Cotto vs Mayweather (discuss)

[sanchez786]

IMO, I think Cotto is the real deal and may have what it takes to get by Mayweather. It's almost impossible to break down PBF's defence but I think if someone can hit him HARD enough, it may crack...and I think Cotto may be the right person to do it. Opponents who have fought Cotto can easily testify he hits EXTREMELY hard and has good hand speed as well. I know people will bring up his chin against Torres and Corely...but we can't forget the fact that although he was hurt in those fights, he DID finish by stopping of them. Torres was a KO specialist (40 fights, 38 by KO...something like that) and Cotto clearly underestimated him but having said that, he was still able to stop Torres (yes, I know...he's not a well known fighter).

Well IMO, I think Cotto is just a few fights away from being able to step up to Mayweather...Unfortunately, I don't think PBF will be around when he's ready...kind of sad as that is one bout I would have loved to see.

What do you all think?

[Kel]

If PBF took a decent hard shot I think he would go down. Why do you think he works so hard on defence both at range and on the inside? As soon as someone gets on the inside he ties one glove down by his waist and shoves his glove in their face and holds them there till the ref splits them. A decent strong fighter will just smash away at him in that situation. Hatton or Cotto have a great chance.....but thats only if they can catch him.

[Rican]

I think a fight between Cotto and Mayweather would be similar to Cotto vs. Malignaggi in many ways. First, Cotto will be much stronger than Floyd. Cotto can hurt Floyd to the body and to the head. Cotto walked through the jabs and punches that Paulie threw at him. With that being said, Floyd has much better ring generalship than Paulie. Floyd has much better accuracy than Paulie. Floyd will hit Cotto in the face more than Paulie did. Floyd has much better defense than Paulie. On the other hand, Cotto can box much better than Baldomir. Cotto has faster hand speed than Baldomir. These last two comments mean that Cotto will hit Floyd more than Baldomir did. Yet, Cotto won't be able to hit Floyd in the face consistently. Cotto's only chance is to hit Floyd everywhere-body, arms, chest, during the clinches-and hope that this slows down Floyd in the later rounds. But if I had to pick, I would go with Floyd in a tough 12 round decision. The fight should definitely be tougher for Mayweather than the Baldomir fight. But I can't give Cotto the fight because Floyd has proven to be unbeatable (though he really hasn't fought a real strong welterweight yet).

[mikeboxing]

A feeling tells me Cotto will surprise Ko PBF but I'd go with common sense and say lopsided ( not as much as Baldomir ) decision for PBF. It would be a similar fight to Castillo vs PBf but Pbf is much better now than before

[p4pking]

I think a fight between Cotto and Mayweather would be similar to Cotto vs. Malignaggi in many ways. First, Cotto will be much stronger than Floyd. Cotto can hurt Floyd to the body and to the head. Cotto walked through the jabs and punches that Paulie threw at him. With that being said, Floyd has much better ring generalship than Paulie. Floyd has much better accuracy than Paulie. Floyd will hit Cotto in the face more than Paulie did. Floyd has much better defense than Paulie. On the other hand, Cotto can box much better than Baldomir. Cotto has faster hand speed than Baldomir. These last two comments mean that Cotto will hit Floyd more than Baldomir did. Yet, Cotto won't be able to hit Floyd in the face consistently. Cotto's only chance is to hit Floyd everywhere-body, arms, chest, during the clinches-and hope that this slows down Floyd in the later rounds. But if I had to pick, I would go with Floyd in a tough 12 round decision. The fight should definitely be tougher for Mayweather than the Baldomir fight. But I can't give Cotto the fight because Floyd has proven to be unbeatable (though he really hasn't fought a real strong welterweight yet).

I think comparing Malignagi and MAyweather is criminal. Also Baldomir was a real strong welterweight, thats' basically all he was though. Still Cotto has yet to prove he will even be effective at 147. Most everything else you said was true though, and I agree completely that Cottos only chance would be to apply constant pressure and wear Floyd down. However I think to do this he would leave himself way to open, to often. CC for the breakdown though.

