Cotto needs to weather the storm of the first few rounds, box well and work the body. From round 4 onwards i expect a cotto dominance and stoppage before round 10.
cotto should watch closely how JMM managed to fight toe to toe with PAC and even almost won the fight...:good
jab all day long. Don't just try to grab pacquiao which what ricky did. Dumbest fight plan hindsight being 20/20
Pacman is a fast starter...He fades late (Both JMM fights). If Cotto can get it into the later rounds...He should have a solid chance.
People who are saying cut off the ring and stalk Pac etc are wrong!!! Those sorts of fighters play right into Pacs hands (see Barrera, Hatton, DLH). If Cotto fights the way he did in the 1st half of the Margarito fight he has a great chance...Marquez and Morales both had a great amount of joy counter punching/boxing Pac. I think it's the only way to beat him. He's very light on his feet but is susceptible to a big shot when he comes in. With the "new" counter right hook and that straight left you do not want to be walking towards Pac!!!! Cotto's timing will need to be perfect to pull this off, but he does have a chance!!
Defense and we all know he has none of it and can't adopt world class defense for one fight in one training camp. His speed won't match Pacquiao's speed either. If you don't have at least decent defense going against someone like Pacquiao with his speed, activity, movement, defense and stamina you're in for doom. Zab Judah rocked Cotto after landing the FIRST clean timed shot in the FIRST round.
Pacman remains active till the 12th, if he seriously faded JMM would have eaten him alive. I had Pacquiao winning the extremely close/active 12th round of the rematch. A fighter that fades won't be able to pull that off especially when his opponent is in his face constantly throwing and looking to take him out as soon as he finds ANY advantage.
Cotto fades late aswell..worse then Pac ever has IMO. Most people have been over it..The most realistic option is for Cotto to impose himself with his size and controlled aggression. Like Scar said he has to be very wary early..not just walk straight up like Ricky did. But I think he needs to make his move in the midrounds whilst he is still got the energy to be dangerous. Not just wait till an opportunity presents itself but force Manny to give ground and work overly hard to keep a step ahead. Who knows maybe Pac just wont like the body shots coming from the bigger man and Cotto could end it with one punch...has happened before. I actually see the fight starting out a little like the Judah fight..Manny will catch a rock Cotto early. Miguel will settle himself and then start to come back. Its going to be a very good fight for this bit, then when the pace takes it toll on Miguel, Manny will pounce and nail him with enough fast left hands to force a stoppage. Manny is going to win this.
Most important thing is to work behind the jab constantly and build from there. Also to try and work off the front foot, if pacquiao starts to back him up, he'll have no chance.
Thank You....Finally someone who calls Cotto out on his Late round "Lack of Conditioning". You are right...However, here is the Difference: In Basketball, (I am a Hoop fan first) There is a saying...When a Player that is 7ft gets tired...HE IS STILL 7FT. Cotto is the BIGGER & STRONGER fighter...so even if he gets tired...HE IS STILL BIGGER & STRONGER!
the problem with cotto chasing manny and trying to stalk him and trap him - making the ring feel small if you like - is that pacquiao's hands are so ****ing fast every jab and step cotto takes towards him, pac can let off 3 or 4 shots that cotto's defence just isn't made for