Who's the tougher fight for Floyd at WW: Cotto or Hatton?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by BITCH ASS, Apr 2, 2008.


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  1. BITCH ASS

    BITCH ASS "Too Fast" Full Member

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    Since there have been a number of comparisons, this seems like a legitimate question.

    The fact of the matter is that Cotto is nothing like Hatton. The only similarity they share is that they both thrive and are natural pressure fighters.

    That's where the similarity stops. Hatton is a very good fighter when his opponent is there to be hit and isn't strong enough to outmuscle him.

    This is why aside from Juan Urango and possibly some others that I'm not aware of, that Hatton was able to outmuscle his opponents. When faced against an opponent that he could not maul or wrestle, in this case Urango, Hatton showed incredibly limited boxing skills and ability to adapt.

    While it's not the best idea to box Mayweather when it's clear that you are out of you element, especially when you've spent your entire career as a pressure fighter, Hatton doesn't use a weapon that often defines great boxers. Hatton has NO JAB!

    Now, when you have an opponent like Floyd who's defense generally consists of him leaning back and/or to the right to avoid jabs, and when it often puts him off balance or keeps him from throwing punches, the JAB is the MOST important punch in your arsenal.

    Add to the fact that Ricky often comes straight in, shows decent head movement, but neglects to put his hands up, and MOSTLY ties up when he gets there or leads with hooks, you got a fighter that's destined to be picked apart with right hands and "check hooks."

    Roger Mayweather made notice of this in his comments leading up to the fight when he said Hatton can't beat Mayweather because he has no jab.

    Regardless of what he said though, it's obvious that Mayweather saw a very beatable opponent in Ricky Hatton who was even outmuscled by Mayweather on the inside.

    Cotto is a completely different fighter all together. He's shown the ability to adapt and box, even against a guy like Sugar Shane Mosley who he effectively countered when Shane was the aggressor. Yes, folks, Cotto is a multi-dimensional fighter.

    When Cotto is the aggressor, he keeps his hands high where they should be, takes angles, and throws the jab to keep his opponent off balance. On top of this, he's big and strong, at least in comparison to Floyd who won't have the luxury of being able to manhandle Cotto.

    Cotto also works when he's inside. The only time Cotto will initiate a clinch is when he gets hurt. He'll be there to work against Mayweather, throwing lots of left hooks and left uppercuts. When Floyd leans the other way, Cotto has a much improved right hand waiting for him.

    In contrast, Hatton tried to initiate clinches and was completely ineffective on the inside. He had no workrate. His gameplan was to wrestle.

    Trust me folks. Mayweather knows Cotto. Cotto is a beast. He doesn't want any part of him.
     
    BITCH ASS, Apr 2, 2008
    BITCH ASS, Apr 2, 2008
    #1
  2. brooklyn1550

    brooklyn1550 Roberto Duran Full Member

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    This is an absolutely fantastic first post. Great quality and analysis of their respective styles.

    Cotto is much better than Hatton at 147, and obviously a tougher challenge for Floyd.
     
    brooklyn1550, Apr 2, 2008
    brooklyn1550, Apr 2, 2008
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  3. BITCH ASS

    BITCH ASS "Too Fast" Full Member

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    Appreciate.

    I just get tired of people saying that Floyd will pick apart Cotto relatively easily and use Hatton as a reference point.

    Hatton has no jab!

    A fighter with no jab has no CHANCE against Floyd unless he just has a massive size advantage.
     
    BITCH ASS, Apr 2, 2008
    BITCH ASS, Apr 2, 2008
    #3
  4. tragicliston

    tragicliston Active Member Full Member

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    Despite some Hatton fanboys' claims to the contrary, Mayweather didn't seem to have too much trouble with Hatton. I'd go with Cotto. Who knows though?
     
    tragicliston, Apr 2, 2008
    tragicliston, Apr 2, 2008
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  5. brooklyn1550

    brooklyn1550 Roberto Duran Full Member

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    Exactly

    People don't realize that TECHNICAL PRESSURE is the way to beat Floyd. Hatton bring pressure and has good foot-speed that allows him to close the distance, but you're on the mark in saying he has no jab. This prevents him from being considered a technical pressure fighter. And it also means he leaves himself more open coming in.

    He's more of a roughhouser who clinches, grapples, and holds on the inside. This works great at 140, but not at 147 against stronger men. Cotto is far more fluid, accurate, skilled, and powerful in close. His body/head combinations and attack are on a completely different level. He's far more versatile, too.

    Think about this: What fighter gave Floyd the most trouble? Jose Luis Castillo. What kind of fighter was he? A fighter who intelligently pressured Floyd behind a jab:yep
     
    brooklyn1550, Apr 2, 2008
    brooklyn1550, Apr 2, 2008
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  6. BITCH ASS

    BITCH ASS "Too Fast" Full Member

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    Yep, but I think Floyd realizes that this ain't lightweight anymore.
     
