Who is more worthy
Cotto-
3 divisiion titlist
wins
margo
torres
mosley
quintana
judah
Vitali
3 time heavyweight champ
former linear champ
wins over
sanders
ademek
briggs
williams
peters
Vitali, he's been dominant against everyone put in front of him and there isn't anyone he hasn't fought. Just as it isn't Cotto's fault that Arum wouldn't make fights with certain fighters, it isn't Vitali's fault that most of his division is not elite.
Both have done what they've had to do, mostly, I go with Vitali. And I was pretty big on Cotto up until a few years ago.
Who is more worthy
Cotto-
3 divisiion titlist
wins
margo
torres
mosley
quintana
judah
Vitali
3 time heavyweight champ
former linear champ
wins over
sanders
ademek
briggs
williams
peters
Vitali was NEVER lineal champ. He was Ring champ but that was never universally agreed upon. Ring, especially at early parts of their new title policy, often was at odds with lineage. They refused to recognize the proper Flyweight line which has now ended up right where Ring's back issues say it never left. The elevated Paulie Ayala to #1 after three straight bad decisions (Ayala, Tapia II, Adams I), crowned him, and ignored both Pacquiao and Larios.
The CyberBoxingZone, for example, never recognized Vit and should not have. Before Sanders, he lacked wins against Ring Top Ten contenders. Sanders was the first one he really had. Johnson was not ranked when Vit beat him. I don't believe Hide was Ring Top Ten either. He got to number one on a loss to Lewis while, at the same time, Ruiz had multiple top ten wins.
In no way am I saying Ruiz was better than Vit, but based on wins, even with the Jones loss that was followed by wins over Rahman and Oquendo, he had more claim to #1 than Vitali at the time. Vit-Sanders was a 1-3 fight and was one of the more discrediting coronations they made early on. Sanders had only one big win and a loss to Rahman (who Ruiz romped over) before sitting around putting on ten pounds of blubber for a year waiting for his cashout.
Ruiz also deserved higher rating than Sanders.
Terrible decision and series of ranking based on factors well beyond the only one that should count: wins.
NEVER lineal champ. Wlad renewed the lineage Lewis vacated. The Ring's error is better left ignored.
why do ppl persist on saying this? stallone didnt make it in as a fighter. he is in a separate section of the hall.
If Al Bernstein is the HOF then Sly Stallone who has a statue of himself damn well better be.
Al Bernstein has never had a fight in his life whereas Rocky atleast had fake ones.
Hate to say it, but Vitali is more HOF worthy.
They both are HOF worthy imo. If Sylvester Stallone can be in the HOF these two great champions damn well better be.
why do ppl persist on saying this? stallone didnt make it in as a fighter. he is in a separate section of the hall.
As of right now, NEITHER has any business in the Hall of Fame. Both are career paper titlists who never beat a lineal champ or a guy who was regarded as #1 in their respective division(s). And also, both of these gentlemen are among the most overrated fighters of the modern era.
Having said that, Cotto by a wide margin.
Vitali's top 5 wins combined, doesn't match the quality of Cotto's win over Mosley.
Hate to say it, but Vitali is more HOF worthy.
They both are HOF worthy imo. If Sylvester Stallone can be in the HOF these two great champions damn well better be.