I still consider him top 5 p4p. IMO he lost to a cheating bastard. He is athletic, fast, has good skills and punches hard. His fights are exciting generaly. I hope that in his next fight he shows why he is the real deal.
I realize it is now in vogue to downplay Cotto and essentially put him at the back of the list (if on the list at all) of the best boxer's today. Much like it was the bandwagon of the day to declare Margarito a top p4p'er, or now to declare Manny Pac the best ever and pick him to beat everyone up to 168. But I think Cotto's only loss was indeed to someone who butchered his face and literally dented his skull with plaster in the handwraps, and I take absolutely nothing away from him for that loss. Therefore, I believe Cotto beats Shane Mosley 9 times out of 10, nothing changes over the last fight, Shane hasn't got what it takes to beat Cotto no matter how many Mayorga's or dis-armed Margarito's he beats. I think Pac's dumbest fight is against Cotto, since people are actually favoring Pac which means he is expected to win, since Miguel is in his prime, and because weight-wise Cotto is a big welter. He punches accurately and quite hard, and if Marquez could stun Pac several times, you better believe Cotto has the power to flatten Pac. His defense is decent, although not great, but his chin is excellent, and he has taken monstrous punches from some full-fledged power punching welters and fought on. I think Cotto breaks Pac down and stops him late. People here seem to think that Shane Mosley is somehow a tougher fight for PacMan (or for anybody), and to me that is inexplicable. Shane is a HOF fighter, but he is far past his best, and he really can't get it done anymore against A level fighters. The Mayorgas of the world, sure, he may get lucky and stop them late or more likely decision them by a few rounds, but he is at this point inferior to Miguel Cotto. If not for the rigged loss to Margarito, people would not be overlooking Cotto's essentially perfect record in fights against a number of great opponents. People forget how durable he is, how disciplined, how methodically he breaks fighters down, his wicked body attack, his heart, his youth, and his stamina. I think the drama with his trainer also has led people to write him off to some extent, now thinking he will not be training properly or will not be focused, which I believe is not true. I could be wrong (it won't be the first time) and Cotto may lost to Clottey, but I would bet he not only wins that fight but also wins a re with Marg, a re with Mosley, and a fight with Pac. At welter I see Paul Williams as being the most likely man to beat Cotto, but I would give Miguel a 30% chance in that fight as well. Miguel Cotto is young enough that he is actually still getting better.
Good post. Many people also forget that Cotto was schooling Margarito silly for the first five rounds, making him miss and outboxing him silly. Had Margarito not made him bleed so bad Cotto was headed to a clear decision win.
I agree with you that Cotto is getting better, and shouldn't be discredit for his loss against Margacheato. But to say tat if they fought 10 times, Cotto wins 9 is a bit presumptuous. Cotto got chopped down by loaded gloves. That's gotta take something outta you in a long tough fight like that. Mosley is on a high.......he just exposed Margacheato...and he looked great doing it. And most importantly...the fight between Cotto and Shane was competitive and close. NOT that Cotto didn't clearly win.....but Shane was in there enough to think that he could win a rematch. I think Cotto is the better matchup for Manny at a catchweight because Shane is bigger, faster and has a great chin. Shane doesn't hit as hard.....but sometimes speed is power. Cotto can be hurt also. Shane isn't gonna be hurt by Pac, I don't figure.
Cotto is a bad dude... some say Clottey has a shot and he does.. he is a good fighter but I bet we Cotto look great and stop Clottey
I'm curious as to how you feel Cotto would do against Floyd, one of the top so called welters whom you failed to mention. I think Cotto loses to Floyd, but probably beats everyone else you mentioned. I also give Shane a better chance than you with Nazeem in his corner but still I'd have to favor Cotto slightly still.
