Miguel Cotto is loved by his fans (like me) for being the consumate professional and always looking to enhance his legacy. While Pac and Mayweather have spent years "vacationing", being afraid of needles, and generally avoiding facing each other, Cotto has stepped up to both. Before taking on Pac and signing up for Mayweather, he fought a near-prime Shane Mosley at 147 pounds. Not the old version like Mayweather or as a shell like Pac; he fought the real deal. Cotto also took on Margarito when he was the most avoided man in boxing. Plaster and all, he gave us a show. He didn't "retire." He's a little older now, not as crisp and he is a decided underdog. He knows it and he took the fight anyway. Drug testing and all. So, when the fanboys of Pac and Mayweather wonder why guys like me love Cotto, it's simple. He's a bigger man than both of them.
Although I wouldn't say the version of Shane that Miguel fought was 'prime' as such, he certainly wasn't past it. i agree with your sentiments entirely.
Promoter Arum had alot to do w/ it. He probably would have fought May in his prime if he wasnt w/ Arum. I do give props to May for going up to 54 against Cotto. May UD 8-4 War Cotto!
Near prime. A hell of a lot better than the version Mayweather or Pac fought. I see your point and will make a quick edit.
Cotto was the favorite against Margarito and was supposed to KO Tony, according to 90% of ESB... Mosley's prime ended with Forrest, and was comfirmed with De La Hoya and Winky. Cotto also outweighed his opponents by nearly 20 pounds at 140. Cotto won all his straps while they were VACANT, except for the 1554 one, against a one legged Jew.
Mayweather would have been the favorite against Tony, Cotto, Williams, young Mosley, the whole lot of fighters he never faced. Taking on a tough fight as a favorite is different than fighting clear blowouts against 135 (JMM) and 140 (Hatton) pound champions at welterweight.
mosley was much closer to his prime when he fought cotto than he was when he fought floyd or pac. cotto beat clottey, mosley, quintana and zab all at 147. those victories trump all of his wins at 140 and let's be honest...he's a small guy for 147. that one legged jew was undefeated and pac wanted no part of him. cotto did was he was supposed to with the guy...he made easy work of him. cotto's two losses may have come at the hands of cheaters. i believe margarito had loaded gloves...and the jury is still out on pacs nutritional shakes from ariza.
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