Cotto vs. Top Fighters in His Weight Range

With last night's victory over Yuri Foreman, the question lingers: Is Miguel Cotto back? Well, here is how I think he would do against the top competition from 147-154.


Berto: This is his best chance at a belt at 147, obviously. As much as I like Berto, I think Cotto has enough to take him. However, Berto is not as shite as some people are making him sound. He's a game fighter who would give Cotto a lot more fits than Foreman. And would possibly be able to squeak enough rounds on him to make it interesting in the end. Cotto would have to go into the tank for this one. Cotto UD (7-5).


Mosely: Mosely may be old, but he is not shot. He may be having stamina issues as evidenced by the Floyd fight... Or he may have been made to look old, slow, and shopworn by Floyd's mastery. In any event, the Cotto I saw last night would struggle against him, as Shane would find it hard to respect Cotto's power his time around. Shane has early success, but can't get Cotto out of there, and finds himself trailing by Round 10, without enough stamina to run him down. I see the fght going much like the first. Cotto SD


Floyd: Cotto would be well-advised to stay away from Floyd. Cotto has a good jab, but his overall skillset and lack of defensive prowess would render him literally helpless against the potshotting expertise of Floyd. I see Floyd pressing the action against him much like the Shane fight, and I see him scoring a couple of KDs. Flyd is harder than a lot of you may realize, and his shots would not only find a home, but he would catch Cotto off guard and coming in almost at will. This fight begins to resemble he Hatton fight by Round 6. Floyd wide UD (9-3)



Pac: Cotto would get beaten again, although no as badly. I think with Steward in his corner, he sticks with the jab a little longer, and uses it with more authority in the beginning. I think at 154, he has better balance and is a lot more sturdy, but he gets outworked badly in the latter rounds. Pac UD (8-4)



Margarito: Interesting fight. Lot of question marks. I think Margarito has his number to a certain extent, and I think it affects Cotto slightly in the beginning. That shouldn't be an issue though, since Tony starts so slowly anyway. This time around Cotto does better bodywork, does better in the stamina department and uses his jab better - On the way to another heartbreaking loss. Margo wasn't knocked out cold against Mosely. His chin is still in tact, and his tenacity is still there. Margo TKO 11.


Martinez: Cotto doesn't have the speed to deal with the 5'11" southpaw. And he doesn't have the chin to withstand the 4 to 5 wicked left hands or right hooks that Sergio will land at different points in the fight. Cotto will be caught blindly at some oint in this fight, and I just don't think he can recover the way PW and KP did. Sergio is too crafty, strong, and resilient. There is absolutely nothing about Cotto's performance last night that gives any indication that he could either outbox or run down Martinez. Don't get ahead of yourself. The guy Cotto fought last night couldn't hold Sergio's jockstrap.


Williams: Anyone who has read many of my posts knows that there is no way in hell I could give an objective prediction of this fight. I won't even try. I just hope this fight happens. Trust me when I say that you guys will be left wondering: What the hell got into Paul Williams? What was he so mad about?




All in all, I don't think last night proved much of anything about Cotto, except that he is still a pretty good fighter with a solid skillset. Give him some time and we'll se what he can do against some better competition at the higher weight. With all that being said.. **** Cotto and his legion of Cotto-queens! :hi:

 

I don't think he stops Shane. If anything, he finds a way not to get stopped himself.

And him stopping PW?!?!? He could barely get a one-legged, pillow-fighting Rabbi (with a lot of heart no doubt) out of there. What is he gonna do with someone with a good chin and the best stamina in boxing, who is a goddamn punching machine with a chip on his shoulder?

 

Them fools can't **** with Blackbelt Jones!

 

You're being way too technical with your assessment. Paul is no technician, but he has decisive advantages that cannot be ignored. Don't let that CIntron debacle fool you. Paul would fight more like he did against Sergio. And Cotto don't have heart to keep up like Sergio did.


You're also acting as if Cotto doesn't have any weakneses to exploit. Be for real. He 'outclassed' a Rabbi and puts him down in 9 Rounds after an injury. Cotto may have good body work, but he would eat too many punches on the wa in. And if you think 90% of PWs punches are arm punches with nothing on them, you should talk to Martinez, Winky, and Margarito.


Cotto's only chance is to get him out of there in 6. After that, he will fade and get caught at will. Paul has too good stamina, workrate, and determination. He will absolutely not be deterred by taking anything Cotto has to throw. And Cotto doesn't have the power of Cintron or a 160-pound Martinez, the only guy to actually hurt Paul.


If only Bob Arum had the type of confidence in Cotto, and dismissive atitude of Paul's abilities that you have, we would have us a fight. As of now, he ain't touching it.