[SigmaMu]

To even think that PBF would have the nuts to step in with Cotto is rediculous.
Let PBF retire. Cotto would bust up PBF.
Huge advantage goes to Cotto in a small ring.
PBF would run in a big ring like we have never seen him run before in his career. He ran from Baldi all night long and Baldi was old and has no pep to his pop. Cotto would own PBF and Cotto is going to own Quintana in just a few days. PBF better get out while he still can. Both Margarito and Cotto want the running man something bad.

The fact that PBF is fighting an old Oscar De La Hoya proves nothing.

When will PBF face a young strong prospect Contender? He wasted 4 or 5 years beating old fighters. When was the last time he stepped in the ring with a real honest to goodness threat? Name the fighter you folks think was the biggest threat in Floyds career.

Castillo? Corrales? How long ago has that been?

[Kev]

To even think that PBF would have the nuts to step in with Cotto is rediculous.
Let PBF retire. Cotto would bust up PBF.
Huge advantage goes to Cotto in a small ring.
PBF would run in a big ring like we have never seen him run before in his career. He ran from Baldi all night long and Baldi was old and has no pep to his pop. Cotto would own PBF and Cotto is going to own Quintana in just a few days. PBF better get out while he still can. Both Margarito and Cotto want the running man something bad.

The fact that PBF is fighting an old Oscar De La Hoya proves nothing.

When will PBF face a young strong prospect Contender? He wasted 4 or 5 years beating old fighters. When was the last time he stepped in the ring with a real honest to goodness threat? Name the fighter you folks think was the biggest threat in Floyds career.

Castillo? Corrales? How long ago has that been?

Cotto would not be able to beat Judah.

He strggled like hell against an unkown in Torres, a guy who even though he won last weekend showed that he is barely a step up from a journeyman.

Cotto will have his hands full getting past Quintana, even if he wins all he will see is the smoke and dust of Mayweather's train moving up to 154 to fight a true and proven p4p fighter in De La Hoya.

[Wacko3205]

Good thread to start.

Should work up plenty of hate.

Here's one thing to consider...Cotto mentioned Floyd only breifly a year or so ago.

He sat in ringside for Mayweather vs Bruseles.

Bruseles was one of Cotto's sparring partner. Mayweather was waaaaaay ahead by the 8th round when Floyd hammered him out & knocked Bruseles down twice before the fight was stopped.

Admittedly...Cotto was there to scope out Floyd...apparently he didn't dig on what he saw that night...because he hasn't made to much of a fuss about him sense.

I'm a HUGE Cotto fan & a HUGE Floyd fan & I can honestly say that this fight is about on the same level as the Oscar Floyd fight for me...I just don't want to see it.

I truly don't think that Cotto could deal with the speed & defense of Floyd.

As far as Cotto's power...I think Floyd has the chin to take it...but the question would fall to the body shots...could Flody take em?

Who knows.

[sanchez786]

Good thread to start.

Should work up plenty of hate.

Here's one thing to consider...Cotto mentioned Floyd only breifly a year or so ago.

He sat in ringside for Mayweather vs Bruseles.

Bruseles was one of Cotto's sparring partner. Mayweather was waaaaaay ahead by the 8th round when Floyd hammered him out & knocked Bruseles down twice before the fight was stopped.

Admittedly...Cotto was there to scope out Floyd...apparently he didn't dig on what he saw that night...because he hasn't made to much of a fuss about him sense.

I'm a HUGE Cotto fan & a HUGE Floyd fan & I can honestly say that this fight is about on the same level as the Oscar Floyd fight for me...I just don't want to see it.

I truly don't think that Cotto could deal with the speed & defense of Floyd.

As far as Cotto's power...I think Floyd has the chin to take it...but the question would fall to the body shots...could Flody take em?

Who knows.

Good post Wacko...I'd CC you but I'm not at 100 posts yet. Anyhow, that's why I was slightly leaning towards Cotto...POWER. You know for a fact Cotto will prepare like hell for this fight meaning he will tighten up his defence. We all know Cotto throw a punch and hits EXTREMELY hard which is why I think he has what it takes to breakdown PBF. I honestly don't think PBF would be able to a clean shot to the chin by Cotto or at least not hurt him. Cotto comes into the ring at 160+ I beleive and is very comfortable at that weight. I would definetely love to see this fight as I do beleive Cotto has "a shot" at beating PBF. Breaking through PBF may not be possible straight up but if he bangs the body the way he knows how...you might start seeing PBF's hands slowly get lower as the fight would go on. Cotto's POWER shots would be the key to this fight if it ever happens.

