I know a lot of you might think this is a blow out, but I think this would have been a great fight. Duran is obviously the favorite here, and he might very well be too much for Cotto, but I think Cotto is a little better technically of a fighter, he hits just as hard if not harder, he punches straighter, he has little better handspeed IMO.
Here is how I look at it
power: Duran has more snap, but Cotto has more force behind his punches.
Speed: Duran moves quicker, but Cotto seems sharper, and better handspeed to me
Stamina: Duran, even though Cotto is always in great shape, Duran could go 15 hard rounds easy.
Chin: Duran.
Defense: Duran IMO was harder to hit, used better head movement, but he did keep his hands lower and he loaded up on punches more which made him get tagged a lot more solidly on the chin than COtto usually does who keeps his hands up there.
Body punching: Cotto, Duran was a great body puncher, but Cotto is something else.
to the head: They both have great accuracy to the head, but Duran put so much more behind his punches when going to the head.
on the outside: I think Cotto who has a better jab, keeps his hands up, more technical style is superior on the outside.
on the inside: Duran eats anyone up on the inside, but Cotto is so strong that he can tie you up on the inside, and he still gets good punches off in close.
All in all I think this would be a great war between two somewhat similar fighters in terms of how they fight. I don't know why but I have this fight really close because Cotto is so sharp, and he so consistent.
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