Serious question and here are the facts of his resume: 4 weight champion, including the prestigious WBC middleweight crown resume: Corley (back when he was actually relevant and not just a name opponent) Torres (took his O and back then a VERY feared puncher at 140) Maussa (took his O) Abdullaev and Urkal (both decorated amateurs) Malinaggi (took his O and broke his jaw in the process) Quintana (later took the O of the supposed "most feared man in boxing" at the time) Judah (back when he was relevant) Mosley (a considerably better version than the one who put TBE on ***** street) Clottey (always a problematic opponent, actually recently schooled Mundine) Mayorga (sure he was past it, but he DID train well and DID come to fight that night) Margarito II Martinez (utter domination and destruction of the same P4P #3-4 "cripple" that Murray, a big MW, was unable to beat in the championship rounds) His losses: Margarito I (really should be a NC if circumstances are analyzed rationally) Pac (Cotto was drained and self-trained) TBE (legit loss but TBE's toughest fight as per his own admission; turned his nose into a geyser of blood) Trout (legit loss) Please vote and discuss
Of course. His resume is even better than Froch, and that is saying something. After all he accomplished, he tops it off by becoming the true MW Champion. I'm not a Cotto nut hugger, I picked Sergio. If everyone had BALLS the size of Cottos, the sport would be much better and we would see a lot better fights being made.
Yes, lineal mw champion, first Puerto Rican to win a title in 4 weight classes. Plus he's been in some truly memorable fights.
Yeah, I just looked up Cottos resume on boxrec and I can't find Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard or Joe Louis' name on it anywhere. I don't know what that was abooutatsch
I'm going to say no. He doesn't duck anyone, but it doesn't matter much if he loses. He lost to Pacquiao and Mayweather, 2 modern greats. His win over Sergio is not that credible in my opinion. He's extremely close though and I wouldn't argue with someone who did rate him as an ATG.
I wouldn't classify him as an ATG. However, he's certainly a HOFer and one of the top fighters of his time.
I see what some of you guys mean. Let me ammend my opinion. Atg winner like Floyd, Hagler,Joe Louis, ect.... no, not really I suppose. Atg memorable fighter like Mike Tyson, Arturo Gatti, Tommy Hearns...yes
See the thing is an atg can compete in any era and have success ,I don't think this is the case with Cotto that's why I don't think he's an all time great. But his accomplishments has him a lock for the HOF.
The only ATG's of this era are Manny, FLoyd and Hopkins. Cotto is a sure fire 1st ballot HOF'er, but he's definitely not an ATG.
Tyson and Hearns are head and shoulders above Gatti as boxers, to be honest. Gatti wasn't ATG boxer but his fights were great (against B and C level fighters, against A level they were mismatches - like vs Floyd and Oscar).