Martinez >Prince Naseem and Cotto is less skilled than Barrera, but hear me out...

Came here to do just that paisano...I'll add the analysis I out forth in another thread, to go along with my original points in the OP.

 

Yes, that was discussed before in the thread. The dynamic is hardly identical; it's the style match-ups I'm referring to; a well-rounded orthodox boxer puncher with a good jab, movement, and bodywork, VS an athletically gifted and awkward, unconventional southpaw style that is more comfortable countering with hard punches than leading. My point was that a clinic on conventional straight punching and timing could tame and confuse fighters like Martinez and Hamed who, while different in tactical approach and habits, both rely on their awkwardness and speed/power to take advantage of their opponents. If you don't give this opportunities as often and manage to on some level straighten them out so to speak, then there's a chance for success. Just look what Barker was able to do by patiently waiting out of a guard and timing punches onto Martinez's open face without being over-eager in his advancement. Martinez is highly skilled and very gifted; it would be no easy task, but to say the Cotto we saw on Saturday couldn't make it competitive ignores his stylistic strengths in this scenario.

Sure, Cotto gives up his height and will probably have to change up such a gameplan with leverage on the inside with the shorter punches, but outboxing Martinez on the outside would just depend on neutralizing his left with movement and timing his jab with parries and blocks. With that gone, and Martinez shuffling forward consistently out of his comfort zone, Cotto has a chance to make him pay for a low guard and less than responsible aggression. Martinez is far from a fighter without technique and I hate when people point to athletic fighters and say they have no skills, but the right implementation of conventional technique can override the awkwardness. That's where my comparison lies.

 

Fair enough, but Martinez usually stays on balance when he throws nearly all the time. Hamed, while he was skilled, still had lesser offensive and defensive balance I believe. Martinez's head movement isn't perfect, but his chin is tucked in better than Hamed had it. I posted that a fairly long time ago, and I see your points, but my point isn't that Martinez is better than Hamed or vice versa, just that the way in which Cotto could approach fighting Martinez could resemble the way Barrera did by utilizing the same conventional strengths against similar unconventional weaknesses.

 

No worries.

I think as long as he isolates Martinez's jab, he can win the battle of jabs if he keeps his lead foot on the outside while going backwards. We haven't seen if Cotto's lateral movement is as effective against a Southpaw as it is against a tall orthodox plodder like Margarito, but I'd guess it probably doesn't suck anymore at the very least.

While the height is an issue, if he can control the distance and footing, he can win the battle of jabs with his timing and start making Martinez pay for his mistakes. I think he'd have to compliment this strategy with some inside leverage and smothering, like he did to Margarito (who had even more height on him), and it won't be easy; I don't expect him to pull the masterclass Barrera did. I just think Martinez's weaknesses of being timed by straight shots out of a tight guard and not being the most comfortable aggressor can play into Cotto's hands. Turning Martinez and making him come to Cotto would make Martinez give up his height as he advances, and Cotto fighting him in close would give him the advantage as the better infighter and shorter man with leverage on his side. The whole fight won't take place there though, it would just be advantageous for Cotto to take it there in spots; a lot will be determined by whether or no Cotto can neutralize that long southpaw jab and time Martinez with straight shots while making him come forward and keeping a high guard. Barker did this with a limited skill-set. That's not a knock on Martinez since Barker came to fight smart, but it's just a truth-bearing liability he'd face when fighting someone as elite as Cotto.