Classic's take on Pacquiao vs. Cotto

I think Pacquiao will stop him personally

 

I think Miguel Cotto should be considered the favourite because he has a lot of things going for him that past opponents of Manny's don't.

Cotto is not only a strong 147lb fighter, but he hits hard with both hands, is one of the better combination punchers in Boxing today, and displayed great courage and will to win with his recent win over Clottey. He was half blind for the majority of that fight, and he did himself proud by lying to the doctor and saying he could see fine. I respect him a lot for that.

Manny obviously poses a lot of problems. He has very fast hands, and displayed some unbelievable punching power at 140lb, which used to be Cotto's old weight class. Also he is fast on his feet, and has shown many times before that he has the stamina to go the distance when need be.

I make Cotto the favourite by late TKO because I think he does everything better than Manny other than take a shot.

 

Fascinating fight, hard to call, 50/50.

 

Cotto does everything better than Pacquiao? He fights off the backfoot better, that's about it. Cotto is a solid technical boxer-puncher (more fundamentally sound than Pac) who excels at really nothing these days, though he started off showing promise as a pressure fighter and body puncher. I think Pacquiao's bursts of speed and power are some of the most difficult to contain, and a fighter with Cotto's leaky defense and survival skills will have a nightmare with it, IMO. However, if Cotto elects to use his size and strength to put the educated pressure on Pacquiao from the beginning (something Hatton couldn't) and doesn't get tagged with anything big in the process, I could see him taking Pacquiao off his game. I still think a top pressure fighter is ideal to beat Pacquiao, which is why I'd favor a guy like JCC over him without thinking. I'm just not sure Cotto has the ability to fight that type of fight as effectively given his leaky defense and questionable durability.

 

You know i'm always banging on about how Cotto is one of the best examples of educated pressure today in boxing. I agree that he needs to box that way to win this fight, i also agree that i don't think he can/will win this fight, with what you have mentioned as the main reasons- Cotto's defensive problems and Pacquiao's high tempo style.

 

Never really thought about this fight yet. Pacquaio does have the style which could well grind down Cotto, ala Margarito. At WW, Cotto has actually shown decent durability when scanning across his showings at the weight. He took Judah's shots rather well, and Margarito simply took his heart away round after round after the mid-way stage. It's not as if Cotto is vulnerable to being knocked out with single punch or only a single round's worth of absorbing punishment from an opponent for him to be stopped. Clottey had him no more than slightly dented on Saturday night.

Pacquaio has yet to be seriously tested at the higher weights. De La Hoya never landed any significant on him, and neither did Hatton for that matter. If Cotto's defense is air tight, he uses his jab, moves around effectively, and doesn't fight a dumb one, then we'll see how Pacquaio responds to his power.

Talk has begun about Pacquaio possibly fighting Mosley. That kid would really hurt Pac. If Mosley's speed and overall effectiveness is close to what he showed against Margarito, then Roach might as well order up a casket for his beloved one. Mosley's speed, strength and power would be too much. Rumour has it that Mosley can bench press around 330lbs.

Mosley is bad for Pacquaio's health.

 

My gross take is 70% Pacquiao 30% Cotto

Pacquiao has the advantage thanks to his speed and punching power. However in that fight Cotto is gonna be the bigger man, and with some skill he could give Pac serious problems.

In any case, I don't know at what weight they are going to fight. 140, 143, 147? Anybody knows per sure? Honestly, I am not sure if that will have such a big impact, but some people is doing a big fuzz of it.

 

Imo at 147 Cotto beats Pac. At a catchweight of 143/144 i believe Pac beats Cotto.

 

I think this will look alot like Pacquiao's last couple of fights as Cotto, like De La Hoya and Hatton simply cannot cope with the speed of Pacman. And I don't even think that weight will be an issue because I can't see Cotto getting close enough to Pacquiao to wear him down by using his size. Pacquiao is just too fast, both of hands and feet.

 

This is a cracking fight and one i'm really looking forward to if it comes off. Its also a fight that shows to me just how unpredicatbale boxing can be and just why we all love it so much. If this fight had been suggested 18 months ago you would have been laughed out of this place, now it doesn't seem so funny, for me its pretty much a 50/50 fight.

Pacquaio is going to cause cotto all ends of trouble, his speed, footwork, workrate is going to cause cotto issues. With his leaky defence and the angles that pacquaio is now finding you can guarentee he is going to get tagged and often. Pacquaio also proved against hatton he had chilling power at 140 so its not beyond the realms of possibility that he can take out cotto. I fell cotto chin has shown to be better at 147 than 140, while not iron clad its pretty good IMO and it will take an accumulation from pac to get the job done i'd imagine, but with cotto defence manny likely to be landing enough .

Cotto though to my mind does have the ability to take pacquaio, firstly however good pac has been in his last 3 fights(and he's been immense) there still has to be a slight question mark on whether he can take the punch of a big natural welter like cotto, we will find out the answer in this fight. Cotto also has the jab, bodywork and combination skills to get quite a lot of leather on pacquaio, if he can withstand pac punches with his pressing style and body attack this
could cause manny no end of trouble.

All in all its going to be a good fight and a massive challenge for both, i'm really on the fence on who will win, if pushed i go with pacquaio, i've underrated him in the past but not any more, he is a truly magnificent fighter but i would not be at all suprised if cotto was a bridge to far

 

i have sworn never to side against Roach again so i say Pacquiao

 

I think Pacquaio is a better fighter, but I also think Cotto is going to win by TKO. Cotto is not past his prime. He is in it. Cotto has fast hands, top skills, and can hit. To be truthful, I'd rather Pacquaio focus on someone else.

 

This is a real fight for Manny with a solid welterweight. I think Cotto will stop Manny mid rounds.