[Puya]

My second post in this thread it would be after saturday.

[Lords Gym]

I think Mayweather wins a 12 R dec in a big ring.. 24-26 foot... however in a standard ring 16- 18 foot.. Cotto wins via knockout. I believe that ring size is a huge factor in any Mayweather fight.. The more Real Estate Floyd has to work with, the less chance his opponent will be able to cut him off and force exchanges.

[bgordon]

Good thread to start.

Should work up plenty of hate.

Here's one thing to consider...Cotto mentioned Floyd only breifly a year or so ago.

He sat in ringside for Mayweather vs Bruseles.

Bruseles was one of Cotto's sparring partner. Mayweather was waaaaaay ahead by the 8th round when Floyd hammered him out & knocked Bruseles down twice before the fight was stopped.

Admittedly...Cotto was there to scope out Floyd...apparently he didn't dig on what he saw that night...because he hasn't made to much of a fuss about him sense.

I'm a HUGE Cotto fan & a HUGE Floyd fan & I can honestly say that this fight is about on the same level as the Oscar Floyd fight for me...I just don't want to see it.

I truly don't think that Cotto could deal with the speed & defense of Floyd.

As far as Cotto's power...I think Floyd has the chin to take it...but the question would fall to the body shots...could Flody take em?

Who knows.

Good post Wacko...I'd CC you but I'm not at 100 posts yet. Anyhow, that's why I was slightly leaning towards Cotto...POWER. You know for a fact Cotto will prepare like hell for this fight meaning he will tighten up his defence. We all know Cotto throw a punch and hits EXTREMELY hard which is why I think he has what it takes to breakdown PBF. I honestly don't think PBF would be able to a clean shot to the chin by Cotto or at least not hurt him. Cotto comes into the ring at 160+ I beleive and is very comfortable at that weight. I would definetely love to see this fight as I do beleive Cotto has "a shot" at beating PBF. Breaking through PBF may not be possible straight up but if he bangs the body the way he knows how...you might start seeing PBF's hands slowly get lower as the fight would go on. Cotto's POWER shots would be the key to this fight if it ever happens.

people said the same thing about gatti..

I like Cotto and I think he may be the second best welter in the world, which says a lot because it is the toughest division right now, but I dont see him beating Mayweather right now or soon. The power would not be a factor as PBF puts on another virtuoso boxing performance.

[lb4lb]

I don't think they want to fight each other.
I think that Cotto is everything Mayweather hates in a fighter and vice versa.
Mayweather has great defence and speed. On the other hand I have seen a few fights where Cotto's opponents seemed to be blocking most of Cotto's punches, but his power seemed to get through and still create a welt their faces. Pretty Boys usually don't like to get marked up. I am a fan of both, but a bigger Cotto fan, so my heart would say that Cotto would win, but I would be nervous as hell to watch the fight.

[SigmaMu]

To even think that PBF would have the nuts to step in with Cotto is rediculous.
Let PBF retire. Cotto would bust up PBF.
Huge advantage goes to Cotto in a small ring.
PBF would run in a big ring like we have never seen him run before in his career. He ran from Baldi all night long and Baldi was old and has no pep to his pop. Cotto would own PBF and Cotto is going to own Quintana in just a few days. PBF better get out while he still can. Both Margarito and Cotto want the running man something bad.

The fact that PBF is fighting an old Oscar De La Hoya proves nothing.

When will PBF face a young strong prospect Contender? He wasted 4 or 5 years beating old fighters. When was the last time he stepped in the ring with a real honest to goodness threat? Name the fighter you folks think was the biggest threat in Floyds career.

Castillo? Corrales? How long ago has that been?

Cotto would not be able to beat Judah.

He strggled like hell against an unkown in Torres, a guy who even though he won last weekend showed that he is barely a step up from a journeyman.

