If Pac beats Cotto...

I was shocked when he killed Hatton in 2 rounds, but the welterweight division is an entirely different league though, and even if Cotto looked beatable in his last fight, he is still the naturally larger guy between the two., and has beaten some legit big WW (Mosley and Quintana) decisively, and you would not have beaten them if you didn't have enough power.

I'd say this could be Pac's toughest fight. There is a big possibility he can get knocked out here.

 

Juan Manuel Marquez is a much better fighter than Miguel Cotto, and the version that Manny faced in the rematch was as good of a version that has ever existed. It was a very competitive fight, a decision that could have gone either way, but ultimately it was Manny's arm that was raised at the end of the 12th round. I love that fight.

Marco Antonio Barrera is also a much more complete fighter than Miguel Cotto. I will always dispute that Marco was at his very best when he fought Manny Pacquiao. I evidence this on having seen 45+ fights of Marco's, being well versed in who he was at his best, and I just did not see it in 2003. That said, I consider this a near prime absolute destruction over an ATF HOF, so I always considered this Manny's best performance.

Miguel Cotto, despite not being as complete as the two Mexicans, would have to go down as Manny's greatest ever achievement. The difference in size will be apparent, and Miguel is not like Manny's recent opponents who also held size advantages, but weren'as as fresh as Miguel. Cotto is a supremely talented fighter, and I pick him to beat Manny by stoppage, but if Manny pulls it off, this will be his greatest ever win. Imo.

 

Of coarse. Pac moving up against an in prime, well known champion combined with a heavily promoted stage makes for his biggest opportunity to attain his biggest win.

 

Very good post. I agree with almost everything, except that Hatton wasn't as fresh as Miguel. They are of a similar age, similar world title experience, and I think Miguel has probably been in more wars/physically damaging fights (before Pac got to Hatton, that is). After Hatton won every round against Malignaggi and stopped him (both of which Cotto failed to do), he was acclaimed as the undisputed number 1 in the division and a resurgent beast. We shouldn't be discrediting the win over Hatton simply because it was achieved with relative ease, especially those of us who repeatedly tipped Hatton to win and wrote at length about how he would do so.

 

I was mainly discussing Oscar De La Hoya when I made the comment about being fresh.

In regards to Hatton though, he may have been pretty fresh for a man with sufficent experience in world title fight, but his overall skill set doesn't match up with Miguel's. I think Cotto has more dimensions to his offense, and as defensively inept as Cotto has shown to be sometimes, I think he is superior even in this respect. Hatton can only fight one way, and this contributed to his downfall last time out. Devastataing defeat.

With Miguel Cotto, I get the sense that his career still has a lot of development. He has come of age quite often, but with the Margarito defeat, he seemed to have taken a step back. The one time he could not overcome adversity, despite having done it against previous opponents. I think he overcame adversity against Clottey. I think it was a great performance all aspects considered, and his stock unfairly dropped as a result of the victory. Clottey being a top 3-4 guy in a stacked divison.

I'm not discrediting the Hatton victory, I just feel Cotto is a superior athlete and a superior fighter. That's why this would be an even greater achievement, irrespective of size.

 

One of his best win because of the moving up factor... but cotto definitely is not the best fighter he has faced. MAB, EM and JMM were levels above cotto.

 

I will disagree with DINAMITA on this, but Pacquiao beat a former great fighter in Erik Morales.

Marco and Juan are much better fighters than Cotto, but how would you favor those two fighters to perform against Miguel at 145? :bart

 

It would be a great win. I still think MAB and Morlaes wins are better.

 

Absolutely.

The rapid weight jump from 130 to fight one of the legit top dogs at 147 (who has a win over Mosley) would undoubtedly be the biggest win of his career for my mind. The significance of a guy who started at roughly 7 kilos, jumping from 130 to beat one of the top 147 pounders in under 2 years is huge.

Obviously in a p4p sense Manny has already beaten much better fighters, but Cotto has built quite a solid resume (bordering HoF material) and is a big guy. The weight is the significance of the fight.

 

I'm talking bout P4P, those three mexicans were better than cotto. If those three were the same size with cotto they'll beat him.

Like i said the moving up factor and the size difference between pac and cotto will make it one of his best wins. Pac is still the more gifted and talent fighter IMO.

 

MAB, morales, JJM, cotto in any order

 

Spot on :good those 3 guys would tear Cotto apart. it would be a great win but Marquez,Morales, and MAB are better fighters then Cotto, that doesnt mean Cotto isnt good.

 

Yes it is !!

 

I disagree.

Cotto beats Morales, Barrera, and Marquez by knockout at 145. :good

This is why I would consider Cotto his greatest ever win. I think all of the mentioned fighters are "comparable" in ability, whereas Cotto is significantly bigger.

 

Baerra 1 is his greatest win. Barerra was at his best and looking like he might be a future p4p #1. Hatton will also be a greater victory Hatton was the best at the weight going into the fight Also his rubber match win over Morales would also be greater. Pacquaio should beat Cotto. The only thing that might favor Cotto would be the weight.