Cotto looked great off his last performance and deserves another shot at the top guys, especially after all he has been through. A fight with Mayweather is a win win for him. He wins and he is an instant megastar. If he loses, it was to the best fighter of this generation. Not really a knock on him if he loses that one, but at least he was given the chance to dare to be great. That is what this sport is all about.
Cotto is one of those fighters whose unstoppable image is what gives them the mindset to perform at their very best. Once he was dismantled by Margarito he could never regain that mindset. A modern example very similar to Mike Tyson post Douglas.
He dosen't train and can't defeat any real prize fighter. Floyd Senior looked as good as Mayorga in his epic battle with Charlie Z. 2005 was the last time he won against a ranked opponent. If Cotto can't easily take care of a guy brought in to lay down it says somthing about what level he is really fighting at.
I see your point and you might be right, but that stare he gave Margarito at the stoppage of their rematch tells me a good part of that mindset has possibly come back and planted itself in the foundation of his confidence. Well, Mayorga trained hard for this fight knowing that it was one step away from getting a deal for a Pacquiao fight through King and Arum (something that before that fight would have been a fantasy), and it showed in his performance. He can't beat ATG's like Tito and Oscar, and it's a bit unfair to compare Cotto to them, especially at 154, but regardless, he won a majority of rounds and put his man away. In any case I believe he was kind of a Margarito tune-up and easy payday for Cotto, and he's hardly the reason people celebrate Miguel's accomplished resume.
I agree with some of what you are saying but the Mayorga fight is an example of how screwed up things are with Arum. Cotto was handled so carefully its like his career is being managed by nasa scientists. It looks a lot better on papar than it is in reality. If we are not comparing him to guys like DLH and Tito then who?
How was it handled carefully when he faced so many dangerous fighters, including the much avoided Margarito? Torres was no joke. Corely was no joke. Pacquiao was certainly no joke. Mosley was no joke. Judah, at 140, was still a force. An undefeated Malignaggi was no joke. Bailey was no joke. How is that a carefully orchestrated career? I'd say it's better in reality than it looks on paper. The only person you can say he didn't fight was Floyd, and the common denominators in Floyd's fantasy fights are Floyd himself and Arum, so you be the judge. Other than that, Cotto's always fought the best, and won almost every time out. It's the reason his fights were always competitive and he gained so much popularity. Again, Mayorga was basically a good payday and a tune-up for Margarito, which he eventually won and avenged one of his two only losses. Maybe there was a better fight to be made, but it's an exception to, not at all indicative of, the rule.
Cotto mentally I dont think is the same he seems like he can crack if put under the right pressure vs Mayorga when ever he faced adversity his facial expressions made him look discouraged he had the same face in the second Margarito fight he won both and didnt sustain much damage but I think the mental damage was done
Their might be some good points here but after that redemption, I think he got a lot back, especially because it was just a controversial issue. There needs to be a follow up fight to gauge him correctly, at this point anyway.
Cotto is the same fighter as before. Punch recovery? There's no way you can tell that unless he face same type of opponent before to estimate his punch recovery which what happen this year (Margarito Cotto II). From what i saw. Cotto's Punch recovery were the same if not better in Margarito Cotto I. Cotto hell almost everybody is vicious against small and f to c+ level fighter like in 140 .... He box with -B to -A type of fighter and if the opponet he face is big and has a granite chin with power he also tend to boxed. Just like with mosley, margarito, clottey.
Truth... it was his uncle.. I stand corrected... and naw this aint Larry He is on vacation in Vegas..! Im not sure about F to C+ Pre Cheto he put down and won against some decent fighters... Bailey, Torres, chop chop Corley, Judah, Mosley.... those guys listed above are anywhere from B- to A he was game vicious in that point in his carrer.. That first loss took something from Cotto.. and he aint never been the same since.. Pac took even more from him.. it was like he tried to be a warrior against Pac and got shot down.. that **** was sad to see.. Almost as sad as that loss to cheto.. For a fighter to have those type of losses and still be a viable champ is something..