Mayweather vs Pacquiao? Not So Fast, Cotto's Crowning Moment is Here!
Blog by Tony Tig In the months leading up to the much anticipated fight between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto much talk has been about Pacquaio moving on to face former p4p king Floyd Mayweather in 2010. While every boxing fan across the world is anxious to see that matchup there is one key factor preventing that from happening, and that's Miguel Cotto. Once considered one of the most dangerous fighters in the world, Cotto has somehow managed to make it off of the radar screen of boxers and boxing analyst alike.
The reason Cotto has been an almost a forgotten man in the sport of boxing is because many believe Click for More!
he has little left in the tank after the brutal beatdown he received by Antonio Margarito in 2008. Although many believe that Margarito probably got away with using the "plaster" hand wraps to issue that beating to Miguel it none the less left a question mark as to how much does Cotto really have left.
He's had two fights since then, Knocking out unknown Michael Jennings in 5 and winning a somewhat disputed split decision against top welterweight contender Joshua Clottey. Pacquaio on the other hand has been steam rolling opponents since 2006 while moving up several weight classes to do it. It's hard to make a legitmate argument as to why he isn't the best pound for pound fighter in boxing right now, however he has more on the line then the p4p title in this welterweight fight with Miguel Cotto and here is why.
For starters Cotto is a left handed fighter like the Pacman but fights in the conventional stance which gives him more power when jabbing and throwing that wicked left hook upstairs or to the body. Pacquiaos' trainer Freddie Roach has already stated that they have prepared several strategies to offset all of Miguel's strengths and while studying film and exposing weaknesses is what makes Roach the best in the game it's not going to make a difference in this fight. Why ? One word, Power. Once Pacquiao get's hit by a real Cotto punch he's going to throw his strategy out the window and look to engage, that's what he does.
The only problem with that is Pacquiao has Never been hit by a punch coming from someone who's a natural heavy handed puncher. Before that statement is look at as being unfair to Manny, it's important to look at his past fights and ask the question who has he fought with extreme punching power. The case could be made for Erik Morales who pushed Pacman to the limit in their 1st of 3 fights but he was boxer, who could punch. Then you have Juan Manuel Marquez who is a counter puncher who gave Pac all he could handle in two epic wars. Now there's Cotto, a puncher, who can box and while Pacquiao managed to avoid being hit by a weight drained De La Hoya and predictable Hatton, he won't be able to avoid being hit by Miguel for long.
Cotto's been in the ring with just about every style there is Slick boxers like Zab Judah, Paulie Malignaggi, and Demarcus Chop Chop Corley. While skilled boxer punchers like Shane Mosley, Josh Clottey and Carlos Quintana have all tested Cotto's chin and boxing ability but have come up short. In conclusion Boxing fans can expect to be treated to one of the most exciting fights since the Gatti vs Ward trilogy. The result Cotto by 8th round knockout, giving him the fight with Mayweather in 2010 and leaving Pacquiao to fight Marquez one more time.
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Where Fight Fans sound off! - Keep them Liverpunches Flyin'
Very well written, I think Cotto is pretty evil and all around good fighter,whos only loss cannot be counted against him at all. Having said that I have picked Pac to win inside of 8 frames, for the following reasons:1 Cotto will have trouble with the awkward Pac style,2 I actully think Pac is the harder puncher 3 Cottos wars with Shane,Marg and Josh were not easy on a the fighter.4 Manny is faster then Cotto and Shane. and 5 Styles Make Fights. I do think Cotto will make him fight hard and the world will find out that Pac is P4P for a reason and that reason will be revealed very soon.
Pacman has his hands full with that Cotto left. Cotto is being underestimated by Roach. Watchout for Cotto, especially early in the fight to frustrate Pacman.
Jose You are right no doubt about it, he will frustrate him early but my thought is Manny fights hard under that pressure,and his style leaping in with lefts is really hard to see coming.If Cotto can push him into the ladder rounds then he has a chance but is hard as Pac hits I dont know if he can take that pressure, well find out soon though..
Pac's gonna be too fast. and who has Cotto fought with that explosiveness, speed, and aggression? Cotto will get his licks, but Pac's gonna be too quick for him, he has better movement, he'll dodge Cotto punches and rip in to him. Pac surely can be hit, but Cotto is even easier to hit, and slower. Pac's not gonna give Cotto a chance to do much.
