At this point in Cotto's career who knows? But long term based on what you all have seen, who do you feel (in your opinion is a better fit for Cotto, based on his style to be his trainer???..Why?? Diaz? Steward?
I like Diaz's knowledge of strength/conditioning and the pace he puts cotto through but i beieve steward is more knowledgable about boxing and can set better gameplans maybe they can hire steward as an advisor and keep diaz as the padman/conditioning coach?
I saw more improvements in Cotto in one fight, than any other fight he has had since 08. So I will say Diaz
I like Diaz for Cotto.. I'd really like to see Cotto boxing more like he did earlier in his career. I think his handlers were trying to make another Tito-esque fighter and thats just not Cotto. Cotto vs Berto/Ortiz would be fun to watch
Diaz did a good job, but he built on many of the improvements that Steward implemented: - standing more upright - stopping the low knee dips - standing at the correct angle to reduce the target area - side-stepping off the jab - using the right hand to maintain offence - hooking off the jab Diaz did excellent work particularly on how Cotto moved around the ring and got out of trouble. He had Cotto shoving off to keep space and stepping on the inside. What he didn't do was get Cotto to go back to the body or to work on the inside. I'm sure Manny would have had Cotto delivering those hooks from close range, since Margo can't do much in close. But it was a good job all-round. The biggest change, more than the clinching (which Cotto did pretty poorly throughout the fight, but enough to frustrate Margo), was Cotto's fighting stance. That made a massive difference to what Margo was able to do - it took away the uppercut, the raking hooks and stopped Margo from getting range consistently. And since Miguel wasn't backing straight into the ropes, he didn't have the skills to make the appropriate adjustment.
:good And, also, maybe Steward can teach him how to work the body (again) and clinch. If he can learn how to clinch, maybe he would conserve a little energy and not gas out like he did in the first fight with Margo and like he seemed to be on his way to doing in their second.
Every time cotto was up close and leaning on margo steward was screaming for him to throw body shots, he was saying how cotto has the perfect leverage in that position and margo doesn't have room to punch back.
I think Cotto was trying to do so when he was leaning up close but couldn't, Margo was aware and he defended his body accordingly.
Not really fair to compare as Cotto already learned acouple things from Steward, but he did seem in excellent condition. Stewards specialty are tall fighters I think Diaz is better for Cotto. I liked how Cotto sat on his punches more, landed more body shots, and clinched. He seemed to take his time more too.