And THAT is why Pacquiao wouldn't fight Cotto at 154.

Call me credulious, but somehow I suspect that the weight had little to do with Pac slipping and dipping his way off the ropes and subsequently catching Cotto with a beautifully placed left uppercut that knocked him down. Nor did the weight cause Cotto to get befuddled with Pac's awkward movement and footwork which created offensive opportunities for him all night long.

I'm a big Cotto fan, but his performance against Floyd offers me little belief that he could beat Pac at any weight.

 

Pacquiao's in ring weight with Oscar was 148.5 which was over 3 years ago.

Mayweather's in ring weight with Ortiz was 150 which was less than a year ago.

There is hardly anything between them in size so let's not make out Pacquiao going to 154 is like Floyd going to 160, it really isn't.

 

This. :deal

 

Well obviously against Pacquiao the game plan was to box more, use the jab. He was doing ok until Pacquiao sucked him into some exchanges along the ropes and that's where he got damaged. He couldn't recover from that shot in the 4th.

Against Mayweather the gameplan was to put pressure. Anyone with boxing knowledge knows that's what you need to do against Mayweather. Calculated pressure, and he did it well, using a high guard that blocked most of Mayweather's shots.

Pacquiao fought a faster, mobile and in shape Cotto whereas Mayweather fought a heavier, slower version that faded in the last 3 rounds. The punches Cotto was throwing were the same punches against Pacquiao, the only added technique was his up and down movement of both left and right that he did once in awhile to feint. Seems to work as Mayweather wasn't sure of what to do when he was doing that, he should have used it more often.

 

Because he's fighting above his optimal weight. He demanded 150 vs Margarito, and for Pac said he'd go down to that, so that probably is where he'd still be strong without giving up too much speed and mobility. For Mayweather Cotto might have felt the extra lbs would have served him better than being a little quicker and faster. It kind of worked, Floyd didn't really make him pay for being slower. I don't know if he could get away with it vs Pac. I'd be interested to hear Cotto's comments on how the two fighters differ in the ring and his opinion on both.

 

If he comes in 144/45, and Cotto comes in 150, he probably will be giving up 8lbs or more fight night. What does Cotto rehydrate to now, mid 150s-160?

 

For sure the extra weight was what he needed against Mayweather to be able to push him around. Boxers do not give perceived advantages just to be nice.

Mayweather had no problem with Cotto coming in heavy because he would be that much slower but we all know what Mayweather was saying to the public though, lol.

 

Great point.

 

If Cotto was really a true 154 pound fighter, why did he want a catchweight of 150 pounds against Margarito?

:think

 

Stop making excuses for Cotto, he was in the best shape of his life for that fight. He made it 12 rounds without really gassing out, he was still bouncing on his feet when they stopped it. Normally he would have gassed out after the 8th, like against Clottey and Margarito and even Mayweather, he slowed down.

 

I hope they do fight again at an open weight so Pacquiao can shut all the critics up. Your boy lost!