Better fighter at their peak: Miguel Cotto or Fernando Vargas

Cotto but vargas never reached his peak

 

Gotta expect a poll like this. No offense to anyone involved, but if you were following this game ten years ago like you follow it today there would be little doubt who was the superior specimen at their peak. Where is that one video with the soundbyte from Merchant comparing Vargas to Microsoft stock? Vargas was supremely skilled, had tremendous power in both hands, very good punch resistance, blurring handspeed, and knew every trick in the book. At 22 years old. Anything post Trinidad was not Fernando. The neurological damage he suffered in that fight cost him his balance, and his ability to take a solid connect. Wilfredo almost killed him with one shot in his "tuneup." Malignaggi could have rocked him after Tito got through with him.

 

miguel cotto... no question.

 

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I still can not understand what his handlers were thinking. How could they have put such a young guy in the ring with that killer......

Fernando takes it after some thought.

 

:good

I wasnt following it 10 years ago, but IMO its clear when watching both on tape..Vargas at his best was a superior fighter.so underrated now

 

More than anything else, this comparison displays how much better the 147-154 division was 5 - 10 years ago.

Vargas was a very talented fighter who was in many ways incredibly unlucky to fight Trinidad early, then take on prime (or very close to) versions of mosely and de la hoya.
His win against quartey was impressive considering, and you'd have to say he would have cleaned up mayorga if he fought him at 22, 23.

Without a doubt if Vargas was emerging now he'd have a very bright future.
He'd be a 10-1 favourite against a guy like yuri foreman

 

Vargas. Wow that was easy.

 

Double post

 

While I think Cotto's peak has been longer. I think Vargas at his best was better than Cotto at his best.

 

Cotto and Vargas were two above average fighters no more no less. Vargas was better in my opinion.

 

One theory is that Vargas's handlers were worried about his outside-the-ring troubles (he got arrested once for assaulting a guy with a golf club) so they figured they might as well move him fast before he self-destructed.

 

I like Vargas, but damn lets stop putting Cotto or comparing him to those who have cheated in the sport

 

Cotto.

 

Miguel Cotto.

 

Vargas was terrible......