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NAME
Miguel Cotto -- Joshua Clottey
NICKNAME
Junito -- Grand Master
AGE
28 -- 32
HOMETOWN
Caguas, Puerto Rico -- Accra, Ghana
STATISTICS
33(27) - 1(1) - 0 -- 35 (20) - 2(0) - 0
SIZE
5'7", 147 -- 5'8", 147
STANCE
Orthodox -- Orthodox
ABILITY/TECHNIQUE:
Miguel Cotto: Miguel Cotto is a very unique fighter. He manages to be virtually just as effective when going forward as he is when he's taking a back-step. Though, some might say he doesn't have the legs to do that all fight against a constant pressure fighter who can take a decent punch, like Antonio Margarito. Nonetheless, for a solid 8 or 9 rounds, that was working well for him. Solid combination puncher. He isn't the fastest puncher, though he is fast, but his tremendous timing allows him to negate the speed of his opponents. Quite like he did with Shane Mosley. He's one of the best body-punchers in the game and uses it perfectly by forcing his opponent to lower their guard and capitalizing. His left hook is his money punch, but he carries equal power in both and is able to hurt you after laying on the punishment. Solid footwork and underrated defense. Good combinations and one of the best finishers in the game today.
Joshua Clottey: Joshua has one of the best defenses in the business. It also helps that when a punch does get through, it hits a very sturdy chin. Lightning fast in terms of combinations, though single shots at times lack the speed of some of the faster fighters in or around his weight. Still, fast. Solid footwork, great balance. Almost always in position to slip a punch and deliver his own. Intelligent fighter, doesn't get wild. Very accutare punches, places them well and takes his corners advice quite well. Always comes in with great physical shape and strength which allows for exceptional stamina. Wide array of punches when he chooses to use them. Solid not thudding puncher. Isn't afraid to get dirty when he needs to, but is smart enough to not get caught.
WEAKNESSES:
Miguel Cotto: At 140, Cotto was a fairly decent fighter, until he struggled to make the weight and had a run of getting hurt every other fight, it seemed. Since then, he's moved up and his beard has stabilized, but he can be hurt. He can tire if the fight is at too fast a pace for him. He has admitted in the passed that he wont hold if he is desperately hurt, unless he ABSOLUTELY needs to, which could hurt him in certain instances. He will get dirty in some fights, but he isn't quite sneaky enough most of the time. Isn't prone to cuts, but he can get busted open here and there.
Joshua Clottey: Clottey can often times close up when his opponent throws and allows them to score. He will come forward in the same fashion. Because of his defense, he doesn't allow himself to work on head movement. His hands might not be brittle, but they have been broken as recent as his Antonio Margarito fight. Slow starter who might let the fight get away from him against the elite, such as Cotto. Has minimal experience against the best on the biggest stage, so it's difficult to determine how well he can handle such an experience.
OPPOSITION/CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Miguel Cotto: Cotto has faced virtually everyone to face at 147, with the exception of the division-happy Paul Williams and the oft-retired Floyd Mayweather. Outside of those two however, he's faced Margarito, Mosley, Zab Judah, Carlos Quintana. Not to mention the lesser known and skilled fighters such as Alfonzo Gomez and Michael Jennings. At 140, Paulie Malignaggi and Ricardo Torres are also victims. His record agaisnt the best he faced in those divisions is 5(3) - 1(1). Not counting Gomez or Jennings. He's held no TRUE world championships, however he's picked up some ABC belts in his career. Ranked number 7 in The Ring pound for pound rankings.
Joshua Clottey: Clottey is a very solid fighter that deserves more chances then he's been given. At 147, he's faced a solid line up of opponents, nonetheless. Those names including Judah, Margarito, Carlos Baldomir and the late Diego Corrales. With that group, he's went 2(0) - 2 (2). Though, it's of note that he was winning both fights that he lost in until things dramatically changed, an injury and a bogus disqualification. He's held no TRUE world titles, but ABC trinkets. Not ranked in The Ring pound for pound rankings.
THE QUESTIONS: Does Clottey hit hard enough to change the fight if he's down too far to win a decision? Will Cotto tire out from punching at Joshua's tight guard all night? Who will dictate the pace of the fight and if it's a slow pace, who benefits most? Who will counter best? Can Clottey get a fair shake in a close fight? Does Cotto TRULY have all of his confidence back to dig deep? How will Clottey handle someone who CAN be just as defensive as him, but still manages to get his shots off? Will be force himself to be the aggressor? Can Cotto stop Clottey?
THE OUTCOME: This fight will start out fairly timid. One fighter will have to believe in himself to press on the gas in the biggest fight since his loss and the other will have to acclimate to this new situation. Rounds 1 and 2 will probably be split, though you can see a pro-Cotto trend begin to pick up around the 3rd or 4th. Clottey might win a couple of the middle rounds, in between he 5th and 8th. The 9th and after will be close, exciting but will ultimately be the rounds Cotto wins to earn a comfortable decision. It wont be one-sided, but Cotto's ability to fight both defensively and offensively will be too much for the African fifhgter to overcome as he wont throw enough.
Winner, Miguel Cotto Unaimous Decision. (116-112)
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