Thursday, January 30, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Cotto in no hurry to be great

Talented 22-year-old lightweight has time to develop into champ

By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Boxer Miguel Cotto rests during Wednesday's news conference at Mandalay Bay to promote his fight with Cesar Bazan. Photo by Amy Beth Bennett.

Hall of Fame matchmaker Bruce Trampler has to resist his urge to gush when discussing lightweight Miguel Cotto.

Trampler, one of the most astute men in boxing, clearly recognizes Cotto's vast talents. But Trampler also understands what happens to 22-year-olds with 13 career fights who are rushed.

Cotto, who will fight former lightweight champion Cesar Bazan on Saturday in a 12-round bout at Mandalay Bay in the biggest test of his career, is perhaps the most gifted young fighter in boxing. And too often, with the prospect of big money luring them like a siren's song, young fighters are rushed and never develop into what their potential suggests they may become.

Cotto has big plans for himself. He doesn't simply want to be good; he wants to be great. So, he's willing to wait.

"It takes patience in this business, and I have a lot of that," said the unbeaten Cotto, who has won 10 of his 13 bouts by knockout. "If they tell me I need more time, I'll take more time."

The Bazan fight is a risk for Cotto, a 10 1/2-1 favorite at the Mandalay Bay sports book. Bazan isn't far removed from his days as the lightweight champion and, while no one is denying he is past his prime, is no pushover.

And while Cotto has far more physical gifts, Bazan has the one thing that only time will give Cotto: experience.

"Bazan has been in with the best guys in the world, and there is a lot to be said for that," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said. "Cotto isn't just going to walk in there and win this fight. This is a serious test for him."

Arum, though, didn't become a multimillionaire promoter by taking foolish risks. He knows that Bazan's straight-ahead approach is made for Cotto.

Cotto is already one of the most devastating body punchers in a division loaded with them.

After stopping Carlos Ramirez with a body shot in the third round in July, Ramirez said he couldn't feel his leg anymore, as it went numb from the pounding he took.

That power is what gives Cotto the potential to separate himself from the field. Trampler admitted that Cotto could be remembered as the best of his generation if he fulfills his potential.

As excited as he is about Cotto's future, though, Trampler is wise enough to know that in boxing there is no such thing as a sure thing.

"He has a lot of physical gifts, but it's one thing to talk about them and another thing to use them to their fullest in the ring," Trampler said.

"What we're doing now is trying to find out what we have and put him in situations and see how he reacts to them. He's young, and there is a lot of great talent in his division, so we can be patient with him and let him learn his business.

"If things go according to plan, then I think that people could be talking about this guy for a long time. But that's why they ring the bell and fight the fights. We have to wait and see."