Does the Cotto who fought Zab and Mosley beat Today's Pacquiao?

[Ray*]

I would favour that Cotto over pacman to be honest.

[7punchcombo]

I would favour that Cotto over pacman to be honest.

The Cotto that beat Clottey beats Pacquiao

[pard]

PACMAN will destroy COTTO. Too fast..to many angles and power in either hand.

[Ch@mpBox@PR]

The Cotto that beat Clottey beats Pacquiao

Co sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Beater_of_ass]

A lot of great points have been said and most of them are spot on. First, as for the topic question the answer is no. Cotto is my favorite fighter of all time, but I'm not a nuthugger about it, the fact is that Cotto didn't do anything but come at you straight on, and was only barely starting to get a job in that Judah fight, there were signs of him bringing into his style but it wasn't the jab he has now,. Without a solid jab Paq will eat you alive, look what he did to Hatton. As someone stated, Cotto's last four fights are what made him the fighter he is now, I couldn't agree with that more. Cotto was ROCKED two or three times in that Judah fight because he was just coming in all power and not setting anything up.

Another point I want to elaborate on is that fact that people say Cotto fades in his fights. That is just wrong and it coincides with my earlier point about Judah, that was the fight that I think made Cotto and his trainers realize that he's not going to beat top level opposition without learning how to box. Cotto still puts on pressure in his fights and tests his opponents, and also to do some damage, get some body work in, show them his power and get them on the defensive. If its working Cotto keeps coming forward, if it doesn't he "seems to tire."

I look at it a bit differently, and it goes back to the Judah fight again. Cotto even into the later rounds 6 and 7 was still getting hit with some hard shots coming in. This is usually the time when people say he starts to "tire." I feel this is the time when Cotto figures he is going to be able to KO this guy or not. If he can't he's going to avoid any potential damage he'll receive and outbox his opponents. This fits in with what someone else said about Cotto only tiring against bigger guys, the signs fit perfectly with my theory. Aside from the Marg fight Cotto has come forward to all of his opponents, and even in that fight Cotto was still putting a beating on Marg backing up the entire time.

In the Mosley fight he was landing some bombs early in the fight and I think he felt he could KO Mosley, once the 7th or 8th came around Cotto started to change his gameplan and while it did cost him a few rounds as he "seems" to stop doing what was working, he ends up still out working and hitting his opponents with hard punches. I don't think its possible for someone to do that if they are tired. In the Clottey fight, the first few rounds were strategic as most of Cotto's first 1 or 2 rounds are. After the cut Cotto went full bore with aggression and again he tested Clotteys chin and defense. Not only was Cotto not doing the damage against Clotteys defense upwards of throwing 90 punches a round, with that cut he was getting nailed with right hands, vicious right hands. If you were in that position would you sit there and take that punishment for not all that great of reward? Of course not, and Cotto went on to boxing.

For rounds 7-9 as in the Mosley fight it cost him rounds, no doubt, which the eye may or may not have had an affect. However, once round 10 came at the end of the round Cotto landed a great left and then another one which stunned Clottey. It may not have been in terms of him losing his balance or bearings but it was more of Clottey thinking (and you could see it at the bell) "Wow, that hurt and I better be careful." The rest of the rounds we saw Clottey throw less and less punches and as he did Cotto landed more counters and/or hit Clottey cleanly as he was coming in.

Anyway, as stated its because of Cotto's last 4 fights that he has become what he has. He's grown from a all power fighter which he definitely could get away with @ 140, but soon learned he can't do just that at 147. Also to elaborate on the bigger fighters and him tiring, I'll say he changes his tactics against opponents with very solid chins. One final note, Cotto's jab will be the reason he beats Paq and Cotto's may not have the "best" jab in terms of how often he uses it but he's got two VERY good things about his jabs going for him. His timing of it is flawless as we saw in the Mosley and Clottey fight and secondly his jab might as well be a power punch. When was the last time anyone could say that have knocked down not 1, but 2 opponents with a jab. Its not because his jab is THAT powerful its because its powerful and he times it so well. Gomez and Clottey know first hand about the combination of both, and Manny really to be aware of that.

[Ravishing]

Does the Cotto who fought Zab and Mosley beat Today's Pacquiao?

Wondering what you guys think...

The one thing I'm wondering is if Cotto is still able to be in a free for all throwdown when he needs to. Some would say that's not the smartest thing to do with pacquiao, but Cotto's is one hell of an accurate puncher, which sometimes is the better attribute than someone who's just fast (aka Zab).

But then again...Pac is an accurate puncher himself...

[Luis12]

yeap...no doubt

[Dorruel]

the Cotto that fought Margarito and Clottey beats Pac as well

[Kobe Bryant]

No. The things he's been through his last 4 fights have made him a great fighter. Even if he has taken some damage along the way.

[Sin City]

yes, he does.