The best fighter you'd pick Cotto to beat?

I just don't like Miguel against rugged punchers with great durability.

 

It was Kevin Rooney. Prior to Pryor, the only guy Arguello beat at 140 was Rooney. (LOL)

Arguello at 140 was Arguello vs. Rooney, Pryor, Noel, Fernandez, Pryor ...

Cotto beats the 140-pound Arguello.

That's why I picked Arguello.

It's okay to say Cotto beats Arguello at 140. It would likely be a very good fight.

 

Legit greats who I would favour Cotto to beat? I'm not sure there's any.

I mean Palomino and Brown are borderline greats themselves and I had a hard enough time there.

Part of me thinks it would have to be an outsized great but even then who ventured that high? Chavez, Arguello, Armstrong and I make them all solid favourites. Same as the trio of McClarnin, Canzoneri and Ross. I would favour Bradley and JMM over Cotto as well.

He's clearly a great fighter to me but pretty much the bottom of the pile.

I've made a call though, the greatest fighter I'd favour him over is Judah/Spinks. They're both arguable greats in their own right and cut off the point at which I make Cotto favourites over others.

 

I also don't like Cotto against rugged punchers with great durability AT 154 AND 160.

Cotto against punchers with durability at 140 ... he can handle.

I wouldn't pick Arguello over a rugged and durable middleweight champ, either.

 

Yeah Brown flew very much under the radar despite being a genuine two division champion and not just an alphabet holder.

 

The Buddy McGirt loss really hurt Brown reputation-wise.

 

Yeah, I think he'd have some tough moments early before grinding Keith down. Keith is probably less durable than Miguel, especially to the body.

What do you think about Cotto-Spence based on the limited amount we've seen of Spence at the world-class level? I think that's a bad style for Cotto going up against a stronger, more explosive body puncher. I bet we'd see Miguel in backfoot mode in that one. He's lucky Spence didn't accept the fight last December too - that would have been over before the half way point.

 

He beat Shane Mosley at 147.

Who is the best fighter you'd favor over Shane at 147? Brandon Rios?

You'd favor Arguello at 140 over Cotto because Arguello knocked out Kevin Rooney? And you ignore that Cotto did in fact beat Mosley and say you'd only favor him over Keith Thurman?

I was never a Cotto fan. The guy annoyed me. But you're clearly underrating Cotto in this discussion. And giving guys like Simon Brown EVERY benefit of the doubt and glossing over his losses and negatives.

 

Maybe Tim Bradley is the answer to this thread. Although the weight drained version of Cotto at 140 might get outhustled over 12.