Boxing News & Predictions 2014: Freddie Roach Says Miguel Cotto Will Knock Out Sergio Martinez in 4 Rounds
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach said he is confident that Miguel Cotto will win by knockout in his upcoming showdown against WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez on June 7 at the Madison Square Garden.
In an interview with BoxingScene, Roach said that Martinez has an excellent speed and athleticism, but the famed trainer insisted that the Argentine champion has no defense at all.
Roach, whose previous fighter, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., lost to Martinez in September 2012, said that Cotto will exploit Martinez's lack of defense to finish the fight within the first four rounds.
"He's very fast, he's very speedy and so forth. He's a great athlete, yes, but he's not a great fighter. He's not a great boxer. He has no defense whatsoever, and I think we're going to knock him out inside of four," Roach said.
According to Roach, Cotto, who is aiming to make history by becoming the first fighter from Puerto Rico to win four titles in four different weight divisions, will be ready for whatever Martinez will throw in their upcoming fight because training has been going as planned.
"It's going great," Roach said of their training camp. "We've had some great sparring, we've had some really great southpaws. We had a couple 147-pounders in here for speed, we've had a couple light heavyweights for strength. Whatever Martinez brings to the table, we're ready for. I know he's fast and a good runner, but if he decides to run, we will cut the ring off. We will control the ring."
Cotto, who is coming off a third-round knockout win over Delvin Rodriguez in April last year, also stood by his trainer's knockout prediction, adding that he will go all out to become a world champion again.
"I understand why Freddie is so confident and is saying the things he is saying. He believes in me. We have worked hard in the gym. The work is almost done. Martinez is a world champion. I am prepared to fight, and I want promise to my fans I will do my best to win the world championship," Cotto said.