All photos by Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions
On Saturday, August 26, 2017, Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor, errrr I mean Miguel Cotto vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai will square off in a scheduled 12-round bout live on HBO.
Yes, this bout is being totally overlooked because it happens to fall on the same date as the May-Mac circus act in Las Vegas.
But, make no mistake, this could be an all-action fight that could end up being the best of the night on any network.
Cotto is coming off of a lengthy layoff, but he’s not trying to be sent off into retirement quite yet.
Does Kamegai have the stuff to spring the upset? Read on for Round By Round Boxing‘s staff predictions for Miguel Cotto vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai and let us know who you think will win.
Round By Round Boxing Staff Predictions - 2020
| Name | Win | Loss | Total Fights | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Burgos | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Hans Themistode | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0.66666666666667 |
| R.L. Woodson | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0.8 |
| Robert Contreras | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
Miguel Cotto vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Staff Writer
Due to the festivities going on in Las Vegas the same night, it is a tad unfortunate that there will be less eyes on (quite possibly) the penultimate fight of a certain Hall of Famer in Miguel Cotto.
As for the fight itself, Cotto is facing someone who is tough, resilient and taller, although it has to be said that Yoshihiro Kamegai is undoubtedly inferior when it comes to experience, skill and technique.
Therefore, I believe Cotto will win comfortably via decision, with the victory being facilitated by his excellent jab and crude hooks to the body, which will allow him to halt an aggressor like Kamegai.
The fact that it’s for a world title is questionable, though I am sure that the fight will have some good action as Kamegai always comes to fight. If Cotto does win, as I expect him to, hopefully he can then finish his career with a signature fight that solidifies his legacy even further.
Prediction: Cotto
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
No disrespect to Yoshihiro Kamegai, but Miguel Cotto has had a Hall of Fame caliber career. Yoshihiro Kamegai is more fresh than the 36-year-old Puerto Rican at only 34, but with losses to Alfonso Gomez, Robert Guerrero and Johan Perez Kamegai barely makes a case.
This is Kamegai’s first world title shot and he will be at his best. He has a height and reach advantage, however I don’t think he has what it takes to beat Cotto.
I still think Cotto has enough left in the tank to remind us why he was once beloved. His strong jab and hard left hooks will carry him to another world title before the sun sets on his historic career.
Prediction: Cotto
R.L. Woodson, Staff Writer
Miguel Cotto brings the far better resume to this matchup, but he’s coming off nearly two years of inactivity, after negotiations broke down for fights with a few other potential opponents. Yoshihiro Kamegai enters the fight with a respectable KO percentage, 75 percent, that’s largely compiled of lesser known opponents at 147 pounds, and unanimous-decision losses against Alfonso Gomez and Robert Guerrero further hurt the case for a Kamegai win.
I’m taking Cotto based on him consistently having solid performances–win or lose–against a host of world class fighters. I expect Cotto to fight a smart, patient fight led by a good attack to Kamegai’s body, and for him to look to end the fight if a true difference in class emerges towards the back-end of middle 1/3 of the bout.
Cotto draws from his world championship experience and drops Kamegai once or twice en route to his 41st career victory. After a good performance, perhaps the Puerto Rican great realizes a greater set of options to set up possibly an entertaining and intriguing farewell fight in early 2018–unless the former champion truly wants to continue on in boxing.
Prediction: Cotto
Amber Williams, Photographer
Prediction: Cotto
Mike Burnell, Staff Writer
While there is a whirlwind of attention, both mainstream and fanatical, surrounding the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight, there are more fights on deck for Saturday night and Miguel Cotto taking on Yoshihiro Kamegai is one of them.
With the vacant WBO Super Welterweight strap up for grabs, Puerto Rican icon Cotto is poised to finally rebound nicely from his defeat at the hands of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez nearly two years ago.
Auditioning for the part of spoiler is hard punching Yoshihiro Kamegai from Tokyo, Japan.
While Kamegai has a nice looking record his wins are fairly non-descript and his losses came when he stepped up in opposition and Cotto represents several steps above them.
Cotto on the other hand is a future Hall of Fame inductee who has faced the very best competition of his era and consistently fought at a high level for many years.
Kamegai has a punchers chance, though Cotto has a world-class chin and Kamegai’s knockouts did not happen against anyone with those type of whiskers. Cotto picks up another belt relatively easily via sixth-round stoppage.
Prediction: Cotto
Ty Paul, Staff Writer
Miguel Cotto hasn’t fought in nearly two years. Yoshihiro Kamegai, coming off two wars with Jesus Soto Karass, will be looking to bring Cotto into his realm of a slugfest on Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA.
I think Cotto will outclass the Japanese fighter in an entertaining fight that will have its moments of raw brutality that usually the StubHub musters.
Cotto wins the vacant WBO Junior Middleweight strap by decision.
Prediction: Cotto
Vince Minnick, Staff Writer Freddie Roach and Miguel Cotto get the job done Saturday.
Cotto will benefit from Yoshihiro Kamegai’s aggressive style. This will likely be action packed and Cotto will break his opponent down.
Freddie claimed this was his best training camp with Cotto so far and with this being his second to last fight expect a impressive fight from the Puerto Rican.
Cotto KO Round 8.
Prediction: Cotto
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
These types of fights are hard to call. You’ve got an aging warrior in Miguel Cotto who hasn’t been in the ring in a couple of years and while Cotto vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai is headlining an HBO fight card, it’s surely being overshadowed by The Money Fight.
What does Cotto have left to prove? Nothing. What does Kamegai have to gain? Everything.
Having said all that I’m not ready to pick Kamegai just yet–though I do think it could happen.
But, Kamegai’s latest achievement is going to war with shop-worn Jesus Soto Karass, and although we don’t know how much Cotto’s got left in the tank, I can’t see him being that far gone to lose this one.
Prediction: Cotto
