Who suffered worse in their defeat, Cotto or Pavlik?

[Rantcatrat]

Personally, I don't see it as close: Cotto. However, this article, Who Suffered The More Damaging Defeat, Cotto Or Pavlik?, thinks the defeats are comparable. Pavlik didn't look like damaged goods after 48 minutes of Bhop domination whereas Cotto looked like a train had hit him. Hopkins taught Pavlik a course on the sweet science, but Margarito thoroughly mauled Cotto. Pavlik never hit the canvas during his defeat, Cotto took two or three knees. Cotto couldn't finish the fight, Pavlik easily finished. Am I wrong?

Pavlik was embaressed and everything he tried he could not get off...something like that can destroy the mentalityt of a fighter worse then a KO loss....It can make you feel like you are not worthy being at that level....You become worried in your next fight with someone of high caliber that you may be humuliated in public again...Embaressment can do crazy things to you......

Cotto was out muscled and he found out that he can not break every fighter down....it can also be very mind damaging but it as long as the fighter does not become punch shy they are usually able to recover much easier

Ok, but to put it in perspective, Bhop is an all-time-great, who has beat many great fighters (See Tito, ODLH etc.). The level you speak of is at the very, very top. Arguably the greatest super middleweight of all time, Calzaghe, had a hard time with Bhop. If I were him I would be thinking something along these lines: Pavlik lost to a legend, to have to come to grips that maybe, at 26, you are not yet a legend, doesn't seem too much to overcome. Did Bernard at 26 fight someone of Bernard at 43's level? Did Calzaghe? Did RJJ? Nope. It tooks balls. Of course, he got in over his head. But, it wasn't against some chump, it was against a great. Moreover, it wasn't at his natural weight class. And he weathered the storm pretty well: he wasn't knocked out, he never even touched the canvas.

[Deanrw]

Cotto I know will rebound and I think he will rebound to a level even higher to where he was. He is highly skilled and he will make good things happen.

Pavlik I am not so sure about. I mean maybe he is correct and he was not himself. If that is the case he will come back also. I am just not sold on that. He will have to make real adjustments to his game to be able to counter a mobile fighter again. What bugged me is against Hopkins, all he really needed to do was take a half step back and fire. It is a simple one and he would have at least made Hopkins think twice and would have been a bit more competative. What he really needs is an alternate trainer who will teach him balance in there. Anyone who goes to the ropes is dead meat against him, but a skilled mover will give him troubles. He may never fight another guy with the total package that Hopkins gave him, so it may not be necessary, but he should at least prepare.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Cotto has already done Light-Welterwwight and his boxing ability has kept him in good stead at WW. Also, its no certanty that Williams would beat Cotto

Pavlik wont be at 160 for much longer, if at all and we'll have to see how potent of a puncher he is at 168.

[DaxxKahn]

Personally, I don't see it as close: Cotto. However, this article, Who Suffered The More Damaging Defeat, Cotto Or Pavlik?, thinks the defeats are comparable. Pavlik didn't look like damaged goods after 48 minutes of Bhop domination whereas Cotto looked like a train had hit him. Hopkins taught Pavlik a course on the sweet science, but Margarito thoroughly mauled Cotto. Pavlik never hit the canvas during his defeat, Cotto took two or three knees. Cotto couldn't finish the fight, Pavlik easily finished. Am I wrong?

Pavlik was embaressed and everything he tried he could not get off...something like that can destroy the mentalityt of a fighter worse then a KO loss....It can make you feel like you are not worthy being at that level....You become worried in your next fight with someone of high caliber that you may be humuliated in public again...Embaressment can do crazy things to you......

Cotto was out muscled and he found out that he can not break every fighter down....it can also be very mind damaging but it as long as the fighter does not become punch shy they are usually able to recover much easier

Ok, but to put it in perspective, Bhop is an all-time-great, who has beat many great fighters (See Tito, ODLH etc.). The level you speak of is at the very, very top. Arguably the greatest super middleweight of all time, Calzaghe, had a hard time with Bhop. If I were him I would be thinking something along these lines: Pavlik lost to a legend, to have to come to grips that maybe, at 26, you are not yet a legend, doesn't seem too much to overcome. Did Bernard at 26 fight someone of Bernard at 43's level? Did Calzaghe? Did RJJ? Nope. It tooks balls. Of course, he got in over his head. But, it wasn't against some chump, it was against a great. Moreover, it wasn't at his natural weight class. And he weathered the storm pretty well: he wasn't knocked out, he never even touched the canvas.

OK put it like this...You play B-Ball with the guys on the court every Saturday, you are usually the best guy playing and everyone picks you first for your team...One day your big brother comes to the court and play's...He shuts you down in front of everyone and bust your balls afterwards...your friends then crack on you for the trash talk that your brother gave you after the schooling...The next week you are the star of the court again...the week after your brother plays again...You don't bother going to the rim because you don't want to have the same thing happen from 2 weeks ago....

Now switch it to a boxing standpoint...

You are KOing everyone out there...You beat one of the most feared punchers in the sport then beat the champion that beat Hopkins...You figure you are among the elite..you are at the top of the sport....In your mind you have arrived...You are suddenly schooled by Hopkins...

Your mind says WTF just ahppened...the next day you read the press and they pick you apart...your mind is like the kid who was schooled by his brother on the court...you know your good but know that not that good..you don't want to be ragged on by the guys again after the beating and trash talk fom the loss (Hopkins being the big brother) (In the fighters case the friends are the press)....You mentally freeze up the next time you are on the big stage because you are afraid of the poor showing....

The beating Cotto suffered can be compared in the same way...You get into a fight with your brother you get your ass kicked but you know that your brother is older and stronger...you work out a bit you grow a bit you knw that you will be able to even up with him....as long as you are willing to chance the beating....


On the basketball court you can not score a basket on him or stop him from going to the rim....so your mind says why bother In will cover someone else after all I am second best....

When you fight at least you know you can hit him with some punches and wrestle him to the ground now and then........so at least you get yours in...

Pavlik was shut down on the basketball court and could not score a single basket...

Cotto got in a few shots and knows he could at least get in a few good ones..

long analysis I know but

Physical pain goes away and the repercussions are short...mental embaressment last longer