I tend to agree with you however... No chance of Cotto gradually breaking him down the way Chavez did? IMO..Cotto punches perhaps a little harder than Chavez did.
You mean the same Cotto who needed 11 rounds of non-stop punishment to take out glass chinned Zab? And who went the distance with Paulie? No. Prime Taylor beats Cotto's ass. He was simply a class above as a fighter. Taylor had special talent at 140. Cotto never had special talent a day in his life.
Taylor wins a clear decision. With Taylor being Taylor, and Cotto having heavy hands and good timing, Taylor would certainly take his lumps in the process. Pacquiao lost just 2 rounds against Cotto yet afterwards he looked like he got jumped by 10 guys. Both fighters would be busted up actually. Taylor's workrate and speed would be key. A big reason why Taylor was beating Chavez was his crazy workrate. Taylor had skills but it's not like he was Pernell Whitaker, who was using great movement, angles, and defense. Despite what that jackass Ferdie Pacheco said, they fought differently. Taylor would be in range and be taking hard shots in the process while outlanding Cotto. I wonder how post-Chavez, pre-Norris version of Taylor fares against Cotto at 147. That would be a very interesting fight.
I honestly believe that Taylor's speed and workrate would put Miggy into a shell. One BIG thing that separates Cotto from Chavez.... stamina. Chavez had legendary stamina. Cotto? Not so much. Which is why there would be no late Cotto rally, and why a late Taylor stoppage isn't outta the question. EVERYTHING separates Chavez from Cotto though, not just stamina. Chavez was a different league than the eye brow plucking bisexual.
Taylor by stoppage. He was durable in his prime at 140 but that's where Cotto was most vulnerable. Taylor doesn't hit like Ricardo Torres but he'd wobble Cotto plenty. Cotto is the puncher but he's the one in danger in exchanges because of Taylor's hand speed.
