Who's the best fighter in history that Cotto beats?

Same question as the Loma thread.

Who's the best guy in history between 140-154 that you'd favor Cotto over? Assuming both Cotto and all others in their primes, of course.

 

I was thinking about it, I'd say he has the ability to beat someone like Paret or Ortega. Someone he can out-box, but doesn't have to worry about their power.

 

Paret would be a good choice at 147.

At 140, I think the best guy he beats is Hatton.

 

I don't think he beats Hatton TBH. Hatton of the Tszyu fight would take it to him and beat him IMO.

 

I disagree. I think Ricky would find it different in there with a young, prime Cotto compared to an old, inactive Tszyu.

Cotto actually impressed me more against Pinto and Bailey than Hatton did against Tszyu.

 

I've been watching and rewatching some prime Cotto. My estimation of his pressure fighting has gone up, but my estimation of his chin has gone down.

I don't think that plays too much of a part in a fight with Paret, though. Paret was never a puncher, but he was a forceful fighter who was very strong. I think if he puts Cotto on the back-foot, he has an extremely good chance of winning. His extremely fast hands, iron jaw, brutal body punching and bullish style would have a chance of winning a similar fight to Margarito. Instead using Margarito's power to come back late and stop Cotto, I think Paret's chance of winning is to put Cotto on the ropes and takes the play away from Cotto from the start.

That said, I don't think Paret would put him on the back-foot. I think Cotto would come down the centre with his cross-over right, and then set himself up for that left hook to the body. I think he'd push Paret back and rough him up in the late rounds. Left hook specialist, Charley Scott, gave Paret massive problems.

 

He beats JMM that's more due to size advantage than overall superiority.

 

Good analysis.

So Paret is probably the answer at 147.

I mean, at 140, perhaps Hatton isn't the best guy he beats.

Miggy matches up well against Locche given Locche's lack of firepower. I'm not saying Cotto wins necessarily, but its the best matchup for him out of the 140 stylists, as he loses big to Benitez and Whitaker.

 

Would he beat the Benitez that struggled twice with the wrong Curry

 

I agree, but he wouldn't beat the Benitez who beat Palomino or Cervantes (and he did beat them - clearly in fact - I had them both 144-141).

 

Benitez was also very sharp at 140 against Tony Petronelli and Ray Chavez.

Cotto basically has no shot in living Hell at beating an A-game Benitez.

Can't outbox him, and not durable enough to pressure him. He would TRY to pressure him, but he would eat big counters, get hurt, and be content to get outclassed from distance.

Cotto had some give in him. He wasn't talented OR determined enough to beat Will.

 

I dont think Cotto had some give in him. He always fought hard , even when outmatched (see the pac and pbf fights). The only exception might be the trout figjtz but even then, it was more of a style thing than anything else

 

I'd say quitting against Margarito was definitely an 'exception'.

 

Has for the best fighter he could beat, i think he guts Locche, and maybe maybe take a close one over cervantes because of his athleticismwould make him a bsokid favorite over Hatton and tszyu

 

Marg gave him a bad beating

 

Yeah, he could probably beat the Cervantes Pryor beat.

 

Yeah, and he gave. Literally. He gave up.

 

Kid Pambele would beat the living fuck outta Cotto.

 

I dont see it. He was trying as much as he could but was just overpowered

 

As much as cervantes was good, he was a bit slow and methodic. Wouldn't bw that much surprise to see Cotto take a close one. That jab would have been hell for cotto though

 

Matter of fact, Cervantes is among, if not THE worst matchup for Cotto at 140.

Cotto would have zero success from the outside given Pambele's quick, piston like jab, and Cotto's chin was too dodgy at 140 for me to envision him handling Cervantes' power.

Cervantes himself needs an appreciation thread. People mainly think of the 75-year-old man who fought Pryor.

Cervantes was extremely quick handed and explosive.

 

Extremely false. Cervantes was not slow at all. How many prime Cervantes fights have you seen?

He had very fast hands.

It's a big conception that Cervantes was slow.

 

I dont think he was very fast. Very good at using distance, but i wouldn't say speed was his forte

 

I think if you've voluntarily took a knee, and are looking at the referee while he's counting you out, there's something you can do it about. Stand the fuck up.

 

No, he had very quick hands. His feet weren't especially quick, but his hands were. I've seen every single Cervantes fight that's available on film - the man was not slow.

Cervantes had faster hands, than say, Arguello.

And EVEN SO, wer're talking about the shitty defense of Miguel Cotto here.

 

Watch right here his 2 round destruction of Ortiz, and tell me he was slow handed:

 

Slow might be a bit too much. As you saidz it was more his feet that were slow than his hands. But i still wouldnt call his hands fast. I think cotto could have went inside and did damage would i pick him No, i think he gets busted in the latter rounds, but id give him a shot

 

He stood up.. his corner threw the towel

 

Cotto's chin is too dodgy to pay the price it would take to get inside consistently.

Cervantes was a wicked puncher, and Cotto is NOT a guy who's willing to walk through fire all night.