I've only watched highlights of Cotto/Margarito II but how much more improved is Cotto than when he fought Margarito the first time around? If anything, the extra weight gain has made him a bit slower and he's been through a lot of wars... Cotto is still a good boxer though and still can dish out damage. I think Cotto would fight a more intelligent fight against Kirkland but he would also be forced to retreat a lot if he cannot get Kirkland to respect his power.... What may be Cotto's biggest asset is his great jab if he keeps using it and doesn't slug it out.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think Cotto even has the power to really put Kirkland away. But until Kirkland is in a couple of more scraps and shows his ability to absorb shots is back up to snuff, the question is still out there. Jail can do a lot to a man. I still think Kirkland brutally stops Cotto.
I see Cotto koing kirkland. Kirkland does come out the gate hard, but also gets caught and dropped by lesser opposition
Kirkland, with proper conditioning, is kind of like JMM. He does go to the canvas, but because of said conditioning, recovers pretty quickly. Up until Ishida, he had been down, but had never been stopped.
Wow, you guys are REALLY overestimating Cotto's punching power. Cotto hasn't KO'd an opponent since 05'