If Provo knew how to finish a guy, I'd pick him because he would definitely hurt Cotto ... But he's the worst finisher ever... Cotto by decision
Oh a mythical matchup that is interesting and not just a mismatch to beat up a fighter someone doesn't like - thread starter not explosive... :: I can see cdogg's reasoning and could imagine something similar to the Torres fight but Provo is so relentless it could be really different. But Cotto could stop him on cuts. He would land basically at will with counters and he is no Algieri. Would land a little more than Mathysse since he is the better more precise fighter and that could make the difference.
To me, Cotto seems clearly better than Matthysse is and since Provo only knows one way how to fight, I believe Cotto would survive his onslaught in same manner but with wider decision
I'm often critical of Miggy, but he's clearly talent-wise always been a cut above guys like Matty Ice, and Timmy the head. He would bust Provo up at either weight, after surviving a few scares a long the way. Other than those few scares, he'd beat the shit outta Provo.
Cotto by very late stoppage, possibly on facial injuries, after being rocked, maybe even dropped, a few times.
Cotto gets hurt at 140, but survives and win an easy decision.....at 147 I see nothing but Cotto destroying Ruslan...and stop him in the mid-late rounds...
Even at 140, it's probably just a more competitive version of Cotto-Abdullaev. Provo is better than Abdullaev was, but he'd get broken down in similar fashion.
