I’m gonna stick with the jab against Miguel Cotto – Austin Trout

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By Barbara Pinnella

The head of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya opened up the call, but it was hard to understand him because the connections were very scratchy. He ultimately had to drop off the call. The matchup being discussed was the WBA world light middleweight title fight between Miguel Cotto (37-3, 30 KOs) and Austin “No Doubt” Trout (25-0, 14 KOs), who currently holds that belt. This fight will air this Saturday on SHOWTIME.

Cotto was on the line first, and was asked if he thought twice about picking Austin Trout as his opponent, and if so, who was his first choice?

“Anyone who knows Miguel Cotto knows that it doesn’t make any difference who is the opponent for him. Austin is ready and I’m ready for him, and we’ll see what happens next Saturday.”

He was asked how he assesses Trout right now. He replied, “I don’t think about Trout. I’m thinking about myself. I’m ready for whatever he tries. The fans are always there for me and I’m going to make them proud, and they’re going to help me during the fight. In the Margarito fight, it was a redemption fight for me. It was special for me and it was special for my fans.”

But Cotto believes that the support he will get in New York will be difficult for Trout. “I know what he says, that he’s been in Panama fighting a Panamanian guy, and he’s been in Mexico fighting with a Mexican guy, but next Saturday it’s gonna be at Madison Square Garden in New York fighting with Miguel Cotto – yeah, that’s my home. It’s gonna be a special night for me.”

When asked how he would rate himself in his fight against Floyd Mayweather, even though he lost. “Well, it was an excellent fight. I didn’t win, but sometimes when you lose you win and that was the case in that fight. I feel rejuvenated and you will see after Saturday. I’m going to enjoy the whole night.”

It doesn’t matter to Miguel what fighter walks in the ring on Saturday night. “I’m not thinking about it. I’ve trained very hard and I’m prepared for whatever Austin Trout brings. I’m not going to give up any strategy that was planned over weeks of training, but everybody will see on Saturday the best Miguel Cotto ever.”

Next it was Austin’s turn, and he was introduced by his promoter Gary Cohen, who said that Trout is a world champion inside and outside of the ring, and that this was the opportunity Trout’s been waiting for his entire life.

“We couldn’t be more excited. Maybe outside of the boxing world a lot of people might not know Austin Trout that well. But we plan that after December 1 – December 2 – Austin Trout will be a household name. So let me introduce my world champion, Austin “No Doubt” Trout.”

“I’m more than happy to be here,” Trout said, “on a stage as big as this.”

Trout was first asked if he fought more like two of the men who have beaten Cotto, Mayweather and Pacquiao, or rather the men who stood in front of him, like Clottey, Mayorga, Uri Foreman, or Margarito.

“We plan on executing out game plan. We’re not going to necessarily run, but we are going to keep moving.”

When asked about the judges and judging, he replied, “I can’t worry about the judging or officiating, all I have to worry about what I execute inside that ring. All I can do is what I can do, and leave it up to God.

“I’m gonna stick with the jab, I have a pretty good jab,” he continued. “Even though he’s got a jab, I’m gonna have to use mine as well. We’ve had a pretty intense training camp for the fact that Miguel Cotto is an intense fighter. So we’ve definitely been going longer and harder in camp. The fans want a hard-fought 12 rounds.”

It was mentioned that Austin had recently asked for Cotto’s autograph. So how does he go from being a fan to beating on a guy to get respect?

“I love watching the fighters and shadow boxing with them in my mind. But all the while I’m telling myself that I can beat these guys. So as a fan of anyone I can still think that I’m gonna beat them.

“For this fight the reality is that I can win by knockout. You know, it’s a hard, tough fight for awhile, and then I come out in the later rounds and get the knockout. I get my hand raised.”

With all of the fan support for Miguel, and the yelling can be deafening in New York, Cotto doesn’t think that Trout will be ready for it all. Trout’s answer was plain and simple; “I’ve just got to be sure I don’t give them much to cheer about!

“I’ve not been at this level, but I feel like I’ll be pretty comfortable being in that territory. The crowd can’t help him in there; they can’t help him get up, and they can’t help him punch harder. This is where I want to be, and I’m not gonna let the crowd of Miguel Cotto get in my way.

“I feel its part of my journey, to be on this stage. I don’t doubt my skills or ability, I don’t doubt God, I feel really good about the fight. But I was shocked that he chose to fight a fighter like me. I don’t want to reveal much, but we’re working on things. We’ll work on his eyes, he has a lot of scarring up there – he can’t help that – but that’s one thing that we’re looking to take advantage of.”

It was commented on that Trout is very personable and well-spoken, as well as being a student of boxing and a boxing fan. Adrien Broner was mentioned as having the Mayweather personality, and Austin was asked how important it was to him to be true to himself as both the fighter and the fan; not talking smack about his opponent, and the like.

“My daughter will call me out,” Austin said, “and say, ‘That’s not you daddy.’” That’s not how we grew up, so why put on any kind of façade? I don’t want to be fake. I’m not saying that Adrien Broner is, he’s himself, he’s just doing what he does, but that’s not me. I want to be me and let the fans embrace me as me.

“Miguel Cotto is the best fighter I’ve ever faced, that’s no secret. I’ve put in the hard work so that December 1 can be easier. God willing we’ll do what we’ve been working on and come out victorious.”