Originally Posted by amat
Here's some thoughts on all those fighters from that list.
Shane Mosley
Already been at the top. Great speed, puts punches together punches well and smarter then any other fighter in the division. But he is up and down in weight constantly, he's 37 years old and you have to wonder how many he has left in him. Honestly though I don't know, I didn't see him face Collazo.
Saw him fight Collazo. He worked him. I expected a more competitive fight because I thought Collazo beat Hatton when he came up and challenged him, but it was one sided. Sugar Shane is most definitely a major player in the welterweight division.
Kermit Cintron
Good fighter with tremendous power but he has been inactive in what you have to think are his prime years. He isn't exactly hard to hit either and he is pretty one dimensional. Straight power fighter. But he works well with combinations. And he has a wide variety of punches, all pack power. I love his uppercuts. I would love to see him fight Joel Julio. I have only seen the fight where Margarito destroyed him but I can't see a B+ fighter like Cintron being seen as the stand out welterweight that emerges as long as A-level Sugar Shane, Margarito and Cotto are in the picture.
Antonio Margarito
Margarito, for whatever reason, has the wrap as a sloppy wide punching slugger. Couldn't be farther from the truth. A big imposing puncher, always has a jab in your face. Has a very nice right hand and he can reach with his uppercuts. He's slow with left hook and he throws it a lot. That would hurt him against a fast guy with the ability to counter imo. Not hard to hit especially with straight punches but Margarito is a good fighter. I can't wait for the Williams bout, and if he can get past that I'd like to see him fight Cotto or even Floyd.I'd like to see more of this guy. He beat Cintron real impressively but I haven't seen much else from him. Missed the Clottey fight. He has a good rep as a champ but what big names has he got on his list besides Kermit Cintron, who is not an A-list opponent really...? He has the size to be a lasting force as champ in the division but his height and reach will be the smaller of the two combatants when he climbs into the ring against Paul "The Punisher" Williams this summer...I look forward to seeing that because it will be a defining moment for Antonio Margarito in my eyes.
Miguel Cotto
Of the list, he is my favorite. A real spark plug and a very good all around fighter. A good fighter in transition. About as accurate and as powerful as there is in the division. His fights speak for themselves really. Wouldn't pick him to lose against anyone but Floyd really. Cotto is a real good horse to bet on in this race too. He's undefeated, has a vicious body attack and makes for exciting fights with his stalking, pressing style. Unfortunately this engaging, aggressive style often leaves him open for counter attacks and it has shown in certain fights in which he was caught with his hands down during an exchange and dropped to the canvas. Not a cast iron chin, but Miguel Cotto definitely has the skills, power and hand speed to be THE WELTERWEIGHT of 2007.
Zab Judah
I think his skills are overrated. He has good speed and pop but a very subpar defense and he isn't right around the edges. You can hit him with the straight right whenever you want basically, he gets hit a lot moving in or out and he drops his hands after every single punch. Most of the time when he is moving out, he's doing it hands down moving straight back. He's such an egotistical fighter and he thinks he can get away with doing all that and he won't get hurt. Then of course when he does get hurt he collapses. You can always count on him for 3 to 5 good rounds, and he has the potential to beat almost anyone, but he isn't going to. Judah has definitely got to stop going for broke and wearing himself out so early, whether this is a question of conditioning or a matter of patience/discipline, it has been a huge factor in all of his losses except Kostya Tzsu (spelling?) But, if Zab can get past that problem, I think he stands a good chance of beating Cotto in June and becoming a major player in the welterweight ranks this year.
Carlos Baldomir
Baldomir is solid. No other way to describe him. He is solid. He doesn't do anything extrodinary, but he doesn't do anything wrong either. He could be one hell of a gate keeper and even score a few more upsets if he sticks around. Props to this guy for getting to where he is now. He came from nothing to beat an overconfident Judah and become a world champion. A true Cinderella story, from featherduster salesman to world champion, but the story ended when he met Mayweather and got completely taken to school. He was game the whole time and is a hell of a work horse and has mad heart. That is enough to pull the tablecloth out from under any overconfident/undertrained champion...would like to see him against Cotto. That would be entertaining I think. But Cotto would break his ribs and most likely stop Baldomir late.
Arturo Gatti
Gatti has no legs. Gatti is still a good fighter imo. I mean he's not bad. He's still got good skills and very good speed and everything but the fact that he can't make 140 should be a wake up call for him. He didn't have much power to begin with but Baldomir took some clean shots and barely blinked. He doesn't have the legs anymore. I have tremendous respect for Gatti. He is a warrior and the guy has the heart of a lion in the ring, but he has the defense of a Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robot. Over the years, the punches, punishment and brutal KOs have taken their toll. He should stop before he ends up taking too much punishment and risks serious injury. As it is he is probably looking at some regardless. Seriously, I dont know why you listed Arturo as a possible welterweight of the year. Every other guy on your list would kill him or like Baldomir, already did it. Gatti still has a chance of being entertaining for a few more years, but only if he is matched against C or D-list opponents. I read an article on Gatti recently in which he said that the fighter he really wanted to take on was Miguel Cotto because he felt he could hurt him. Gatti should retire.
Andre Berto
Berto could be the future. He's very good. There is no doubting that. Definitely an exciting fast moving prospect but I'm not so sure if I'm sold on him ett. He still looks like a prospect that's for sure, he's a whiles away from a title imo. I watch him and obviously tremendous all around speed and explosive power. Nice combinations and fairly good reflexes but he still as a couple things he has to work on. First being that wide stance of his, he keeps his legs very wide apart and his right at his back shoulder. He looks open for a left hook, especially a counter left hook because he's not the most accurate with the left. I was excited when I saw this kid literally run right over Humberto Bravo. Some of you might remember him from the second season of the Contender. Sadly, that is all he will be remembered for as he barely lasted half a round against Andre Berto, who looked like a juggernaut in there against him. 2007 may not be his year to take over the division and rise to the top of the welterweight picture, but provided this young prospect maintains his current frame of mind and dedication to the sport, that day will one day come. I look for him to be a major player in 2008 if not a world champion by then.
Paul Williams
Very active fighter. A bit leaky defense, especially in that in between zone but he throws a ton of punches. There are a few guys out there right now who would make him look stupid, but he's a fast fighter who punches in high volume and is for the most part right around the edges. I don't think he's that bad and I think he has a real chance to beat Williams if that fight came off. He's got some holes in his defense, but his range and like you said, his offensive output keep a lot of opponents from getting to them. Williams may still be a little fresh to be taking on someone as seasoned as the division champ, Margarito, but standing 6'2 and with an insane 82" reach, "The Punisher" physical advantages may give him enough of an advantage to keep Antonio Margarito at bay and on the outside of his jab and cross.
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I guess I didn't answer the question. Cotto right now beats everyone on the list imo. So does Floyd. Especially Floyd. Baldomir and Gatti aren't really going to do anything imo. Especially Gatti. Cintron and Williams aren't really ready for the big time yet I don't think. I'd like to see them take gradual step ups in competition. Berto is a long whiles off. He's just raw right now. Judah is pretty good but he can't make any sort of consistent run at the top. Mosley and Cotto are the class of the list and that's a pick em fight. But Cotto has youth on his side and that bout would be a while off. So I'm saying Cotto in terms of matchup potential. ;)
But if Floyd was on the list then he would be tops hands down.
