Is Miguel Cotto Still The Destroyer That He Once Was?

[freeloada]

Is Miguel Cotto Still The Destroyer That He Once Was? This Saturday Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto will once again try to become welterweight champion of the world when he takes on W.B.A champion Yuri Foreman, 28-0, 8 KO‘s this Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Cotto, 34-2, 27 KO’s, was regarded as one of the best pound-4-pound fighters on the planet but after taking brutal beatings from Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao many wonder if he is still a top-flight contender. Below is a closer look at Miguel Cotto from our boxing picks team of experts.


The Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman Boxing Odds have Cotto as a -280 favorite at BetUs.com.

Boxing Picks Analysis: Miguel Cotto is a heavy puncher that likes to batter opponents to the body. Cotto’s best weapon is a left hook to the ribs or liver that is delivered with leverage. Cotto has a strong straight right thrown with textbook form that complements his left hook nicely. Miguel puts his punches together well but his handspeed is only slightly above-average. Cotto has some decent boxing skills with a punishing jab but he can be given trouble with movement and slickness. The Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman Boxing Odds have the OVER/UNDER at 10.5 Rounds with the OVER at -130.

Get the latest boxing news on all the top fights including the Andre Ward vs Allan Green W.B.A title fight on June 19th. If your looking for online boxing news from the top boxing experts and analysts, visit OnlineSportsHandicapping.com daily!

Miguel has good stamina but not great stamina because he has to cut lots of weight to make the welterweight limit. Cotto has sound fundamentals with his chin tucked and gloves held high and serviceable head movement but he can be tagged. Cotto has a decent chin but his face is susceptible to cuts and swells. Miguel has also shown a little “give” since Antonio Margarito railroaded him in June of 2008. The Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman Boxing Odds give Cotto a 73% chance of winning on the boxing betting money line.

Cotto is not the same fighter that he once was. Boxing is about 70% mental after the fundamentals are learned and Cotto is not the intimidating pit bull that destroyed Alfonso Gomez in July of 2007. Miguel is excellent when he can pound on a guy but when he gets beaten on back he isn’t that great. Cotto is still a B+ level fighter but will never be the A+ Hall-Of-Famer that many thought he would destined to be.

Miguel Cotto Fight Picks Tale-Of-The-Tape

From: Puerto Rico
Ht. 5’7”
Wt.: 147
Age: 28
Reach: 67”
Style: Puncher\Boxer
Best Punch: Left Hook
Rounds Fought: 238

[Hi-Dro]

He's not the same. He was even out of depth in the Margarito fight. I don't think he is the same as he once was. But I also think that this is because he is, or was a ww. At 140 he was physically bigger then most of his opponents, thus he could impose his will on them and walk them down. At 147 his style changed a little bit because he no longer held the same physical advantage that he had at 140. Plus he knew that he couldn't use his destroyer style at 147 because WW's would crack that chin. Mosley had him stunned late in their fight, and Judah had him stunned earlier, which is why I believe that he tried to outbox Margarito, and change his style up a little bit. He knew that that style wouldn't work against a big WW. Thus, people who say that Marg took the destroyer style out of him don't know **** because they haven't been following Cotto much. He thought that he could employ his old style against pac because he was bigger but that was a big mistake.

[MONEYMAY-]

No he's not.

[Foolkiller]

The Truth

I have not seen Miguel truly sit down on his punches since the AM fight. Even against Pac, who is smaller he seemed to throw good arm punches (he never put his weight into them). Perhaps it is mental, I'm interested in watching him under Emanuel. Regardless, I believe Miguel must face his demons, by fighting AM. Then he can overcome, or stop lying to himself.

[DR.ORGYY]

War cotto.........

[Spray_resistant]

I am not ready like some to call Miguel past prime and dare some say shot under whatever mountain of evidence they have.

I wish him the best and think he still has plenty left, keep in mind he got as far as he did without a real world class trainer.

[Jack Napier]

no
he became a well rounded boxer puncher at WW, sans defense
he doesn't have the same power or nonstop aggression
and now his chin is cracked after not being very good to begin with
Tony beat the dog **** out of him
Clottey did some damage
Pac ****d him from round 3 on
no way he'll be the same, especially at higher weight

[Rompeboca]

I Agree with almost everything U said on your opening message except this:

Miguel is excellent when he can pound on a guy but when he gets beaten on back he isn’t that great.

You are basing that opinion by looking only at Cotto's 2 loses but;

When Cotto fought Corley:
Cotto was staggering and reeling in the 3rd. yet Corley was knocked down once in the first round & twice in the 5th, with the last one giving Cotto a TKO victory.

When Cotto fought Torres:
Cotto was down in round two (the first time he had been knocked down in his career) he was rocked in the first, fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds, and still he was able to drop Torres in rounds one, four, six, and finally a TKO drop in the seven.

When Cotto fought Judah:
Cotto was cut on the right side of his mouth and above his right eye. and it seem Judah was winning the fight then Judah was cut above the right eye. after that Judah took a knee in the 9th round and was finally down and stop in the 11th round.

When Cotto fought Mosley :
Mosley landed some good rights at the end of the second. Both landed big shots in round three with Cotto momentarily rocked by a right hand. The two fighters then had some good exchanges in the fourth. Round five was close, but Cotto appeared to be taking control in the sixth. Mosley adjusted and tried boxing from the outside in the seventh round. The boxing continued in the eighth as Mosley moved and Cotto pursued. Mosley hurt Cotto in the ninth round but Cotto fought back gamely at the end of the round. Mosley dominated the first half of the tenth, but Cotto rallied in the second half. Mosley pressed in the eleventh, but Cotto landed some great counterpunches to win the round.

When Cotto fought Clottey :
Cotto dropped Clottey with a jab late in the first round. An accidental clash of heads in round three opened up a nasty gash over Cotto’s right eye. The cut was never really brought under control by Cotto’s corner and the blood bother Cotto over the remaining fight. Cotto did not took the easy way when he could had complain so that the fight would go to the scorecards.
Clottey appeared to injure his right knee or ankle when he got tossed to the ground by Cotto. in the end Cotto won a close fight