The anatomy of Cotto's popularity
— -- The trailer for "Guardians of the Galaxy," Marvel Comic's latest superhero movie, features a rapid-fire montage of graphic violence designed to lure you to the multiplex to see the latest adventure of a group of extraterrestrial misfits. Partway through the clip, I thought I spotted Miguel Cotto, flexing his muscles and scowling at the camera. The image flashed by so quickly I wasn't sure. But if it wasn't Cotto, who was it?
A replay revealed it was actually pro wrestler-turned-actor Dave Bautista in the role of Drax the Destroyer, a rampaging superhero caught up in an obsessive quest for vengeance. Still, it was an easy mistake to make.
Despite the size disparity, Drax and Cotto resemble each other more than you might think: Both have shaved heads, bulging muscles, lots of body art, and share an uber-macho attitude. And if that wasn't enough to spark my imagination, the trailer sponsored ESPN's video summation of Cotto's upset victory over Sergio Martinez, a case of a real-life destroyer upending the reigning middleweight champion of the world.
Although Cotto doesn't quite measure up to Drax's imaginary superhuman strength, stamina and resistance to physical injury, he seemed to have borrowed the fictional character's ability to project concussive blasts of cosmic energy from his hands. According to Martinez, he was dazed by the first left hook Cotto landed and never fully recovered.
The thing I noticed as soon as Cotto entered the ring for his maiden middleweight engagement was how much bigger he looked. His tattooed upper arms looked like metal-plated shoulder pads, and when the bell rang, he sprang to the attack on legs of coiled steel.
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