What do you say? I know we've already had threads somewhat like this, but let's see if we can't clear the air before Saturday. Speaking for myself here Cotto looked as devastating against Jennings as he did against Gomez. He looked as uncomfortable against Clottey as he did against N'dou. IMHO Cotto is as good as he's ever been. For those of you who disagree; please help the rest of us understand in clear scientific terms backed up with evidence why you think Cotto is damaged goods. Otherwise STFU. ;-) Thanks.
Physically, he is definitely as good as ever. It is however difficult to judge it properly cause the Clottey fight had the enigma of that terrible cut. I think he might not be 100% of what he was mentally (lost confidence in his offensive arsenal), but not to the point where you could say he is anything other than prime. The confident guy who stood toe to toe with Mosley at times and ripped huge bodyshots after being stung badly didn't appear to be there in the Clottey fight. But Clottey is a pretty awkward matchup, and that cut was very bad, so i think it is difficult to say and doesn't justify the claim that he is genuinely past it. He is physically prime though, and if not at his overall peak, still very close to it.
it's simple. he used to be able to take a punch cleanly. he never backed out of any confrontation - he was assertive in striking down his opponent if he attempted to seize the initiative. he was never jarred by any punch. he was always confident, dominant and ALWAYS won. these days he's a lot more reserved. spends a lot more time on the backfoot and calculating his next moves. he used to seem fearless but these days seems fearful. this change was prompted by the Margarito fight. he landed big shots, but ended up the fighter being stalked. same happened in the clottey fight. he had a terrible cut, but even in the first few rounds he looked intimidated and anxious. he's not the same Cotto as the one which beat Shane Mosley. and he's probably too terrified to step in the ring with him again. wouldn't back him a rematch that's for sure. Pacquiao will KO Cotto within 8 rounds, mark my words. He's not the same Cotto anymore.
I agree. Cotto is all smoke and mirrors which I even bout into the hype. He's mediocre defensively, especially on the backfoot, and really doesnt have as concussive power as we were led to believe against solid fighters. I dont think that his struggles against Paulie, Torres and Corley were all about being weight drained at 140.
Cotto is not the same since the Margo fight, he's better. He's at his absolute peak, and is fighting at his highest level ever. Clottey is a tricky fighter and the gash comprimised Cotto's offense. Just look at the Jennings fight for proof that Cotto is suffering no ill effects from the Margo ass whoopin.
The claim that he is better isn't really valid. He clearly hasn't rectified defensive liabilities that were exposed in the Margarito fight. He also shows less confidence in his offensive abilities and falls into backing up rapidly and throwing ineffectively more often (though the cut probably played a big part in this, so its an iffy topic). If he has fallen, he hasn't fell far, but he definitely isn't any better than the guy who beat Shane Mosley. Jennings is a journeyman and proves nothing.
Jennings is a former WBU welterweight champion, and has big wins over Ross Minter and Bradley Pryce. Despite those credintials, Cotto destroyed him. No one had ever destroyed Jennings before, that says a lot.
If you watch the offensive expolsion cotto did to margo in the first half of the fight....and compare that to "spurts" he had even against jennings and clottey his speed I guess you could say has diminished since the margo fight.....atleast to me it was apparent, but he is still in his prime, but not the beast since the margo fight....