"Very well written, I think Cotto is pretty evil and all around good fighter,whos only loss cannot be counted against him at all. Having said that I have picked Pac to win inside of 8 frames, for the following reasons:1 Cotto will have trouble with the awkward Pac style,2 I actully think Pac is the harder puncher 3 Cottos wars with Shane,Marg and Josh were not easy on a the fighter.4 Manny is faster then Cotto and Shane. and 5 Styles Make Fights. I do think Cotto will make him fight hard and the world will find out that Pac is P4P for a reason and that reason will be revealed very soon."
man u just gave some reasons as to why Manny will lose, #1 the Manny being more powerful? well at 130 Manny took time to drop JMM, he battered him and still couldnt KO him, PBF (who is not a heavy handed puncher) dropped JMM with a "check" left hook and JMM was clearly more hurt than any of his Manny knockdowns, #2 Judah was faster than Cotto and has a heavier hand than Pac, and that didnt help, and #3 u just hit the nail with ur #5, STYLES MAKE FIGHTS, which style is it that battered and destroyed Pacquiao? COUNTER PUNCHING, one of Cottos specialties, not to mention JMMs best weapon against Manny was the left hook, and we all know what Cotto's left hook is capable of.
P.S. one big observation, ever since the Morales fight NO ONE has gone to Manny's body in any fight (hence Manny was KOd with ONE single body shot on 2 ocassions), and we know whe Cotto's offensive sweet spot is
You guys may be right,but Im gonna live with what I said 6 weeks ago even if I am wrong, cuz I am not the type of guy that will change my opinion at the last minute to be right. I think the fight will be closer than I thought and Cotto is more focused than I thought but the 8 round ko for Manny I wont change.
i said pacquiao would win, but you got me rethinking this whole thing. nice piece.
i have to say i dont like pacuiqos lack of focus. and cotto seems to be written off way to easy. anyone who beats mosley shouldn't be treated like that.
All or the respect that I used to have for May is now Cottos cuz win loose or draw cuz he fights ALL comers and never talks big.He just stays humble and his heart is Fcn huge. Did any one catch the ass chewing Floyd took from RA The rugged Man? Everyone is talkin about it. If you havnt go to onthegrindboxing.com and check it out, that shit was crazie. RA The Rugged Man is a baddass rapper, he has a song about boxing called the history of boxing. His album is off the hook.
rabymortal, That weight is what I lift and I am proud of it.I worked for years through a peck tear and a hernia steroid free to be that strong,especially coming from a line of small mexican people.Also why do you call yourself rabymortal? Do you have rabies and are dying soon?
If Cotto fights a defencive stance and not get hit with the left,circle to the left (Cotto) to take away the left.Block the left and jab to the body ALOT, and throw that badass upper cut for good measure. Keep your hand up and dont walk in to any thing, also fight at distane for the first 3 rounds. take him into the ladder rounds go to the body early and stop him in the tenth. If Pac fights with alot of 1-2s with the left but his key is the right hook, if he uses it he can actully take away Cottos will to fight close + stay off the ropes at all costs use his great speed and be as unconventional as possible. Thats the advice I would give to both. To both if they want the fight to last then both should keep their hands up at all times. Anyone else have a take?
good piece first of all. i dont agree with most of it because people talk about how beat this man has been since the loss to Margarito, and how he barely edged a hella game Clottey, let me ask yall one thing, how many welters out there u think can seriously win a big UD vs clottey!? maybe Mayweather, and thats it! so give the man his respect! Cotto dropped a man who had never been dropped with a jab, flash drop or not he dropped him which it should have brought to folks attention the force that comes with every punch! Pacquiao's hella fast, so as you say that Cotto will frustrate Pac early i cant live with that! if anything it'll be the other way around and if Cotto's heart is there as i expect it to.....Cotto in 9!
Savannah Marshall (R) of England celebrates following her win against Elena Vystropova (C) of Azerbaijan during their middleweight 75kg final bout at the Women's World Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao on May 19, 2012. Eight places in the three Olympic weight categories, flyweight, lightweight and middleweight, are up for grabs at the world championships, with another four awarded to small and developing countries. Marshall won 17:15. AFP PHOTO / Ed JonesEd Jones/AFP/GettyImages
