Just wondering a few days ago, how different would Cotto's career have been post the 2008 fight with Margarito?
He went through some upheaval with trainers, jumping from Santiago in two consecutive big fights, against Clottey where he needed a strong finish to gut out a win and then a late fight beatdown against Pacquiao. In those training camps, he seemed to be training himself and it carried over.
He then jumps after a bad showing against Pacquiao to Steward, against Foreman in a move up. The fight seemed to be a more back to basics approach with going back to boxing. Steward had Cotto move his legs more, sit on his punches and stalk when appropriate. He then came back a year later after shoulder surgery and methodically beat up on Mayorga. Seemed to be content w/ getting rounds in and boxing. It seemed that the Margarito fight was already imminent since he fought nearly the same type.
Regardless, he jumped to PDL after some unknown reason (language barrier? unhappy w/ Steward approach to fighting, or Steward's training methods?). Either way, PDL had him moving, throwing combos and boxing in and out against Margarito. Cotto didn't press Margarito for the KO until about the 8th or 9th round and unfortunately the fight ended soon after. All in all, it showed a new angle.
Now he's up against the best fighter (arguably) he's ever been in the ring with. This time he has a coach.
But the call of the question is, how would A). his career have looked if Uncle Cotto remained the corner man (void of friction), B). Would he have fought the same guys and won/loss the same way
Hard to say because the last 3 dudes Cotto's beaten had great physical disadvantages. Busted leg(the Jewish kid), busted body(Mayorga) and busted eye(Margarito). Cotto is one of the best, if not the best, of the last 10 years though. Margarito beat him but he's to Cotto what Resto was to Collins. That doesn't figure in when reflecting on who ranks higher between the 2 or when considering who are the best fighters of this era.
Fixed it for you.
When you look at how drastically different he fought Margarito the 2nd time it should leave zero doubt that his corner had A TON to do with it.
Let me rephrase myself your are 100% right his corner had a ton to do with it like you
said just meant to me that fight regardless was more of a payback and Cotto was going there to kill no matter what, i'm team Cotto all day and was not putting his corner down what so ever.
May 5th we will see how solid his corner really is
which I have no doubt will prove itself.
Hard to say because the last 3 dudes Cotto's beaten had great physical disadvantages. Busted leg(the Jewish kid), busted body(Mayorga) and busted eye(Margarito). Cotto is one of the best, if not the best, of the last 10 years though. Margarito beat him but he's to Cotto what Norton was to Ali. That doesn't figure in when reflecting on who ranks higher between the 2 or when considering who are the best fighters of this era.
May 5th we going to find out how good PDL is
to me the Margarito fight was a fight for honor
it didn't matter who was in Miguels corner
that night
When you look at how drastically different he fought Margarito the 2nd time it should leave zero doubt that his corner had A TON to do with it.
Same trajectory, more or less.
Think he would have beat Clottey more clearly. Lost to Pacquiao still. Beat Foreman and Mayorga.
But I think an Evangelista trained Cotto would have lost to Margarito again.
I think so too, I think the cut had a lot to do with that fight....
http://jerseychaser.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/miguel-cotto-eye.jpg
Interesting, would he be served better w/ Evangelista in his corner against Mayweather or PDL, since we don't know much still about PDL
PDL, no question. PDL commands more respect and implements actual gameplans.
Same trajectory, more or less.
Think he would have beat Clottey more clearly. Lost to Pacquiao still. Beat Foreman and Mayorga.
But I think an Evangelista trained Cotto would have lost to Margarito again.
Interesting, would he be served better w/ Evangelista in his corner against Mayweather or PDL, since we don't know much still about PDL
Same trajectory, more or less.
Think he would have beat Clottey more clearly. Lost to Pacquiao still. Beat Foreman and Mayorga.
But I think an Evangelista trained Cotto would have lost to Margarito again.