CLASSY COTTO
I HEAR there’s reported interest from Kell Brook to fight Miguel Cotto on his return from injury. Whenever I see Cotto’s name, it reminds me of what a great advert for our sport this Puerto Rican fighter has been.
I was privileged to have been at Madison Square Garden for his fight with Paulie Malignaggi in 2006 – witnessing the heart of both fighters in that toe-totoe clash, with all the atmosphere New York fight fans bring to the occasion.
While living in the US for several years, I saw other Cotto fights. The almost polite way in which he dismantled Michael Jennings in 2009 without embarrassing the British fighter springs to mind and, finally for me, the Manny Pacquaio fight later that year. For those in attendance, you could see Cotto’s shame in losing in front of the thousands of Puerto Ricans in the stands, but this man had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of that evening.
It’s just a shame we never got to see Cotto face Ricky Hatton. What a fight that would’ve been at 140lbs. Simon Charles, St Albans
NO ‘PROBLEM’ FOR GARCIA
SO very disappointing from Adrien Broner! We know Mikey Garcia is very good, but the lack of intestinal fortitude on display from Broner was galling. Even when they’re losing, you want to see a fighter bite down on their gumshield and show some smoke. The fact is, Broner didn’t. He made what should’ve been a good, two-way battle simple for Garcia. “The Problem”? More like little more than a nursery riddle. Carl Corbin
WASTED TALENT
SO, Mikey Garcia easily outpoints Adrien Broner, leaving Broner’s career seemingly in tatters. I find Broner one of the most frustrating fighters – so much skill, but he doesn’t use it! I was waiting for a possible Fight of the Year, but Broner’s negativity made it a one-sided bout. Patch Hammond, Norwich
BEST BROADCASTER
FOLLOWING on from the topics featured in your July 27 issue, I’d vote for Don Dunphy as the best boxing commentator of all time. As for my favourite commentary soundbite, that came during the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’. Muhammad Ali was described as looking “too tired to raise his arms” – a couple of seconds later, George Foreman was on the canvas! Mark Taha, Ealing
MISMATCH MUSINGS
OLIVER GOLDSTEIN’S mismatches feature in the July 27 issue, entitled ‘ The Unfair Fight’, was absolutely outstanding – one of the most well-written boxing articles I’ve read in a long time, and a true inspiration for any aspiring journalist. Alexander Schuetz