Would Kostya Tszyu still have troubled Pac after seeing Pac destroy Cotto?

[Benny Leonard]

After watching Roosters HL video of Tszyu, it got me thinking about this matchup again:

At Kostya's peak...when he still was fast, sharp, active, motivated, and moved his body/head of course...how would he have done against the version of Pac that fights between JrWW-WW?


I still say Tszyu has a solid shot because unlike Cotto, Tszyu still has a better chance to stick with his original game-plan than Cotto...and unlike Cotto, doesn't get stunned like him and doesn't throw those wide-hooks like him which leaves him wide open. Plus, as long as we are sticking with Tszyu at his best, he still makes the weight fine unless Roach wants to have him come in at like 136 for the weigh-in.

Tszyu throws right down the middle with his right-cross behind a jab and that short-lead-left-hook that we've seen time and time again stun opponents. Of course, that same punch went unnoticed for a bit because he was injured but even when he still came back, we saw its effect against Mitchell.

Pac can still win this of course, I can see that, but what Tszyu can do is much different than what Cotto was doing. I think you need to throw the straight-punches like the right-cross down the middle...and throw a jab and that short-left-hook which is sneaky and fast is also a solid weapon.


Cotto isn't Tyson or Patterson where those two could get away with throwing more hooks because they were incredibly fast and understood how to bob and weave, time, and counter better...and of course Tyson could take chances because he had a better chin than both. Yes, I know those two are different weight-classes but I'm talking about styles and Cotto's style is a poor-man's version compared to Patterson and Tyson.

[Fox McCloud]

After watching Roosters HL video of Tszyu, it got me thinking about this matchup again:

At Kostya's peak...when he still was fast, sharp, active, motivated, and moved his body/head of course...how would he have done against the version of Pac that fights between JrWW-WW?


I still say Tszyu has a solid shot because unlike Cotto, Tszyu still has a better chance to stick with his original game-plan than Cotto...and unlike Cotto, doesn't get stunned like him and doesn't throw those wide-hooks like him which leaves him wide open. Plus, as long as we are sticking with Tszyu at his best, he still makes the weight fine unless Roach wants to have him come in at like 136 for the weigh-in.

Tszyu throws right down the middle with his right-cross behind a jab and that short-lead-left-hook that we've seen time and time again stun opponents. Of course, that same punch went unnoticed for a bit because he was injured but even when he still came back, we saw its effect against Mitchell.

Pac can still win this of course, I can see that, but what Tszyu can do is much different than what Cotto was doing. I think you need to throw the straight-punches like the right-cross down the middle...and throw a jab and that short-left-hook which is sneaky and fast is also a solid weapon.

LOL Who is Zoo? Man, Pacquiao dominates him and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot!

Be prepared for a lot of that in this thread.

I actually have not seen much of Tszyu at all. I saw him against Judah, and saw bits and pieces against Hatton. He seems like a straight puncher, and a very technically solid fighter.

I think the speed would trouble him, but moreso, the awkward angles, and Pacquiao jumping from side to side would really throw him out of his gameplan.

That's just my take... I tend to be awful at predicting the way fights go down, so take it for what it's worth.

[DLT]

Tszyu is a bad fight for Pac, I dont care what anyone says. You are not going to beat Pac unless you straight crowd him and I mean smother him almost. Pac is acting and loves to bring the pressure but there is still enough distance there to where Tszyu would be tagging him with those hard shots. He is also a beast against Southpaws, had mad strenght, and has power in both hands just like Pac. Its a good fight either way though

[MANGLER]

KT-Pac at JWW could go either way. I'd favor Pac, but KT got the punch to smoke a guy who charges in like Pac does. Not sure what the Cotto fight woulda meant to this.

[CaRnAgEViOLaToR]

Mismatch IMO, Pac brutalizes Tszyu.

[Benny Leonard]

LOL Who is Zoo? Man, Pacquiao dominates him and anyone who says otherwise is an idiot!

Be prepared for a lot of that in this thread.

I actually have not seen much of Tszyu at all. I saw him against Judah, and saw bits and pieces against Hatton. He seems like a straight puncher, and a very technically solid fighter.

I think the speed would trouble him, but moreso, the awkward angles, and Pacquiao jumping from side to side would really throw him out of his gameplan.

That's just my take... I tend to be awful at predicting the way fights go down, so take it for what it's worth.

Tszyu was past his peak when he fought Judah...even Judah said that prior to there fight. There was an interview with Judah discussing Tszyu and he heard Tszyu say that he was watching tapes of how he used to fight as an amateur and early pro career and he was going to bring some of that back...and Judah laughed it off by saying Kostya has changed at this point and he was to old to bring that style back. That style of course was based on athletic ability with speed and movement and punch-out-put. Tszyu, because of age, wear and tear from a long amateur career and training...along with inactivity for one reason or another...became a bit stiffer as a fighter, patient, warmed up to fights, and relied more on timing because his speed had declined on some level. His head-movement also wasn't as good. Of course, it didn't matter because Tszyu still had power and timing that knocked Judah out when he made a mistake.

Quick look at one of his fights against a Southpaw when he was till active:

[NSX-R]

I was thinking of this fight the other day and I came to the conclusion that Kostya would definitely fare better than ODLH, Hatton, and Cotto did against Pacquiao. I'd still pick Manny with a late round TKO or unanimous decision, but Tszyu had the following tools to realistically challenge Pacquiao:

1) Iron chin
2) Powerful, straight right hand that is effective against southpaws
3) Ability to adjust to quick, explosive boxers (Judah, Mitchell)

Kostya said in his documentary that he was adjusting his movements and timing to counter the speed advantages of Judah and Mitchell. Pac would still win though.

[RightCross94]

Tszyu-Pac would be such a good fight. Manny has the speed to go in and out on KT and trouble him early, but Kostya has the skills and punch to smoke Manny.

I think Manny jumps on him early going in and out and stunning him like Judah did. But KT finds his bearings after 2-3 rounds, and starts going to work, setting up the right hand, connecting on Pacquiao in exchanges and forcing Manny to back up. Manny is hurt and forced to back off, and Tszyu keeps stalking him down, cracking him with big rights and finishing him off around the 7th or 8th round.

[RightCross94]

I was thinking of this fight the other day and I came to the conclusion that Kostya would definitely fare better than ODLH, Hatton, and Cotto did against Pacquiao. I'd still pick Manny with a late round TKO or unanimous decision, but Tszyu had the following tools to realistically challenge Pacquiao:

1) Iron chin
2) Powerful, straight right hand that is effective against southpaws
3) Ability to adjust to quick, explosive boxers (Judah, Mitchell)

Yeah. those guys troubled him early but once he collected himself and got going he really went to town on them.

[Fox McCloud]

I was thinking of this fight the other day and I came to the conclusion that Kostya would definitely fare better than ODLH, Hatton, and Cotto did against Pacquiao. I'd still pick Manny with a late round TKO or unanimous decision, but Tszyu had the following tools to realistically challenge Pacquiao:

1) Iron chin
2) Powerful, straight right hand that is effective against southpaws
3) Ability to adjust to quick, explosive boxers (Judah, Mitchell)

Kostya said in his documentary that he was adjusting his movements and timing to counter the speed advantages of Judah and Mitchell.

Vince Phillips took Tszyu out... once in a lifetime shot? What happened? It takes a lot to knock an iron chin out. I haven't seen the bulk of Tszyu's work, so I really don't know. Was it a crazy shot that was lucky more than anything else?