Prime Kostya Tszyu vs. Present day Miguel Cotto @ 140lbs.

[Kayo]

Kostya by KO. A prime Tszyu was amazing he had good reflexes and tremendous power

[OptimusWolf]

I suggest the Technical_skill reads this posts as he is adamant that Zab Judah is a more skilled boxer than Tszyu. People need to make distinctions between fast, flashy, and skilled.

Tszyu was a master technician, and I agree, he would have probably beaten Hatton earlier in his career. Not sure about the hometown thing, that gets blown out of all proportion on here.

As for the original post - I'd put my house on tszyu at 140, but at 147, I'd be less certain. Cotto is proving himself indefatiguable, and could break down Tszyu much like Hatton did.

[mgkirkpatrick]

i hadnt thought about that either.. the pressure fighter was always the worst matchup for kostya.

[The Monk]

I know Cotto's chin seems to be improving but if Torres can have him staggering around like a drunk deer then Kostya will put him on his arse without doubt. Probably getting the KO in the mid rounds.

[FistFest]

I pick Kostya by KO over Cotto. Tszyu was flexible at handling different styles in his prime. He definitely would have adjusted midfight and neutralized that cotto left hook to the body and he'll definitely land that laser right money punch all night.

[monkeyboy]

Gotta be Tsyzu. I too believe that Kostya in his prime would have beaten Hatton. Don't get me wrong, Hatton did well but a younger, active Kostya would have a UD or stoppage by cuts.
As for Cotto, I love his body punching. It makes him one of my current favorites. Tsyzu would land that right though. That straight right is one of the components of my perfect composite fighter. Add his technical ring generalship and also his ability to compete in the 'dirty bastard' stakes I think it's a fight that Cotto can't win.
Cotto's defense isn't good enough and noone's chin was.

[daleneagle]

Tszyu by KO. Not TKO. He would wait for the perfect time and drop the hammer.

Great thread

[iron mike tyson]

cotto makes mistakes quite often in the defence department and tszyu will only need one for miguel to be picking hes ass off the canvas. id pick tszyu by ko inside 5

[Left2body]

Its a weird topic because they say Tzu vs Present day Cotto @140lbs. Well present day Cotto is not a jrWW.

Cotto at 140lbs is not as good as 147lbs Cotto. WW Cotto has better chin, stamina, work rate, combinations, jab.

The Present WW Cotto would win UD in a close tough fight.

[dino]

Who wins between these two brutal punchers? Common opponent Zab Judah. Thunderous left hook vs. Laser right straight. Both have strong foundations.

Man oh man, this is like a poor man's Duran vs. Chavez Sr mythical matchup.

I honestly don't know who comes out the winner in this one. I think I'll go w/ Tszyu. 'Cause he can box a little bit, the straight punch beats the hook, and Tszyu has a sturdier chin. There might be some kd's from both side or maybe this fight won't even go the distance.

why a "poor mans" matchup? tszyu and cotto would both beat chavez

but as far as the match up goes, i would favor tszyu at 140, and cotto at 147, cotto's chin was shaky at 140 for dehydrating himself to make weight