Uppercut Magazine.com - Boxing & MMA - Cotto

Could this be the last of Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga? 

After WBA junior middleweight titleholder Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 KOs) stopped Nicaragua’s mad rushes of Mayorga (29-8-1, 23 KOs) in the 12^th and final round before 7, 147 fans at the MGM Grand, it was announced later that “El Matador” was retiring. 

Before the fight there was Mayorga pumping up the fight like a salesman on steroids with his name calling and derogatory remarks aimed dead center at Cotto. 

Of course it seemed improper but the Nicaraguan knows how to sell a fight. He’s one of a very small breed of prizefighters that can fulfill that lofty task. 

“I’m retiring, I have to go and find a job now,” said Mayorga after the final blows were exchanged with Puerto Rico’s Cotto. 

“It was an amazing fight,” Cotto said honestly. 

And it was. 

Whenever Mayorga steps in the ring fans are certain to get a go-for-broke fighting style that borders on manic berserker unleashed. When that bell rings the Nicaraguan who beat the late Vernon Forrest twice and nearly fought Sugar Shane Mosley to a draw before submitting to unconsciousness from a Pomona bomb in the final round. He knows how to fight. 

Sadly, all those years of smoking and drinking finally caught up to Mayorga who probably never saw a beer he didn’t like. All those years of racing through the streets of Managua took its toll on the once sturdy legs that allowed him to win world titles in the welterweight and junior middleweight division. 

For 12 rounds Mayorga fired his windmill rights and submarine uppercuts that managed to slip through Cotto’s tight defense. Lucky for the Boricua who saw the blows and those he didn’t see he managed to absorb. 

“He hits very hard,” said Cotto after the fight with the visible scars and bruises on his face. “He’s not easy to fight.” 

Cotto fired and fired throughout the fight. Just when it looked like Mayorga was ready to fold he would make a stand, pump himself up and motion for Cotto to trade bombs with him. 

The crowd went crazy each time. 

Fans love to see machismo especially when it comes from a veteran who’s proven he has the arsenal to carry out the destruction. Mayorga is one of those few willing to back his bravado with action. 

“He was much more conditioned than I expected,” said Cotto’s trainer venerable Emanuel Steward. “Mayorga is a good puncher and made Cotto work.” 

Don King, who promotes Mayorga, is probably a little sad he won’t have his Nicaraguan moneymaker around any more. 

“They fought their heart out,” he said. 

Mayorga broke his left thumb in the final round and was unable to continue. Up to that moment, he was dangerous as ever and ready to give his all. 

Before leaving the ring he told Cotto thanks for taking the fight. 

“I know you didn’t have to fight me,” Mayorga said. 

For the Nicaraguan it was always about business. 

One memory of Mayorga always stands out: it came during the press conference to announce he would be fighting Oscar De La Hoya. During the conference Mayorga attacked De La Hoya’s manhood and made lewd remarks. Moments later, De La Hoya’s father Joel De La Hoya Sr. angrily asked me to motion Mayorga to come toward him. When I told Mayorga that Oscar’s father wanted to speak with him, the Nicaraguan explained to me that he didn’t think it was wise. “I have much respect for Mr. De La Hoya. This other stuff is just business,” he said. 

That was Mayorga. Whatever it takes to sell a fight he was all for it. But after the fight let’s be friends. Quite a character.