Miguel Cotto vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai was a professional boxing match contested on August 26, 2017, for the vacant WBO light middleweight title.
Background Following a November 2015 loss to Canelo Álvarez, four-division world champion Miguel Cotto had been inactive after several efforts to get back in the ring had fallen through. First, Cotto and his team had engaged in talks with fellow four-division world champion Juan Manuel Márquez, who had been on hiatus for nearly two years.Marquez in talks for possible showdown with Cotto, ESPN article, 2016-02–14, Retrieved on 2025-08-13 The Cotto–Márquez fight had nearly been agreed to when negotiations fell apart due to both parties disagreeing on which weight to fight at; the smaller Márquez was willing to come up to the 147–pound welterweight limit, while Cotto, who had not fought as a welterweight since 2009 and had been fighting in either the 154–pound light middleweight or 160–pound middleweight divisions since, insisted on 150–pound catchweight between the welterweight and light middleweight divisions, which Márquez refused, causing the fight's cancellation.Talks for Miguel Cotto-Juan Manuel Marquez dead after near deal, ESPN article, 2016-08–01, Retrieved on 2025-08-13 After ending talks with Márquez, Cotto still had tentative plans to return to the ring that fall with Michael Yormark of Roc Nation, who promoted Cotto, claiming that they were "hopeful" to make an announcement on a possible opponent "over the next couple of weeks."Miguel Cotto's fall return in works, ESPN article, 2016-07–13, Retrieved on 2025-08-13 However, in October, after talks with former IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson broke down, it was announced that Cotto would not fight at all in 2016.Former middleweight champion Miguel Cotto won't fight in 2016, ESPN article, 2016-10–19, Retrieved on 2025-08-13 In December, Cotto reached an agreement to face James Kirkland February 25, 2017, seemingly ending his 15–month layoff.Miguel Cotto to end 15-month layoff Feb. 25 in Texas vs. James Kirkland, ESPN article, 2016-12–07, Retrieved on 2025-08-13 However, this fight too was derailed when Kirkland suffered a broken nose during a sparring session at his training camp in early February.Injury to James Kirkland forces cancellation of fight against Miguel Cotto, ESPN article, 2017-02–02, Retrieved on 2025-08-13
Cotto then reached an agreement with little known Japanese fighter Yoshihiro Kamegai to fight for the vacant WBO light middleweight title. This fight was temporarily put in jeopardy when Roc Nation refused to meet Cotto's purse demands as they feared that the fight would lose money with Cotto taking on a rather obscure fighter. This would lead to Cotto and Roc Nation parting ways and Cotto instead signing a deal with Golden Boy Promotions. With Golden Boy at the helm, the Cotto–Kamegai fight was made official in late May to take place that August in California's StubHub Center.Miguel Cotto inks multi-fight deal with Golden Boy Promotions, ESPN article, 2017-05–31, Retrieved on 2025-08-13Miguel Cotto to make Southland debut against Yoshihiro Kamegai Aug. 26 at StubHub Center, LA Times article, 2017-05–24, Retrieved on 2025-08-13
Fight Details Cotto would cruise to a lopsided unanimous decision, winning every round on judge Robin Taylor's scorecard (120–108) while only losing three rounds combined on the other two (119–109 and 118–110). Cotto landed punches almost at will, tying a career high with 251 power punches landed and landing 40% of his total punches, which equated to 339 out of a career high 839 thrown punches. Though Kamegai was unable to sustain much offense, he showed remarkable durability as, despite being hammered by Cotto's power punches all throughout the fight, he continued to press forward and never appeared to be in danger of getting knocked down.Miguel Cotto beats Yoshihiro Kamegai for WBO junior middleweight title, ESPN article, 2017-08–27, Retrieved on 2025-08-14Miguel Cotto - CompuBox Reviews Personal Bests and Opponents, Boxingscene.com article, 2017-12–02, Retrieved on 2025-08-14
Fight card Confirmed bouts: Weight Class Weight vs. Method Round Time NotesLight Middleweight154 lbs.Miguel Cottodef.Yoshihiro Kamegai UD12Super Bantamweight122 lbs.Rey Vargasdef.Ronny RiosUD12Preliminary CardFeatherweight126 lbs.Joet Gonzalezdef.Deivi JulioKO5/102:57Super Bantamweight122 lbs.Emilio Sanchezdef.Danny FloresKO5/80:55Mini Flyweight105 lbs.Janiel Riveradef.Marco Antonio SanchezKO1/81:59Light Welterweight140 lbs.Genaro Gamezdef.Eduardo Rafael ReyesUD6Light Middleweight154 lbs.Alexis Rochadef.Esau Herrera de la CruzKO1/62:59Featherweight126 lbs.Tenochtitlan Navadef.Angel Enrique Aguilar JimenezUD4Light Welterweight140 lbs.Ruben Rodriguezdef.Rolando PadillaKO2/40:47Super Bantamweight122 lbs.Javier PadillaDRicardo AriasUD4
Broadcasting Country Broadcaster Latin America Space RPC BoxNation HBO
References