Freddie Roach even acknowledged the week before Cotto fought Kamegai that for the date in December they were looking ahead to most likely either Canelo II or Lemieux.
With Lemmys one-shot power Cotto cant risk any engagement here, none. Its gotta be defense all the way - and hope he gets judges who favour "effective defense" over "ineffective aggression". Its not impossible - he just might pull it off. Or - more likely - he gets an L KO in his final fight!
Normally I'd be a 3/4 serious pessimist and say look out for: Sergio Mora, Brandon Rios, Sam Eggington, Anthony Mundine, Omar Figueroa. Good to hear that he's looking at Lemieux and hopefully that tier of an opponent. I still feel like it'll be Cotto vs. Margarito III. I would be so disappointed if so.
Most of those don't sell a PPV, or come even halfway to selling out Madison Square Garden. Margarito rubber match and Rios maybe do, just on name value, or Lemieux. I don't think anybody would be too intrigued about Rios, though, because he never campaigned past welter and is batting .500 over the last five years. Margarito, we already got closure in the rematch and I think even casuals realize he is half-blind and has been struggling with mediocre opposition in the six years since Cotto beat him. Lemieux presents an element of danger for Cotto that will make people tune in with that sort of "stop and stare at the accident on the side of the road" morbid fascination.
Margarito, at this stage, would be an easier fight for Cotto and probably more PPV buys but let's not encourage it.
I think if Cotto can survive past 6 rounds he wins a ud, david has had a hard time recently making 160 and I would imagine cotto will make it a catch weight just under 160 so David will be drained as hell.
Cotto has looked better than ever with Roach, especially defensively. He can definitely outbox or hurt Lemieux. Defense is the key for Cotto. As long as he dont go toe to toe with the murderous punching Canadian.
I don't get it. A clear loss against Cotto should be a significant setback. It would show he can't cut it against the elite and shouldn't be looked at as a big fight opponent for Canelo, Golovkin, or Jacobs. For those fights to be viable, meaningful fights he has to win, and get the scalp that Cotto's name is. If he loses he becomes merely an entertaining B-level slugger, and should be considered a step back for the aforementioned elites. If he loses he'd have to reestablish himself against another contender first, or even consider offers against difficult rising contenders or prospects looking to make their name with him. Lemieux is win-win for Cotto. A win is the going out with a bang you say, a loss is against a big, prime, hard punching middleweight, and a sign that it was the right time to leave.
I favour Cotto to move and comfortably outbox Lemieux. Then calculatingly back Lemieux up where he can have his way with him. Lemieux only has a puncher's chance. Cotto knows what he's doing taking this fight. He also knows what he's doing with his recent opponent selection.
I don't think Lemieux can get to a 157 catchweight. He's fought recent fights at 168 and has to kill himself to make 160. Cotto might demand a 159 catchweight that gives him a cosmetic advantage, but if it's lower than that I'd be shocked if Lemieux made weight.
This. We all saw how great Geale looked after Cotto put him through the beef jerky treatment. Lemmy drained to that degree would be just another punching bag, assuming that it's physically possible for him to even reach 157 without permanent damage.
Would be a tough fight to go out on, I'd watch it. I feel Cotto gets a hard time on here sometimes which is a bit unfair.
A lot of knees are gonna be taken in this one. Lemmy might be limited, but his power is real. I'm pretty sure he hits harder as Golovkin does, only he has less skills to actually deliver it. Cotto never fought an actual Middleweight at Middleweight, and certainly not one with power like that. There's a good chance Cotto might outbox Lemmy but then there's still the danger of those wild hooks that he trows a couple of times a round.
