent against top guys while Martinez obviously has. I think that I will pick contrary to them as Martinez was tagged by Chavez, a guy who notoriously is out of shape and doesn’t train very hard, and Cotto is a better boxer than Chavez. He’s powerful, quick, and his hooks are just deadly. Aside from Maidana, he gave Floyd his toughest fight by far. I expect him to drop Martinez a few times en route to closely fought, but clear, decision win. Miguel Cotto by Unanimous Decision.

Vacant NABF Featherweight Championship: Marvin Sonsona (18-1-1) vs. Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (23-3-1)

Luke Irwin: BOY, this is sure not a good co-main. A vacant NABF title fight? C’mon, son. Anyway, the winner here gets a shot at Jhonny Gonzalez. Wilfredo is a former junior featherweight world champ, who’s 3-3 in his last six, alternating wins and losses. Sonsona is younger, far less experienced, and got knocked out by Vazquez over four years ago, when he was just 20. So, he has revenge on the brain, and he’ll have a great career in front of him, but I think Vazquez is just still a little better at this point. He doesn’t get knocked out, he goes the distance, and proves his worth. Vazquez Jr. via SD.

Nolan Howell: Vazquez by UD.

Vacant NABF Junior Middleweight Championship: Andy Lee (32-2) vs. John Jackson (18-1)

Luke Irwin: Technically, the winner of this bout is in line to face Floyd, but, you know, lulz. Lee has had the NABF Middleweight Title before, but now he’s fighting at a more trim 154 after his chance at a world title was thwarted by Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.. This is Jackson’s second chance at the NABF Junior Middleweight before, suffering his only career loss to Willie Nelson. Lee just has more experience. Jackson was fighting six-round fights just last year. He’ll get his shot, but not here. Lee via UD.

Nolan Howell: Lee by UD.

Vacant WBC United States Junior Middleweight Championship: Javier Francisco Maciel (28-3) vs. Jorge Melendez (28-3-1)

Luke Irwin: Have I mentioned how awful this undercard is? I have? Ok. Moving along, odds are the winner of Lee-Jackson fights the winner of this bout, but that needn’t fear much. Both guys are limited, but Maciel has a little more juice in his hands, and had a crack at getting to the upper-end of the ranks against Brian Rose before losing a very close SD. Maciel via R9 TKO.

Nolan Howell: Melendez by eighth-round TKO.