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Miguel Cotto fights Sadam Ali on December 2nd, 2017 at New York’s Madison Square Garden in what is expected to be the final bout of Cotto’s glorious boxing career.
Cotto is the most decorated Puerto Rican boxer of all-time. The Caguas native has won a total of six boxing world titles in his career and is the current WBO light middleweight champion. He is the only fighter from Puerto Rico to win world titles in four different weight classes.
A Surprise Choice
Earlier this year, Cotto announced that he would be retiring at the end of the year. After winning the WBO 154-pound title, Cotto hoped to fight one more time and face the winner between the middleweight showdown between Saul Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin. But with both headed to a rematch, Cotto decided to look elsewhere. Many were surprised that he picked Sadam Ali.
Known as the World Kid, Sadam Ali was a top amateur prospect who competed for the U.S at the 2008 Olympics. Since turning pro, Ali’s just suffered one loss in 26 fights. That loss was to Jessie Vargas in 2016 for the vacant WBO 147-pound title. Since that defeat, Ali has won two in a row with his most recent win coming over former interim 140-pound title holder Johan Perez last July.
Ali has never fought above welterweight before and it was surprising that Cotto’s camp picked him as the Puerto Rican’s final ring opponent. Cotto, meanwhile, has fought as heavy as middleweight and with this bout for the WBO 154-pound title, Sadam Ali may be David to Cotto’s Goliath.
Going Out in A Blaze of Glory
Cotto is the massive favorite here at -900 while Ali is the underdog at +450. Sadam Ali is a decent boxer but he is way over his head in fighting Miguel Cotto. Cotto doesn’t just have the much better resume and boxing skills, he is also the much bigger fighter here. Having said that, it’s hard to find an area where Ali has the advantage except perhaps in age, height and length.
This is Miguel Cotto’s final bout and he wants to ride into the sunset on a winning note. Ali doesn’t have a good resume and hasn’t proven that he can hang with elite boxers. His biggest fight was against Jessie Vargas and he was outclassed rather easily. Miguel Cotto isn’t just better than Vargas. He punches a lot harder than him.
Cotto’s fighting with diminished skills. He isn’t the feared boxer he was when he was in his prime. Despite that, he is still a much better boxer than Sadam Ali. He’s going to use his power to bully Ali until the latter weakens. Miguel Cotto’s going out in a blaze of glory. We’re picking Miguel Cotto to win by stoppage.
