Miguel Cotto Promotions used a Golden Boy on ESPN slot to bring American fight fans their first look at promising Puerto Rican prospect Alberto Machado. While we didn’t get the exciting knockout that both Cotto and Machado were looking for, they did get a lot of rounds for their young prospect in a clear win.
First, the good. Alberto Machado (18-0, 15 KOs) clearly has power and it was displayed in the second round when he hurt and dropped Carlos Morales (16-2-3, 6 KOs) along the ropes. There was also a borderline knockdown in the third, but Machado didn’t get the fifty fifty call from the referee. Furthermore, the Cotto promoted Puerto Rican prospect had only averaged two rounds a fight in his career thanks to that power, so him being drawn ten here will be very beneficial to his development.
Unfortunately, the run over a ten round distance did show some cracks in the armor or so to speak. Physically, Machado is a very big, very imposing junior welterweight. He looks like he would be fine two weight classes up at junior middleweight and still not be outsized or overpowered. Yet, he is also a little slow and clumsy at the size. Not so much that I am immediately ruling out his chances as developing into the star that beautiful island is desperate to find, but he isn’t a notably good athlete. His combinations are predictable and he doesn’t have any real explosiveness. I see some Kelly Pavlik in him. While he had his head on his shoulders, Pavlik showed that basics and big power were enough for him, it remains to be seen if that is true for Machado too.
Finally, major props to Carlos Morales for his tenth round charge. He isn’t the story here so I did not talk about him, but he is a decent fighter with a win over Charles Huerta. He fought his heart out in the final frame and may have hurt Machado, but it was too little too late. It was the kind of finishing effort you hope for from the guy who needs the comeback finish to win.
Two undercard bouts aired before the main event as well. In the co main event, Nate Green (9-0, 2 KOs) won a controversially received eight round decision on the road against Emanuel Rivera (17-2, 11 KOs) while Edwin Rodriguez (8-4, 5 KOs) scored a minor upset over six rounds against previously unbeaten Juan Carlos Camacho (6-1, 4 KOs). The opener was a fun little scrap and a very close fight as reflected in the majority decision. Green/Rivera is being treated as a robbery in the minor media coverage this card received, but I scored it four rounds to four. Rivera scored a second round knockdown, giving him the win on my card, but I can’t cry foul when a fighter I had winning by only the most narrow margin doesn’t get his hand raised.
