When you have a grueling fight like Cotto's first fight with Margarito, especially adding into the fact Margarito most likely had loaded gloves a fighter is not gonna be the same. That being said Cotto did not participate in a lot of wars. His fights with Mosley(skillful performance by cotto outboxed Sugar), Judah(exciting but Judah had his usual mid-fight gas out with help of low blows, Torres, and Pinto were good fights but he stopped the last two and he did not have to endure the type of punishment fights like Gatti-Ward, Corrales-Castillo had.
I believe Margarito took Cotto's physical and psycological prime away in their first fight. When he fought Pacquaio he was more mentally shot than phyically he was still in his twenties and coming off a close one with Clottey. He didnt have a chance to have a few good tune ups before he fought those, guys a testiment to his courage as a fighter.
After resurrecting his career and winning fights over his nemesis Margarito, Mayorga and Foreman his confidence was back, although he was not a his absolute physical peak. He did fight alot smarter. Diaz added some new wrinkles to his game and he also helped him be more versatile than just fighting from one range, which was mid range. He lost to Margarito and struggled in other fights because he never learned to hold on the inside or utilize his short center of gravity and lean on his opponents. Believe it or not the inside is safer than the outside. Mayweather was just to overall skilled although smaller, and Trout had too much size and reach for him to overcome...he didnt get outclassed but outboxed. A shot fighter is not gonna win titles at a higher weight, defend it, then go twelve rounds with the best fighter in the world, and a huge world class natural super welterweight
To conclude...
Cotto went further than I ever would have thought...I picked against him in the Mosley and Judah fights. I picked him to beat Margarito, we saw how that went. Had he fought Pacquaio or Mayweather earlier in his career the results may have been worse. Especially with Mayweather at 140 where he was elusive, had power, and threw nasty combos and counters or as the champion at 147
Cotto has no business at 154. I think what hurt him more than anything was the lack of a consistent top notch trainer. I think that mentally he wasn't quite the same after the first Margarito beatdown.
Cotto is not shot, he still has something in the tank. Margs cheated him. Pacquiao and Mayweather are two ATG's, no shame in losing to them, he gave his all and showed his skill. Trout was too big and I honestly feel Cotto underestimated him.
He'll beat Rodriguez in October, then he needs to push for the winner of Marquez-Bradley, which is hopefully Marquez. Then go for Sergio and retire as the MW champ. (This is how my dream scenario went.)
TS, you are absolutely right. Miguel Cotto may be past his prime, even slightly damaged goods, but he is not shot. Cotto's problem is that he is not only past his prime at this point but he is fighting in a weight class where he simply isn't big enough.
That said, Miguel has stated clearly that he only has three fights left, tops. So it seems he is aware of his situation.
i consider myself a die hard cot to fan. but i hate these excuses. cotto is shot. after the margarito fight it just worse after that. clottey, pac, mayorga, margarito 2 etc. just took everything out of him. that trout fight was hard to watch
Okay I agree. He isn't completely shot because he can still beat a lot of guys. Trout would probably beat Cotto even if Cotto was prime especially at 154....
The last time Cotto was prime was the 1st Margarito fight though.
.....if I may add...not feeling all that with the selection of Rod for his Nov fight.
I still have Miguel with the win....but Rod has height, reach and he can box a bit!
It will be a good scrap.
Cotto is not shot,but he does doubt himself when faced with adversity since the Margo fight,its kind of like the Tyson syndrome,once he finds out he cant bully or intimidate you he kinds of questions himself
Looked bad against Trout. But was a lousy matchup for him. Tough to get at Trout. Did not look bad against Mayweather or Pacquiao.
trout was all wrong for him...i think he would have been better off fighting Canelo. He just fought Mayweather and went back to fighting a boxer type. Bad choice on his management and considering Trouts size, speed, and jab, and activity. I always questioned the opponent choice before the fight happened. I agree about Pacquiao and Mayweather but at any time in his career those are two guys I just never saw him beating. He is two vulnerable to uppercuts and straights down the middle.