I don't envision Cotto going down and out as easily as Hatton did. He can be hurt, but he always seems to rally back. The only exception was against Margarito, who is very big for a 147lb.
Cotto is a very good fighter. Good offense, good speed, good power. Chin and defense are average by the standards of the top fighters in his weight class today. In terms of entertainment value, Cotto is usually in good fights too. I think Cotto has a better than 50/50 chance to end up in the hall of fame.
well, as I have said in other threads I wouldn't be surprised if the roles are reversed and Cotto annihilates Pac early. But that's mainly due to him not proving his punch resistance above 130 (where a two-punch combination from Marquez had him reeling, still Marquez is a fantastic puncher so no shame in that) If it's at a catchweight I think it will really affect Cotto AND downgrade the validity of the matchup. At 147, although I'd love Manny to surprise me, I think Cotto breaks Manny's guard early by whacking away to the arms until he reaches the boy, and as Manny isn't exactly hard to hit (by a fighter who is good anyway, and I believe Cotto be amongst the ten best operating P4P today) I think Cotto will be punching his head in by the 2nd/3rd round........Roach is a nice man and will save Manny the embarrasment AND danger of being beaten to a pulp and pull him out around the 4th round. IMO
Your kidding right? Oba Carr couldnt carry his jockstrap. Hes lost once to a guy with loaded gloves cmon! He beat solid solid contenders all the way up to winning his first title. His small vulnerability just makes him more exciting, but his skills and will are what make him a great fighter. He will destroy Pacquiao
To translate, you think Cotto beats who amongst a prime Quartey, Trinidad and De la Hoya? Because they're the only guys Carr fell to in his prime.
It was a good win, but Mosley has been little more that a good solid fighter for a while now. Clearly past what he was in the late 90's early 2000's. I know people are doing a song and dance about his performance against Margarito, but I thought even in that performance Shane looked far past his best. Didn't matter of course because Margarito couldn't block a punch if it was aimed at his gloves.
Fleaman I don't just think Cotto is a good fighter I think he is a really good fighter and champion on his way to greatness. He has fought a very good level of competition on the way up and in his days as Light Welterweight Champion as well. He is a technically sound fighter who has variety can box, punch, move body punch and has good ring intelligence. In fact he can be devastating in some fights. Yes there is some vulnerability as displayed when he was killing himself to make 140 but then I don't know any fighter that does not have at the very least a vulnerability even the greatest such as Duran, Ali, PBF etc. As for the hatred or perhaps criticism of last Saturday's fight or the Margarito loss I frankly think people are dead wrong. First of all Clottey is not an easy night's work for anybody and I don't care who. Despite the bad cut caused by the head clash and blood flowing into his eyes Cotto won on Saturday because he had the ring smarts to adjust and box his way to victory in the championship rounds. Clottey my African brother lacked the ring generalship to do waht was necessary after round 8 to press home his advantage. This type of things separate the good from the very good and the very good from the great. I have seen a thread here with some claiming that Mosley would beat Cotto in a rematch, that Cotto is no longer the same etc. This is dead wrong Cotto would outpoint Mosley in a rematch by an even wider margin than he did last time. I would put serious money on this outcome. Mosley was magnificent against Margarito as I expected. You don't Mosley be engaging him in a prolonged toe to toe battle. The Margarito defeat of Cotto puzzled me because there was no need for it especially as for the 1st 5 rounds he proved that the were not on the same level certainly in respect to skills. It just was not right and now we know what happened as regards the cheat Margarito who in my opinion should be banned for life. I doubt the Mosley fight was the 1st time he had loaded gloves. In fact on reflection Cotto did well to last so long in an unfair contest. If top rank match Pacman against Cotto this later this year as I suspect they will do then I will expect Cotto to stop Pacman as he has the requisite skills unlike the ill-equipped Hatton, De La Hoya and David Diaz.
He never really fought anyone much higher in status and lost decisively to those guys. Carr was a good solid guy with flashy hand speed, but he couldnt crack an egg. The better way to translate this is who could he beat that Cotto beat. Cottos resume consists of many Carr level fighters, such as Randall Bailey, Carlos Quintana, Demarcus Corley and better guys like Josh Clottey, Zab Judah, and Shane Mosley, who would have smoked Oba Carr.
Just to play devil's advocate, maybe he beats them all. Tito can't throw a jab if his life depended on it and has a poor defense, Quartey is similar to Clottey and may get outworked, DLH might just pick up another L, I'd pick them all to beat him but who knows
Quartey isn't getting outworked by Cotto. He's Clottey X2, with a workrate built in Quartey late stoppage, or if Cotto does what he has done thus far and re-adjusts, Quartey points. Don't want to comment on the other too, I famously underrate Tito AND Oscar
You'd be more devilish if you didn't think Cotto got his ass handed to him by Ike Quartey's imitator.
Had Cotto by a point flea, but I had three rounds scored even so you can firmly stick me in the "either way" camp.