If Cotto was genuinely hitting as hard as GGG then he'd leap at the chance of slaying the dragon in the division instead of aaaah .... uummm ... errrr ....
And you forgot to mention that he set it up with a great headbutt to the face. Geale was stunned before the punch even landed.
Was referring to earlier in his career. But he was not in as good of shape during the era you refer to. Also, punching power does NOT deteriorate due to age. People actually get naturally physically stronger past 30 even, its stamina that deteriorates with age.. and in some fighters, reaction time (due to accumulation of blows to the head, not directly age-related). Look, its obvious to anyone who reads my posts here that I think Cotto is a garbage diva. But there is no evidence to suspect foul play, and I really think its not cool to start rumors of such with no proof or even evidence to back it up. Simply performing better is not evidence of PEDs or anything else.
I don't think Cotto is juicing either. Roach probably has sharpened him up a good deal. But it is the careful matchmaking and draining which has "increased" his power. Also, the guy, whatever his other faults, has always had a good punch.
Triple G's punching power is overrated because he beats up cans. A lot of guys get KO's until they step up to world level.
They doesn't have the same power is just that Cotto is a precise puncher and can pick ups His punches more, that's why HE can KO bigger opponents.
It's pretty blatant that GGG has been fighting bums his whole career, anyone can KO them. But that's not all there is to it. Cotton, along with Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins and Evander Holyfield all have been training with Shaolin Monks sometime in their careers.. This is why they're all bald and buff, the mark of a monk. We all saw against Geale where Cotton landed a hellacious combo consisting of a headbutt, a right hook to the body, and finally a meaty left hook to the head all in LESS than ONE SECOND. Right now, we're seeing the reincarnation of Cotton. Once you pass the tests of the Shaolin Temple, the monks grant you with eternal youth. That's why we were able to see all of these boxers compete in the highest level despite their physical bodies being old.
C'mon man, cans? Monroe Jr. had never been stopped and to my knowledge had never been down prior to facing GGG and that includes against Darnell Boone who has hurt many great fighters. Murray was a very solid fighter who dropped a prime Martinez and to my knowledge had never been down let alone stopped. Rubio had a win over an undefeated Lemieux, went 12 with Chavez Jr. and 9 with Pavlik and since '04 had never been destroyed and in such quick fashion the way he was against GGG. If these guys are such "cans" why aren't any other boxers at 160 doing this to them?
People get stronger past 30? How? So when your testosterone and muscle mass begins to decrease that leads to increased strength? Where's the logic there? I am not suggesting he is possibly on something because he is performing better but rather he is hitting harder than ever and against larger opposition than ever. That makes no sense to me. Again, I am willing to allow the Roach factor and his S & C coach to compensate for the loss of power that occurs with age but how is he hitting HARDER AND AGAINST LARGER OPPONENTS?