Even though I believe Cotto is FAR superior to Hatton in every category, you still have to look at one underlying point whenever someone signs to fight PBF: How easily can they be hit? Thats almost all that matters. If PBF can figure out a way to hit you, he will figure you out and by rounds 6-8 you will be getting nailed REPEATEDLY by laser accurate punches until you forget your entire gameplan. Baldomir, Hatton, and Judah (once he slows down) are easy fighters to hit, so PBF hit them very cleanly and discourages them. The only reason Oscar wasnt so easy to hit was due to the size advantage and power. Cotto is a very strong fighter, and one that I LOVE to watch, but Mosely hit him a lot, and he wasnt nearly as active or accurate as PBF would be. Judah's shots rocked Cotto in the early rounds, but he gave up and let Cotto steamroll him. This would NOT happen against Floyd. PBF would be landing his best shots as the fight progressed, which would be new to Cotto. Mosely could have beat Cotto if he threw more accurate punches and if he let his hands go more. PBF would do this and much more defensively and beat Cotto fairly convincingly. People say that Floyd isnt interesting to watch fight. I think this problem occurs when his opponent can't hang with him. The Baldomir PPV was one of the lamest boxing parties I ever threw. The Hatton fight was VERY interesting and I had a group of 12 or so casual-to-non-boxing fans at my place who were lit up watching the fight unfold. Both fighters being in their prime really made a difference to me and everyone who attended enjoyed the fight much more that Cotto-Mosely (and they were all rooting for Hatton to win). People also say that PBF wont take the fight because he doesnt want to get "retired" from boxing. Cotto didn't exactly "retire" Mosely now did he? A much older fighter, with worse defense, who has been in many more brawls, with bigger fighter. I dont recall him being busted up beyond repair...
Shane Mosley 1000 times better boxer than Hatton, Sugar Shane is a skilled boxer , Hatton a street brawler, thats the difference. simple as that
Im not sure this really adresses the point of my initial post...but alright! Keep racking up them posts...
Shelter, i agree with you 100% Every word of it. PRproud, Mosely is not a master boxer. He is a brawler. If you go toe to toe with Mosely , you are doing something wrong. Mosely's losses come from people who outboxed him. Not out -brawled him. De La Hoya can tell you all about this. He tried to brawl with Mosely and came up short. Cotto never tried to go toe to toe wht Mosely . He used his boxing and power boxing to beat him. Mosely needed Cotto to open up more to be his best. Instead he had Mosely slightly confused and had to try to box with Cotto.
I just can't believe that it took me this long to fully realize that even though PBF is defensive minded and that his defensive nature can deter opponents, his offensive prowess is what ultimatelty discourages his opponents and allows him to win. That sneaky sonofabitch!
