Is Cotto already a Hall of Famer?

dans16y ago

Certainly this is debatable, but looking at Cotto against 3 other borderline HOFers, he certainly has a strong case. I posted this in the "Boxing History" forum, but for a different topic: If Saad Muhammed, Rosario, and Terry Norris are all HOFers, I don't see any reason why Miguel Cotto isn't one already. Do you agree? What did these three above mentioned do that Cotto hasn't done? Terry Norris is the only one of the 3 with a win over a HOFer (Leonard). Cotto has beaten a sure fire HOFer in Mosley. Rosario won a LW title 3 times and a JWW title once. Cotto won a JWW title once, and a WW title twice. Muhammed won a LHW title once and successfully defended it 8 times, Norris successfully defended his JMW title 10 times. Cotto successfully defended his JWW belt 6 times, then moved up to WW and won a belt, defending it 4 times before losing to Margarito. So Cotto has won 3 world titles in 2 weight divisions, successfully defending his titles a total of 11 times. Only two losses, one against a ATG, and the other against a convicted cheater. And Cotto has a victory against a HOF fighter (Mosley), which only one of the previously mentioned 3 have. If these 3 are HOFers, so is Cotto.

Comments (20)

Iceta

You can't seriously be comparing Gatti to Cotto, can you? You're talking about a C level action fighter and a 3 time world champ and top 10 P4P fighter. All of Cotto's titles have been won in a vacant fashion though. Quintana is the only fighter that was any good that Cotto beat for a belt. The rest were nobodies. Cotto has more work to do if wants to be in the HOF. And you guys are bringing up Gatti, and I don't think he deserves to be there either.

16y ago

Calilloyd

no. in his 2 biggest wins, many people had mosley and clottey winning. I thought he beat Mosley and the Clottey fight could have gone either way. I thought Cotto deserved it because Clottey stopped fighting that last round of a close fight. Yes, Cotto's will get to the a hall of fame. Hall of fame doesn't mean the absolute best if you look at the names in there. Cotto's credentials should get him in the HOF.

16y ago

Iceta

Would winning a title at 154 from someone like Foreman help Cotto? No. Because Martinez, Dzinziruk, and Angulo are all considered better fighters. He's viewed as the weak link. If Cotto beat Dzinziruk or Martinez for their belt I might go out on a limb and say he is a border line case, and I'm one of the biggest Cotto haters on this forum. The resume of Fernando Vargas is better than Cotto's in my view and I don't even think he belongs in the HOF. I think it's unfair to let guys in who have become stepping stones at a young age unless they've had over 50 fights like Morales did. We need to keep the HOF for the cream of the crop. But a couple of guys got in like McGuinn and Hamed might get in unfortunately and that's what has lowered the standards. And why wouldn't Saad Muhammed not belong in the HOF? I didn't follow his career that much, but I thought people view him as a top 10 175 lber of all time.

16y ago

dans

Cotto was by far my favorite fighter this decade But I think he falls a bit short...in my opinion he NEEDS to fight Margarito and Mayweather. He also needs to fight Pacman again. I don't discount the fact the fight was fought at 145, I just need to see Cotto again, since he was never dropped before (push by Torres does not equal a drop) and I want to see if Cotto can regain his composure. He had the right gameplan, yet backed off and went machismo against a guy faster and just as strong apparently. He needs to fight Margarito and win. Even though he was caught cheating, it just wasn't proven against Cotto, although I believe he did. He needs to fight him and beat him. I also think Mayweather needs to show up in the ledger. Even if Mayweather retired in the height of Cotto's prominence (go figure) you just can't be considered Hall of Fame unless the best fighter of the decade and him fight. I think Cotto is more likely to beat Mayweather than ever beating Pacman, but I still want to see Cotto fight a controlled fight against Pacman. If Mayweather backs out, then history will remember that. I think you're right. Avenging the Margarito fight would go a long way.

