Pondering 2 Outcomes Of the Cotto Vs Pac Fight

[zhubin]

Even though Pac has improved his skills tremendously over the past few years...he is still come forward, offensive fighter. To be effective against him...you need to be an excellent counter puncher...like Marquez. Pac loves to jump in and out...so you have to have excellent timing and speed to catch him. Cotto is not that kind of fighter. Don't get me wrong...Cotto has great skill...but using the Mosley, Judah fights to predict what will happen against Pac is all wrong. Sure, Mosley is fast...but he is no counter puncher. And that Mosley fight was damn close...and we all know Shane was no spring chicken. Judah is a bit more fluid than Shane...and his fight with Cotto was by no means a blowout. Zab had Cotto timed perfectly for most the fight...but as we all know....Zab is not the smartest or fittest fighter out there. Not trying to discredit Cotto's wins...it's just that against a very fast and extremely fit fighter like Pac...you better be mentally and physically at the top of your game. No question Cotto can hurt Pac...but for him to do that...he has to catch Pac. If he is going to be running around the ring trying to catch Pac against the ropes with body shots...he will have no chance. He will have to fight with controlled aggresion. Using his jab...and baiting Pac to come in where he can counter him. Not sure if that is a style of fighting Cotto can implement.

[jamiebhoy]

I've been saying I think Pacquiao will dominate because Cotto has faced two guys with great speed in Mosley and Judah, but MOsley likely due to his power and beard never has been much of a mover, his physical attributes are such that he doesn't need to do anything but stand there and trade or move back a bit and load up on hooks, and Judah IMO thinks his speed is all important, and that he has the reflexes to dodge oncoming punches, but because he doesn't move his feet, elite opponents figure him out in a round or two, and once they have the timing and range they land the right cross and body punches at will on him, and nothing comes back.

The one thing that worries me for Pacquiao is that Cotto adapts, he doesn't come in with a specific gameplan, he fights each opponent based on what they are bringing to the table. If he makes a mid fight shift in styles that allows him to find PAcquiao then I can't see Pacquiao beating him. Cotto hits a lot harder than Marquez and he goes to the body so well, and if he finds his range then Manny doesn't have the defensive skills to defend himself, and if they get into a shootout Cotto will win for sure, but I can't see this happening just because you can't hit what you can't catch and Manny isn't going to need great defensive skills if he can maintain enough distance, and clinch in close.

The problem I always see for Manny is that he doesn't adapt well, I think he is getting better as he is acquiring better overall skills, but guys like Calzaghe, Hopkins, Marquez, Cotto, Kessler, Mayweather, Whitaker, prime RJJ etc can do so many different thinks in the ring that they can change up their style. Manny, I haven't seen that when he hits a road block even though he has improved his boxing skills, he doesn't seem to make the changes necessary to make himself more effective, sort of along the lines of Jermain Taylor, Judah, Pavlik, Mosley, etc. if they don't come in with a really good game plan that is effective all night against the wrong opponent they are in trouble. Mosley and Pacquiao at least have the speed to compensate a little bit, but they still don't adapt the same way.

I agree with Manny not being very diverse. He seems to just do what he does best and thinks it will work every time. I don't think he can rest on his laurels for this fight, Cotto is a real challenge. The last two fights Manny had didn't tell us anything and he wasn't even slightly tested ( I know some will say because he did his job too well which is also true)

Problem for me is cuts, Cotto will be catching some pretty fast shots that may or may not hurt him but will damage him roud the eyes.

If you get to round 5 with Manny you have a serious shot, he seems to run out of ideas and takes a few rounds to start listening to suggestions from the corner, it's at this point when he gets a little frustrated that Cotto needs to take it to him. He may have speed but Pac also has balls and will try and mix it up with you to show he's just as tough.

I remember one of the commentators for a Pac fight point out that he was showing good movement in the middle rounds of a fight and had great energy , Manny Steward said yeah that's nice but maybe he should throw some punches with it.

I hope Cotto takes him to deep water and really tests him, I for one like them both, but want to see how Pacman handles being put on his arse and comes back.

I still stick with saying that if he gets beaten then Pac retires.

head = Pac
heart = Cotto

[leftylee]

This aint 50/50. Pacquiao smashes Cotto.

[CFH]

This aint 50/50. Pacquiao smashes Cotto.

I don't think it's that much of a foregone conclusion. While I do think Pacquaio will win, this will be (on paper at least) his most difficult fight and Cotto should not be written off entirely. I *think* Pac will stop Cotto, but I really have no idea and I wouldn't be all that surprised to see it go the other way.

[lordforever]

this might be the fight of the year... cotto began his training one month early than manny... but I believe manny will win a KO in the later rounds...

[yvonne]

There's no doubt that this fight will be a cracker.It has the ingrediants to be something special,soo much soo i think whatever the outcome may be there'll be a rematch,its that kind of fight.I think Manny will have the edge but just slightly,Manny has more lateral movement and it very very slick at mid range.Manny will be good at working on Cotto's lower body,but Cotto will be great at turning on Manny and countering with on the ropes.Its a hard one to judge.Its mouth watering just thinking about the outcome.

I cant wait

[yvonne]

For the betting folks out there from the uk,here are the standing odds from Coral Bookmakers on this fight:

Manny to win-1/2(favourite)

Cotto to win-6/4