Was Cotto's success exaggerated against Mayweather?

No. If anything, Floyd fans are trying to discredit Cotto's performance by saying "Mayweather intentionally went back to the ropes and fought Cotto's fight and beat him at it!" No. Mayweather's legs aren't quite what they once were. If he could have danced around the ring and potshotted Cotto like he did Baldomir, he would have. But he didn't, in part because he doesn't have the same spring in his step, and because he would have lost stamina more quickly if he did. Also, standing in the pocket and countering Cotto was something Cotto forced him to do by cutting the ring off on him and pressuring him. Cotto was clearly the stronger man, and he used his strength advantage well; it was all he could do, considering he had t-rex arms and was shorter than Floyd.

I gave Cotto rounds 3, 6, 8, and 9. It was a very close, competitive fight going into the 10th round. But then Cotto got tired and Floyd took over, winning each of the last 3 rounds clearly to take a 116-112 decision on my card. But Cotto made him work, did some damage, roughed him up, and made it uncomfortable for him in there. He couldn't cruise the whole fight (like vs. JMM) the way he usually does. Cotto also blocked/partially blocked plenty of Floyd's shots, but Floyd did land more clean blows than Cotto did, and had more left in the tank at the end, which is why he was able to pull away.

Still, a fine performance from Cotto. I remember a lot of people saying he'd get Gatti'd and wouldn't win a round. He won several rounds, and could have won more with a better gas tank. Mayweather didn't clearly seize total control until round 10. Credit to him for battling through some tough moments, especially round 8; I think Cotto could have done even better against Mayweather had he never run into Plasterito and fought Mayweather in 2008. This version of Cotto still gave Floyd a very hard time for the first 75% of the fight.

 

I watched the fight again. A lot of rounds were certainly more give-able to Cotto than I thought. My pops wanted to give Cotto a lot more rounds than I would have but it certainly wasn't unjustified. If memory serves me right, round 2, 5, 6, 8, and maybe 9 (less sure on that one) were rather close. I only gave Cotto 2 rounds but I easily could've gave him more, but thought Floyd edged most of the rounds and action.

The thing is, outside of the moments Floyd was controlling there were moments Floyd looked vulnerable. He was getting hit quite a bit more than you expected, and more often than what we're used to seeing. There were certainly stages where he just didn't look spectacular, and Cotto certainly pushed him back to the ropes very effectively. Floyd did not choose to make the fight tougher than he had to. Cotto did force him and make it tough.

 

Good post, particularly agree with the Mayweather intentionally tried beating him at his own game stuff. Even I was slightly guilty of this sentiment. Cotto forced that, Mayweather didn't just choose to make things tougher. His legs are not quite what they were. As Hopkins has said, "Arms don't slow down. Legs slow down first."

 

:rofl No... Just No MW! Pac gave Cotto a beating.. Floyd escaped with a close decision! Big difference my friend...

 

:deal Cotto is shot and he still almost got a draw with Floyd.. 2007 Cotto rapes Floyd in 5 rounds!

 

it's not even close. there's not one round cotto won clearly. cotto was hitting all arms and air. that's why he gassed out late. floyd showed great defense over a better cotto while pac got all bruised up against a weaker cotto. big difference my friend. floyd whoops ass, pac brawls.

 

Manny is a seek and destroy Iron Chinned Warrior... He doesn't mind getting hit and he goes for the KO!

Floyd is a pure boxer who often fights boring bouts... He's a counter punching *****!

 

Cotto was well beaten in an entertaining fight, but lets not get carried away, Floyd dictated, rested when he wanted to , cruised when he wanted to and generally did what he wanted to. In the end, Cotto was busted up.

 

No way was it overblown, Cotto fought well and close IMO. A bloody nose and some bruises isn't domination to me. Floyd got hit many times as well. Cotto had many moments but Floyd had a few more. But it was close. Floyd even said it was a very tough fight, and Floyd rarely says that about his opponents

 

Yeah cuz it's not like Cotto has been beat to **** twice before, he's in his absolute prime....****ing idiot.

 

:-(Typical Floyd fans, in denial that he was roughed up and just because he finished the fight standing up that means to them that he dominated. The fight was Freakin close! Cotto definitely won several rounds!

 

And how many rounds did you have Cotto winning against Pac? :huh

And a weaker Cotto?

 

Ifyou wanted to give Cotto more the 3 rounds you are scoring not on the criteria of boxing which is clean effective punching which clearly Mayweather was getting the better of the majority of the fight.

Unless you believe Featherfisted Mayweather had Cotto pissing blood off hitting gloves or that heavy handed Cotto who broke pacquiaos eardrum could only manage giving Floyd a bloody nose.

Sorry just doesnt jive.

 

Bloody nose and some bruises. :rofl There is an interview he gave after the fight. He looks ****ed up. He was pissing blood. atsch