16y ago

JmH_Reborn

16y ago

dans

if they gonna let gatti in, then cotto will get in. You can't seriously be comparing Gatti to Cotto, can you? You're talking about a C level action fighter and a 3 time world champ and top 10 P4P fighter.

16y ago

hookoutofhell

wins against judah, quintana, clottey and of course the great sugar shane are enough to get him in the HOF imo. you can even put asterix's next to his two defeats, margarito imo was fighting with loaded gloves and manny had the edge by making the fight at 145

16y ago

Pullcounter7451

if they gonna let gatti in, then cotto will get in.

16y ago

dans

Well I see why he brought him up in the context of what he was saying. And what he's saying is that he needs to beat more elite fighters in order to gain consideration. Yuri Foreman is definitely not that. And Dzinziruk might be - we're not sure yet. Okay, well I think I've concluded that Cotto DOES have the credentials already (when comparing to others) to be in the HOF. But if we're talking about who REALLY should be there based on merits, like you said, Cotto is a bit short right now. And given the fact that he said 2010 is his last year, I don't think he will have TRULY done enough. And although I think we've come to sort of a reasonable agreement on where Cotto stands, I don't think this debate is over by any means. I think when it comes time to decide "Is he in or not", these are the type things they'll talk about, and I would imagine he will be either just barely in the HOF or just barely out.

16y ago

IMDAZED

Silencers brought him up, not me. If he beat Foreman and a good Martinez, would you give him the nod? Well I see why he brought him up in the context of what he was saying. And what he's saying is that he needs to beat more elite fighters in order to gain consideration. Yuri Foreman is definitely not that. And Dzinziruk might be - we're not sure yet.

16y ago

dans

Cotto is incapable of beating Martinez. Just no. I think Martinez would beat him too, we're just going through some scenarios here. What does Cotto need to do to get into the HOF?

16y ago

THE_REED

Cotto is incapable of beating Martinez. Just no.

16y ago

dans

Depends on the status of Martinez. Dzinziruk? Umm...no. Silencers brought him up, not me. If he beat Foreman and a good Martinez, would you give him the nod?

16y ago

Silencers

I agree with the Mosley thing. So let's use a scenario here. Let's say 2010 is Cotto's last year in the sport. If he beats Foreman in his comeback fight, winning a 154 pound title, then goes on to beat Martinez or Dzinziruk. Is he in? Maybe, it makes a stronger case, especially if he beats Martinez but manner of victory also counts, we'll have to wait and see basically.

16y ago

IMDAZED

I agree with the Mosley thing. So let's use a scenario here. Let's say 2010 is Cotto's last year in the sport. If he beats Foreman in his comeback fight, winning a 154 pound title, then goes on to beat Martinez or Dzinziruk. Is he in? Depends on the status of Martinez. Dzinziruk? Umm...no.

16y ago

dans

Beating future HOFer Mosley again might seal the deal, maybe moving up and fighting and beating Martinez or Dzinziruk or something. Basically fight the top fighters and win, personally I don't consider Foreman to be a 'top' fighter. I agree with the Mosley thing. So let's use a scenario here. Let's say 2010 is Cotto's last year in the sport. If he beats Foreman in his comeback fight, winning a 154 pound title, then goes on to beat Martinez or Dzinziruk. Is he in?

16y ago

Silencers

Would beating more WW contenders and titlists do the trick? Like a Berto? OR does he need a marquee win over a P4P type fighter? Beating future HOFer Mosley again might seal the deal, maybe moving up and fighting and beating Martinez or Dzinziruk or something. Basically fight the top fighters and win, personally I don't consider Foreman to be a 'top' fighter.

16y ago

dans

Not yet, he still has some time but if next year is really his last year in the sport and he ends up fighting guys like Yuri Foreman then he probably won't ever get in. He was on the cusp of getting in before the Margarito and Pacquiao fights but he lost both, suspect wraps or not. Would beating more WW contenders and titlists do the trick? Like a Berto? OR does he need a marquee win over a P4P type fighter?

16y ago

zeidrich

need a little more.... he only have 34 fights..

16y ago

Silencers

16y ago