Cotto will have his hands full getting past Quintana, even if he wins all he will see is the smoke and dust of Mayweather's train moving up to 154 to fight a true and proven p4p fighter in De La Hoya.

Cotto would beat the crap out of Judah.
You said Cotto struggled against Torres?

Here is the break down of that fight. I am not sure what fight you were watching but it was hardly a struggle. It was a great fight with two fighters who gave it their all and held nothing back.

Read on.

This past September in Atlantic City, Cotto was initially set to fight Gianluca Branco, however, when that bout was cancelled the lightly regarded Colombian 140-pounder Ricardo "Mochuelo" Torres stepped in as a late replacement. The fight was a war and Cotto was put to the test against the hard charging Colombian. Cotto elected to bang with a banger and as a result he ended up climbing off the deck before eventually stopping the hard punching Mr. Torres on a seventh round knockout that featured enough fireworks to put Disneyland to shame. Cotto dropped Torres four times but the challenger repeatedly buzzed and rocked the Puerto Rican world champion with return fire, before he was eventually cornered and dispatched with a searing five shot volley to the head. Cotto landed one final left hook to the chin that dropped Torres to his hands and his knees and referee David Fields, counted out the Colombian at 1:42 of the seventh round. Cotto came out firing nasty left hooks to the body at the opening bell of the first round and chopping right hands to the skull, as if he was double parked. Torres was forced to retreat but when he stepped back inside with 1:38 to go in the opening round, Cotto nailed him with another short counter right hand followed by a laser-like left hook to the chin. Torres hit the deck hard on his backside but was up quickly at the count of four, as he scrambled to his feet with a look of resolve on his face. Cotto marched the challenger back into the ropes but as he attempted to trade with Torres he unloaded a wicked volley of shots including a whistling right hand that caught the champion flush on the chin. The blow staggered Cotto and he bent at the waist and his knees buckled before regaining his balance. Cotto labored for a few seconds to hold on but just as quickly both men began unloading hammering punches that had the Jersey fights fans cheering the blistering action.

The world champion continued to trade with Torres early in the second round and the challenger returned to landing hammering right hands that again rocked Cotto. With 2:25 to go in the 2nd, Torres connected with a volley of shots and Cotto struggled to maintain his poise and his balance. A laser-like straight right hand caught Cotto on the point of the chin as he careened across the ring with Torres firing leather. The challenger continued to batter Cotto around the ring, as the champion simply refused to hold and clinch but elected to keep firing off flurries that Torres marched through. With 1:51 to go in the round, Torres drilled Cotto with a head snapping left hook to the chin that drove the Puerto Rican back against the ropes and momentarily resting against the third strand. Seconds later, Torres connected with another volley of punches and then he seemingly pulled the wounded champion down, as Cotto tumbled to the canvas and flat on his back. Cotto rolled over at the count of three, gesturing to the referee Fields that he had been pushed to the floor but it went into the books as an official knockdown. Torres returned to teeing off on the champion and Cotto looked like he might be headed to the deck for a second time, as the underdog repeatedly connected with clean right hands to the head. Just as suddenly with 47-seconds remaining in the 2nd, Torres walked straight into a classic counter right hand to the chin that wobbled the Colombian. Both men hammered away while the deafening sound of the Jersey fight fans turned the Boardwalk Hall into a larger version of Philly's venerable Blue Horizon.

Cotto shifted his attack downstairs and bounced a half dozen shearing shots of the Colombian's midsection. At the bell both fighters were hurt and the crowd stood and cheered the warriors for a solid thirty-seconds. Cotto seemed to be the fresher fighter in his corner and when the action resumed in the 3rd, the champion returned to hammering away at Torres' body. At the 2-minute mark, Cotto sank a left hook into Torres' right hip and he dropped his gloves to try and get some life back into his arms and body. In the next exchange, Cotto fired and landed another whistling left hook that again caught the challenger on the beltline. Torres turned his back and slowly walked to the neutral corner while covering his groin. The referee Fields called time, as Torres dropped to one knee with his gloves holding onto the ropes and spitting blood down on the sky blue canvas. After a 30-second delay the action resumed and Cotto went back to hammering away with digging and ripping left hooks to the belly and liver. Two more searing left hooks to the body forced Torres to hit reverse gear. With 1:20 remaining in the round, Cotto dropped low for the third time with a hard hook to the hip. Torres again walked away while dropping his gloves and the referee Fields called time and issued his second warning. The champion kicked into overdrive and went after Torres with ruthless intent while hammering away with viscous left hooks to the belly and the beltline. Cotto was relentless and he battered the challenger around the ring and against the ropes while nailing the Colombian with punishing left hooks upstairs and downstairs.

