zatoicchi
24.07.08, 05:52
CAGUAS, Puerto Rico – The tiny boxing gym where Miguel Cotto is preparing for the fight of his life would be crowded if there were 20 people in it.
This day, with temperatures rising into the low 90s and humidity not much lower, three or four times that number have crowded into the gym. It feels, and smells, like a New York City subway car at rush hour on the hottest day of the year.
Few, other than the gym’s visitors, seem to notice.
As an unbeaten world champion works silently in a corner, preparing for arguably the most significant fight of his career, elementary school students who are part of his uncle’s boxing club race around the gym.
Working shoulder to shoulder with the tykes are veterans like Daniel Santos and David Estrada, who are preparing for critical bouts in their own up-and-down careers.
The gym is also replete with the young professional fighters who dream of following the path that Cotto has blazed. Spanish-speaking media is everywhere, it seems, as are the aging but attentive fight game regulars.
Unbeaten champ Cotto doesn't get worked up (http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AqeF_zb2YJH2KUJcuzl.rKaUxLYF?slug=ki-cotto072308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
This day, with temperatures rising into the low 90s and humidity not much lower, three or four times that number have crowded into the gym. It feels, and smells, like a New York City subway car at rush hour on the hottest day of the year.
Few, other than the gym’s visitors, seem to notice.
As an unbeaten world champion works silently in a corner, preparing for arguably the most significant fight of his career, elementary school students who are part of his uncle’s boxing club race around the gym.
Working shoulder to shoulder with the tykes are veterans like Daniel Santos and David Estrada, who are preparing for critical bouts in their own up-and-down careers.
The gym is also replete with the young professional fighters who dream of following the path that Cotto has blazed. Spanish-speaking media is everywhere, it seems, as are the aging but attentive fight game regulars.
Unbeaten champ Cotto doesn't get worked up (http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=AqeF_zb2YJH2KUJcuzl.rKaUxLYF?slug=ki-cotto072308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)