Maybe at 140 Taylor wins, i actually don't think he would STOP him, but he'd maybe wobble him enough to get a decision cemented. That would be the difference between this fight at 140-147, at 147 Cotto wins imo because he aint shaky, would still be tough though, Cotto's compact nut his defence ain't great, he could be opened up by Taylor, but i see Cotto landing heavy jabs and powerful bodyshots that would eventually win this fight for him. About the Chavez- Cotto thing, Chavez wasnt all that powerful imo, im talking at the top level. By power i mean power-punching. Maybe the strongest his weight divisions have ever seen, but by no means of the greatest power-punchers. One of the greatest chins ever. His bodyshots were so precise and looked so heavy, just like his right hands upstairs, but he wasnt constantly laying guys out with them. He beats Cotto for strength, but i dunno about power p4p (meaning a power comparison between a 140 Chavez and a 147 Cotto)
Not for particularly long spells because obviously he was better at doing his normal thing. For some reason I feel that Chavez gets looked upon as a brawler type fighter. Much like Duran (who had even more dimensions then Chavez) he was more than that. Cotto showed he could get behind the jab and lose rounds. Great strategy right there I must say. That shows a flaw on Cotto's behalf not adaptation. In the later rounds of a close fight he chooses to 'box'.
That's not how I imagine Taylor beating him. I don't see him hurting Cotto early on with single shots and trying to finish him off, I simply see his immense workrate and relentlessness wearing Cotto down. He did beat a more durable fighter at the weight in McGirt, stopping him late. I would've thought the same thing about a much better in and out fighter like McGirt. It looked to me like he was the foil to Taylor's style. However, Taylor's handspeed and workrate were so great that McGirt simply wasn't able to pop in and out and land clean shots without getting tagged back repeatedly, and I see that as a huge problem for Cotto, especially if he elects to box in this fight. If he elects to pressure, he'll catch a beating like Chavez got, difference being durability and experience. His stamina was also not proven at 140 as it has been at 147. You and me see it differently. I see Taylor clearly getting the best of the younger, less durable Cotto in the trenches, which is why I choose him by late round TKO. I can't see him hurting Taylor early on, nor wearing him down as effectively as Chavez without feeling the effects of Taylor's attack. Well, to be completely blunt, we just disagree on this one. I see no way the younger, less durable Cotto could do better against Taylor than Chavez did, especially considering the factors that allowed Chavez to win.
Oh , and people who don't think Chavez was adaptable havent seen all of Chavez, he was a better mover and jabber than his regular stance and shape suggested
Well by default you would expect that of a fighter who was probably the best in the world for three years (90-93). Despite being 5-12lbs and up to six years past his 135, 87 Rosario best. But then JC Superstar was a rather good fighter, indeed the Greatest Mexican ever (all be it by two seconds!).
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. Your reply "At 140 he was not more adaptable or complete" You did read my post wrong. If you read the above correctly I never specified Cotto had that over Chavez at 140lbs, you assumed. I gave my prediction at 140lbs and 147lbs.
I said that because that is what the matchup at hand referred to. We weren't talking about Cotto at 147, we were talking about him at 140, which is why I pointed that out.
Ok man. No problem. I was going to start a heated arguement with you and become personal and abusive. You were very lucky. Joke :bush
Are you referring to the Mosley fight? In most of the later rounds, despite moving off of the backfoot, he was still landing the cleaner, more authoritative punches. And he wasn't boxing behind a jab, but rather moving, finding selective spots to counter. Mosley was pressuring him, but it wasn't very effective for the most part. Watch round 11 again.
Damn, the cream of the crop is on tonight! For whats it's worth, i do see Taylor wearing down Cotto and possibly stopping him in the later rounds as well.