Miguel Cotto vs. Meldrick Taylor

Meldrick by a clear UD 8-4...and not just because PHILLY Rules!

 

The book is still being written on Cotto...but I'm starting to be more impressed with his skillset. In a good fight, he hurts Taylor in the later half of the fight due to Taylor's aggression, Cotto finds him late.
Cotto by 11th round TKO.

 

At 140, Taylor by late TKO or Wide Decision.

 

Yes because the young, inexperienced Cotto with a weak chin was better than Chavez.:roll:

 

Cotto's more adaptable than Chavez. He's a more complete fighter.

Chavez would win at 140lbs, but not at 147lbs. Cotto's chin has improved since he moved up and he's gained more experience.

 

Yeah. That's my pick :good

 

At 140 he was not more adaptable or complete, nor was his chin 1/4 as good. In fact, his game as a pressure fighter(and that was his primary game, still is) was not as effective, he was not as strong, and his chin left him very vulnerable. Chavez would stop him within 6 in a fight at 140.

At 147, Cotto is bigger, stronger, and more durable than at 140, and he's showed different dimensions to his game, while Chavez was clearly not at his best, so picking Cotto there is no stretch.

Either way, the 140 pound Cotto was very vulnerable in terms of his durability, and had not yet shown the different dimensions that he showed in the Mosley fight. He'd get handled by both Chavez and Taylor at the weight.

 

At 140, Meldrick Taylor beats Miguel Cotto by TKO in about 8 rounds. Too much handspeed and stamina for Cotto to deal with consistently for 3 minutes a round. At this weight, Cotto fought in spurts. He'd be getting hit quite a bit, and unlike Chavez, he wouldn't have the chin to take it. Cotto is too vulnerable at 140 for me to think highly of him in fantasy matchups.

At 147, Cotto stops Taylor. He's clearly a better fighter as a welterweight and can take a very good shot.

 

If Taylor chooses to box...then I can definitely see he winning a decision...That is a huge "IF" though, because Taylor was a Philly fighter who came to fight...I don't think that approach works with Cotto. Why? Cotto (IMO) hits much harder for the weight than Chavez (140), he does not have the chin of Chavez, but he is more powerful...I remember Meldrick's fights with Robin Blake, Cubanito Perez, Primo Ramos I& II, Howard Davis, John Meekins, and Buddy McGirt...Taylor did start to show a little more power in his title reign (and challenge) against McGirt and Meekins...but definitely not enough power to stop Cotto...at least in my opinion anyway.
Explain to me how Taylor gets that TKO(?):roll:

 

Taylor could get a TKO win because Cotto didn't have great stamina at 140 and his chin was very shaky (especially when he got hit with punches he didn't see coming). It would take a while, but with Meldrick's handspeed and the amount of punches he would land, he would eventually wear Cotto down and the accumulative effect would come into play.

 

Cotto certainly is a top level fighter, who may or may not become a brilliant fighter. Taylor was a top level fighter who ultimately failed to become brilliant.

So being brave I just think at 147 Cotto would be too strong and win by a late stoppage.

Cotto TKO12 (leading 7-4 going in)

At 140, Taylor would be in his prime, Cotto a little bit before, so I take Taylor to edge it with his speed, but he would have to take his lumps as well.

Taylor WM12 (7-5), a bit easier if it was a 15 rounder WU15 (9-6).

 

But he was no Zack Padilla, the true King of punches per round in the modern era.

Taylor slapped too much early on, but he did learn to sit down on his punches a bit more after a dozen or so fights; and with that handspeed he became so much better for it, as McGirt found out.