    BITCH ASS, Apr 2, 2008
    BITCH ASS, Apr 2, 2008
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  7. C Money

    C Money Paul McCloskey Full Member

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    There's no question:nono No its NOT HATTON:hey

    Oh and Spadafora used a nice jab and out worked Floyd at his own game. :good
     
    C Money, Apr 2, 2008
    C Money, Apr 2, 2008
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  8. BigReg

    BigReg Broad Street Bully Full Member

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    BigReg, Apr 2, 2008
    BigReg, Apr 2, 2008
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  9. brooklyn1550

    brooklyn1550 Roberto Duran Full Member

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    Fighters have realized that a pressure oriented strategy is the way to beat Floyd. They just didn't have the talent or ability to pull it off.

    Floyd's had the most trouble against guys who pressure behind the jab (Castillo and De La Hoya, though I felt he beat De La Hoya in a clear, but close fight).

    He eats up defensively challenged swarmers like Jesus Chavez and Ricky Hatton.

    Definitely

    If Mayweather and Hatton rematched at 140, Hatton would get stopped even sooner. Very brutal fight for Hatton, since Floyd threw more in combination, had more potent power, and noticably more speed and movement at 140 then he does now, at 147.

    His left hook is clearly his money punch, but I think he's shown a very improved right hand. He hurt Judah with right hands and landed very clean ones on Mosley (granted Mosley doesn't have nearly the defense Floyd does).

    He got beat twice, but gave Floyd all he could handle in the first fight, and still managed to make it very competitive in the second. Most people score it 8-4 or 7-5. Cotto is a step up from Castillo in terms of physical strength, punching power, versatility, and with his jab.

    I would pick Cotto, but there's no question that Floyd could win in my mind.

    Let's just hope it happens one day. It would be ashame if it didn't because it would cement both guy's legacies.
     
    brooklyn1550, Apr 2, 2008
    brooklyn1550, Apr 2, 2008
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  10. JurisBoxer

    JurisBoxer Ivan: Top 5 p4p Full Member

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    Cotto is the only WW that has all the needed skills to beat Mayweather. I'm not saying Cotto beats PBF, but if anyone at WW has a chance, it's certainly Cotto.
     
    JurisBoxer, Apr 2, 2008
    JurisBoxer, Apr 2, 2008
    #10
  11. Sweet EP

    Sweet EP Jab & Move Baby! Full Member

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    Not seen much evidence to suggest Mayweather would have too much trouble with Cotto. Enjoy watching Cotto, not so much Floyd, but you have to admit the guy is different gravy! (excellent for our U.S. friends)
     
    Sweet EP, Apr 2, 2008
    Sweet EP, Apr 2, 2008
    #11
  12. Caliboxing

    Caliboxing Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Cotto. His skills are more polished than Hatton and he has proven himself at 147.
     
    Caliboxing, Apr 2, 2008
    Caliboxing, Apr 2, 2008
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  13. Hatesrats

    Hatesrats "I'm NOT Suprised..." Full Member

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    PBF Fighting Cotto will be the first time Floyd fight's someone who has all The advantages equal To him or maybe even More so...

    Same Height
    Cotto has The Youth
    Cotto has The Same Speed
    Cotto has The Same Power
    Cotto Has The Same "Undefeated" Moniker
    But Cotto Has Something Mayweather don't have anymore
    And That is HUNGER!.

    That Said, I Give Cotto A better chance At getting Floyd's -0- Than I gave Hatton. Floyd Was never in any real trouble with Hatton's Power punching Nor was Mayweather Going to have to fear being Hurt by Hatton.
    (Ricky is Just Too small For PBF)

    In A Fight against Cotto However, Mayweather is prob best To Fight from His his Bike And out Box And Slick the rougher Cotto.
    If Floyd Stands And Trades/Exchanges with Cotto he Would be Playing Right into Miguel's Fighting style. Everyone Knows Floyd Can outbox and Out jab A Fighter.. But something tells me He's gonna Exchange from this Point in his carrear Foward. Tho It will be A more exciting PBF, Ask Roy Jones What happens next. (Anyone can get Touched even after never being Hit before..)
     
    Hatesrats, Apr 2, 2008
    Hatesrats, Apr 2, 2008
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  14. booradley

    booradley Mean People Kick Ass! Full Member

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    Okay -- I'll admit I am biased as hell about this one. I don't like PBF, and I don't like hook and hold hatton. Cotto, on the other hand, is one of my favorite fighters. Cotto/Mayweather is the single most important fight in boxing today. Cotto poses a serious threat to everything Floyd believes about himself, and it is painfully obvious that Floyd is ducking Cotto. Hatton was never a serious threat.

    Boo
     
    booradley, Apr 2, 2008
    booradley, Apr 2, 2008
    #14
  15. Pimp C

    Pimp C Too Much Motion Full Member

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    Caps is back and wouldn't you know his first post would be about PBF.:-( But to answer your question Cotto is. My question to you is why make this post when I told you for months why PBF was a stylistic nightmare for Hatton but you wouldn't listen to sound logic and picked Hatton to win. On top of that you then use some of my same points in this thread about what type of fighter Hatton is.:patsch
     
    Pimp C, Apr 2, 2008
    Pimp C, Apr 2, 2008
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