Ring Magazine Cover: "At only 28 years of age, Cotto may already be past his prime"

[Pollo Boricua]

I'm sure that after Cotto kills Pac, most of you will be saying that Cotto isn't in his prime yet and that he should be P4P Top 3.

[bojangles1987]

We'll have to see, it is a legit possibility. In the past couple years he has fought career shortening wars with Mosley, Margarito, and Clottey. He didn't exactly blow away Judah either. If Pac inflicts a ton of damage on him, it won't mean Cotto is done but fights like he has had plus a potential fight with Manny take years off a fighter.

[Ravishing]

You guys write off Boxers waaaaayyyy too soon. I mean, Cotto has only 1 loss, and that loss has become a disputed loss by many Fans and Experts alike.

So he had a tough time against Clottey...who hasn't??? Now, is Cotto the next Sugar Ray Robinson, Leonard, etc? Naaahhhh...he's Miguel Cotto.

For all we know, his best moments may be ahead of him. He's still young and got a lot of fight left in him.

[Sin City]

let's give the guy one more fight to see what he really has left in him.
until then, we don't know if his poor performance vs clottey was due to the giant cut and the fact that clottey is such a good fighter or that margo may have possibly ruined him.

[LilGizmo562]

What about from 135 to 147???

Williams/Mayweather/Mosley/Berto/Bradley/Campbell

Yet he chooses Diaz at LW and weight drained Oscar at 147. I agree with Hatton over Bradley. But now chooses declining Cotto over Mosley/Williams/Mayweather

There is a reason I said 106-130...I know there are a lot more American fighters in the higher weight classes, I agree he should fight Campbell and Bradley and Mayweather, etc. the only exception is Williams, that guy is TOO DAMN big for Manny.

[boriqua2thebone]

I don't think that Cotto is past his prime, I just think that the Cotto fans that claimed he could walk on water and was going to be the next Sugar Ray Robinson are seeing that he is more than human.

Cotto is a very, very good fighter and that's all he will ever be. He won't be great......just my opinion.

what does that even mean?

[dporcer0]

Yes. Cotto is past his prime, unfortunately.

A few observations from his last two fights:

1. His legs/knees aren't as steady as they used to be. They don't have the same elasticity or bounce and most of his weight in on his front foot, which has effected his balance.

2. His footspeed and handspeed have decreased. The fights back this as does his training videos when he's hitting the mitts. Reflexes have slowed a bit as well, so he'd be best served to use a more shell-like defense rather than the split guard.

3. His punches lack the snap they once had. Mainly the right hand. In the training camp for the Jennings fight, he tore his rotator cuff. Conditioning coach Phil Landman said it was because he was trying to do too much, too early in the camp. Watch that fight and notice how his right hand comes off. It's a push-punch and he can only throw it reasonably well sporadically. The Clottey fight was a bit better, but it's not laser straight the way it was against Judah, Mosley, and Margarito. It's definitely more push than snap.

4. He doesn't have quite the same timing anymore.

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Margarito definitely took something away from him that he'll never get back. The wars with Judah, Mosley, and Torres didn't help either. Enjoy him while he's around, because he wont be fighting at the top level for much longer. He was never great, just very solid overall, but looking at his last two fights in depth, he's on the slide. No question. Hate to say it, too, because he's my favorite active fighter.

[Bushbaby]

My answer is not in disrespect to Cotto at all!!I do think Cotto is in the decline of his career!!To his fans myself included,he's given us great fights and fought the best of his generation,but in fighting the best as much punishment as u dish out,u take some back as well!!No boxing fan can say Cotto is was or will be a bum,since DLH,no welterweight has put in the work that Cotto has,besides Mosley but Mosley has been at 154 also!!

[hookoutofhell]

i dont think that miguel is past his prime or shot but i do think hes very close to being burn out.

imo he needs a long break and a few easy fights before he jumps into another fight.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

what does that even mean?

It means that, that he's a good fighter not great. People throw the "great" word around like it's candy and it should be only given to those who are truly ATG.