Obviously at 140, both prime for prime. Who wins, and bonus points for anyone who knows why this didn't happen in the early 2000s. I guess it was just bad timing, but I don't know.
Cotto had weight making difficulty at 140lbs. Was almost out against Corley and Torres. Moving to 147 helped him immensely. Tyszu at 140, Cotto might win at 147
Cotto would find out that if you trade with Tszyu, it's gonna Kostya. I don't think any rational person would deny that Cotto was a much greater fighter in terms of his overall accomplishments across 4 weight divisions. But at 140, Tszyu is streets ahead of Cotto. As others have said, Cotto really suffered when he cut weight to 140. He should have move up at least a year sooner. He hung around looking miserable fighting Gianlunca Branco, Paulie Malinaggi etc. Those wins were pointless. He could have been terrorizing guys like Kermit Cintron at 147 instead. I believe the fight never happened because Tszyu was extremely loyal to Showtime while Cotto was pretty much always an HBO product.
In the early 2000's at 140 I would take Tzyu. Cotto seemed a little shakey at 140 from trying to make weight and was hurt on more than one occasion. I agree with the poster that said the Showtime/HBO barrier was a factor in the fight not happening. I also remember Tzyu was having injury issues around that time with his shoulder.
Really good points. If corley and Torres hurt cotto that badly I cant imagine tszyu not doing the same. Around the end of his time at 140 cotto had really bad punch resistance. I cant imagine what he was doing to stay at that weight.
I’d take Tszyu. Probably easily at 140 where Cotto’s weight draining would ruin him taking Tszyu’s punches. I think Tszyu is better and greater. It’s a good fight though.
I have a rep for being hard on Tszyu, but I'd take him over Cotto at 140. Cotto wouldn't adopt the pressure style needed to defeat Tszyu. He'd fight off the back foot and allow Tszyu to build forward momentum. On top of that, Cotto would never could avoid right hands. Remember, even Abdullaev gave Cotto a tough fight in a losing effort. Tszyu, but late stoppage or UD.