Quote:
Originally Posted by ElTerribleMorales
i pick Cotto
mainly cause we know that Hatton can take shots upstairs, but can he take that killer liver shot from Cotto and also can he keep his constant pressure after getting walloped with killer hooks both upstairs and downstairs, if Cotto chooses to box and brawl like he did when he fought Abdullaev IMO he would win a clear decision or possibly stop Hatton really late after multiple knockdowns
I pick Hatton,
And strangely my argument for this is similar to yours ElTerrible. I think the general feeling is Hatton wins at 140 ( apparently due to Cotto being weight drained, although i havent seen much effect of this in his previous fights as he keeps knocking them out ! ). As we know Hatton has a great chin as evident in the KT fight, possibly the most accurate and lethal puncher of this generation, so to take Cotto's punch would not greatly worry me. I feel Ricky would use a similar smothering tactic as against KT. Try to get in close so as Cotto doesnt have the leverage in his punches and cause to much damage. Once in close you would see Ricky throwing his trademark hooks to body and head. Hatton would need to use the tactics from both the Tackie fight and the KT fight to beat Cotto, and with this in mind will stop Cotto in the later rounds.
If the fight was scheduled at 147 and Ricky was given time for the bout ( not 7 weeks ala Collazo ) then we would see a possible fight of the year. Again we dont really know how Cotto would fair at 147 as he has never campaigned at that weight, whereas Hatton has won a legitimate world strap. But regardless of this i still see Hatton beating Cotto. Both fighters do get hit and one thing that does worry me are cuts for Hatton due to Cotto's slashing hooks. But once again i come back to the fact that Cotto has not been in the ring against anyone like Hatton ( the is not many of these types of fighters around through any weight division ie Hatton's style ). The shear pressure and pace Hatton would force upon Cotto would wear him down and again a late stoppage or points victory would decide the fight in Hattons favour imo. Both men look big at LWW and i get the feeling both will be of similar size at welter.
;)