Cotto went back to dropping slightly to his left and punishing Torres with brutal left hooks to the body in the fourth round. There was a savage beauty to Cotto's precision, as he rocketed searing shots off of Torres's right flank. At the 1:37 mark of the 4th, Cotto sank a right hand just under Torres' heart and then doubled up with two clean left hooks to the chest that sounded like someone banging on a drum. At the 1:02 mark of the round, Cotto caught Torres against the ropes and hammered away with yet another low left hook on the beltline. Torres pitched forward face first in a delayed reaction, coming to a stop on his hands and his knees in the center of the ring. It was the second knockdown of the night for Torres and the blood began to drain from his face. Cotto closed out the round with several more scalding left hooks followed by crisp right crosses, as the champion began to pull away while punishing the Colombian. Torres was still very dangerous and with 1:55 to go in the 5th, he drilled the champion with a rapid-fire three-shot combination to the chin. A right hand to the jaw rocked Cotto and suddenly the Colombian was back in the action firing hard blasts. Cotto dropped his gloves and rocked back on his heels while the boxing fight fans cheered the high velocity mayhem. With 1:24 remaining in the 5th, Torres connected with yet another volley that dazed the champion and drove him back against the ropes and struggling to remain upright. Torres battered the champion along the ropes and again Cotto seemed one flurry away from being driven into the canvas. At the 32-second mark of the round, Torres snapped Cotto's head straight back after landing a crushing right cross to the chin. Blood began pouring from the champion's mouth, as he retreated back across the ring with Torres firing lasers at his skull. Both men continued to fire scalding shots with bad intentions in the sixth round.

However, Cotto's relentless body attack had worn Torres down, and as the champion continued to hammer away Torres' hopes and chances of winning began to erode just like the ribs on the right side of his torso. Cotto had an extra gear and he never eased off the throttle while hammering away at a fading challenger. At the 16-second mark of the 6th, the champion tagged Torres with a brutal counter right cross flush on the jaw. The champion rocked Torres back on his heels, as his body swayed and then he dropped to the floor in the center of the ring. With his head bowed and down on one knee, Torres slowly regained his feet at the count of five. However, his earlier look of determination was slowly vanishing. Torres' third trip to the floor was crushing his determination and he had no answer for Cotto's blistering firepower. Remarkably, Torres rallied briefly to open the seventh round and he again buzzed the champion with whipsaw right hand to the head that snapped Cotto's skull sideways. Both men returned to nailing each other with stunning punches and many of the 10,137 paying customers screamed their endorsement. Cotto turned it up another notch and after landing his jab and his left hook to the ribs, Torres finally began to fade. With 1:24 to go in the 7th, Cotto drove Torres back into the corner and then pulled the trigger on another hammering five-shot combination to the head and body. Cotto landed a final left hook to the challenger's face and Torres dropped for the final time at the champion's feet. Curled up on the canvas in obvious pain, Torres was left in a praying position with no one to answer his prayers except the referee Fields' ten-count. The night was over and Miguel Cotto had survived and triumphed over his most difficult challenge as a pro.

[sanchez786]

Cotto's opponents seemed to be blocking most of Cotto's punches, but his power seemed to get through and still create a welt their faces.

And that's EXACTLY what I'm referring to...Because of Cotto's devasting power and nice hand speed, he doesn't have to neccesarily hit clean. His last 2 figths, (Branco and Malignaggi) both were busted up REAL bad. Both look like they were hit by a train. Again, I think Cotto's power punches (even if they didn't land clean) would eventually have mayweather lowering his hands covering his body...again, this IMHO...
This is actually a dream fight for me to see...Albeit I'm a HUGE Cotto fan...but seriously speaking, I think Cotto has the devasting power punches to do the job.