Shaky chin vs murderous puncher? Cuevas by knockout, whenever he lands a flush shot. Cotto's a talented fighter and one of my favorites, but he would not do well against a puncher of this level.
Cuevas has a shaky chin as well... He was put on his ass by Duran and Hearns was the aggressor in their fight too...put him on his ass I think it would be a fight to see...I think the winner is whoever lands flush first... I still favor Cuevas but think Cotto has a chance
Hearns may be the best puncher in the division's history (although I would say Robinson), he'd lay Cotto out just as easily as he did Cuevas. Ceuvas was not the same after the loss, he was beaten by most of the fighters he fought after Hearns. The point is, Cotto is not a one-punch knockout artist, especially at 147lbs. Cuevas was. For pure power he's right there with any Welterweight in history. A much bigger puncher than Cotto.
No doubt Hearns would lay out Cotto...not debating that... Cuevas was a sloppy puncher though...he was a one punch KO artist...but Cotto never been KO'd by a single punch...not saying that Cuevas can't do it but...it's too early to say whether Cotto's chin is shaky at 147... He was a bit weight drained @ 140, but at 147 he hasn't necessarily been put on his ass by a punch...Margo had to stalk him for 11 rounds before finally gassing out and taking a knee...that's not really a KO in the natural sense of the word Cuevas was a BRUTAL puncher, but he had looping shots that can be easily telegraphed... BUT! Cotto is quite vulnerable to uppercuts and Cuevas was pretty good with delivering those...so who knows...its really hard to say...