I just watched some GGG fights. I was expecting speed (hand and foot) along with power. But what I saw was just power. I think Cotto has a big chance of beating GGG if ever they fight. What do you think?
GGG isn't the fastest but he is precise with his hands and feet. He cuts the ring off well and has good timing. Cotto has been stopped before and I see it happening again, he's not big enough. GGG KO 8.
People think Golovkin will just be able walk in and land a devastating shot on Cotto like nothing just because he's been able to do it to far lesser skilled opponents than Cotto. Cotto has the superior footwork, timing, and overall boxing ability. The advantages that three G has are few but big, size and power along with the respectable footwork, timing etc. makes him a favorite because it will feel like only a matter of time before three G lands something big but, it more likely be late than early. Cotto's best chance is to have a situation similar to the Martinez one where is able to land a big shot early and it doesn't have to hurt Golov like it did Serg, just get his respect and make him wary of trying to walk in with little regard, this will make Cotto's already superior boxing even more significant. We'd really have a good fight on our hands if Cotto gets Golovkin to respect him early, otherwise we'll be waiting for the inevitable freight train to run Cotto over.
What fights have you been watching? Cotto isnt half the boxer GGG is, and I am talking about pure boxing here not power. Its pretty amusing that Golovkin and his fists are where they need to be when they need to be there, but because he isnt herky-jerky "quick" and doesnt use the philly shell a whole generation of fight fans have no idea what they are looking at.
Boxing starts with the feet, everything forms from that, with superior positioning you have superior opportunity, and limit your opponent opportunity. All three G has an awareness of is good cutting skills combined with good timing, and great punch fluidity to deliver power. But you only see him out boxing guys with far less boxing ability than Cotto. Cotto has everything three G has in boxing and then some, three G does not have the lateral movement Cotto has. Cotto employs half steps forward and to the side, feints movement, feints punches as to whether they are high or low, has one the best the jabs etc. Cotto's boxing mindset is far deeper than Golovkin's, three G looks damn good at what he does, because it's a few things and they appear to be perfected against the opposition he has fought, but he will not blow through Cotto early because he is not the superior boxer. I won't argue he doesn't get there late if Cotto tires or goes for broke.
:conf Golovkin has a better jab than Cotto, and better footwork. Cotto got decisioned by Austin Trout, his pure boxing ability is not all that. Cotto does have some wrinkles to his game, he is not a bad fighter. But he is far more popular than he is skilled. Golovkin just fights in a style people arent used to, since they cant relate what he is doing as well to popular/showcased US fighters a lot of people just dont understand what they are seeing. Him blowing out people so easily just exacerbates the issue really. Someone has actually made a couple videos that are pretty educational. Here are a couple of them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FGpcxXzpms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vijD09_O8ek
OK, I stuck the first video out, and it all looks fine and dandy got Golovkin looking like a masterclass boxer but the fact still remains it's easy to look good against inferior skill sets. Not one of those guys used any type of feints against Golovkin, not in punching, or movement. That will be a very important factor for a guy who's offense develops from careful observation of what he believes he's seeing then reacting to it with it offense. Because if he's wrong he will leave himself wide open.
In the unlikely event Cotto actually takes the fight you will see. Its so easy to forget, the only reason anyone thinks 154 had any skills and was crowing over the division is because Cotto went and lost to Trout who went and lost to Lara. Also, if you look a bit closer - GGG starts reacting to peoples feet - its not that he is reacting to what he thinks someone will do, he keeps control of the positioning. Cotto can punch hard for his size, and looks great versus d-Rods and one legged 40 year olds but has no hope if he takes this fight.
Golovkin is a better boxer than people give him credit for. Offensively. He has that uncanny ability to just put punches in the right spot. Reminds me a bit of Joe Louis in that regard. He will put some major hurt on Cotto. I don't think Cotto is willing to do what it would take to beat a guy like GGG. Cotto was really broken after his first lost to Margarito. Mentally more than physically. Margarito being a cheater aside, Cotto learned that night that losing is not the end of the world. He's still a great fighter, but he's not a guy that will refuse to lose anymore.