History's Darling: Cotto vs Mayweather

[JmH Reborn]

**Real Boxing Discussion Please**

These two fighter's careers are winding down. Mayweather may not come back, and if he does, history suggests that he'll fight only once and step out of the game for another long duration. I will say, as of now, I don't see Mayweather fighting in 2011. Mayweather is 34, and this inactivity eventually will catch up to a fighter, like it did Oscar. The last five years have completely wasted his prime and nobody knows if he has the heart to fight on.

Cotto, having been through several wars is on his way out. 2011 may be his last year, or even more likely, 2012. It all depends on how 2011 ends up for him. Cotto has some serious competition looming for him and has a chance to go out with a ****. First up, is most likely Antonio Margarito in July. Cotto has made it known his desire to face Sergio Martinez, which could happen in November. So I ask this NSB, if Cotto finishes 2011 by beating, Margarito and Martinez, pushing him to 38-2, capturing a championship in four divisions, and avenging his first defeat...

Will history favor Miguel Cotto or Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Discuss

**Disclaimer**

In an effort to minimize the trolls, I do not favor Cotto over Martinez, however I must note that Martinez does seem to fade late, worse than Cotto does and leaves himself open for hits. Lastly, Cotto will be the best fighter Martinez will have ever fought, which must be accounted for. This is just all hypothetical.

[treason1]

kfc >>>> cotto

[JmH Reborn]

kfc >>>> cotto

Yet you refer to him as KFC

Do you have actual insight?

[Doctor_Tenma]

**Real Boxing Discussion Please**

These two fighter's careers are winding down. Mayweather may not come back, and if he does, history suggests that he'll fight only once and step out of the game for another long duration. I will say, as of now, I don't see Mayweather fighting in 2011. Mayweather is 34, and this inactivity eventually will catch up to a fighter, like it did Oscar. The last five years have completely wasted his prime and nobody knows if he has the heart to fight on.

Cotto, having been through several wars is on his way out. 2011 may be his last year, or even more likely, 2012. It all depends on how 2011 ends up for him. Cotto has some serious competition looming for him and has a chance to go out with a ****. First up, is most likely Antonio Margarito in July. Cotto has made it known his desire to face Sergio Martinez, which could happen in November. So I ask this NSB, if Cotto finishes 2011 by beating, Margarito and Martinez, pushing him to 38-2, capturing a championship in four divisions, and avenging his first defeat...

Will history favor Miguel Cotto or Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Discuss

**Disclaimer**

In an effort to minimize the trolls, I do not favor Cotto over Martinez, however I must note that Martinez does seem to fade late, worse than Cotto does and leaves himself open for hits. Lastly, Cotto will be the best fighter Martinez will have ever fought, which must be accounted for. This is just all hypothetical.

Cotto isn't in his prime anymore, but he has alot more left in him than Margarito, honestly at this point...beating Margarito doesn't mean much, I expect Cotto to stop him. He'll soften him up by boxing in the early to mid rounds, then take him out late. If he beats Martinez, especially at 160, hard to express how great of an accomplishment that would be, I doubt that happens though.

I disagree with Cotto being the best guy Martinez has fought, strongly disagree.

[RL_GMA]

This is one of those unfortunate situations where a great fight never happens. I remember the days of Cotto being the #1 guy to fight Floyd, but admittedly, Cotto wasn't that "star" that you "needed" to be to fight Mayweather at the time (who had just beaten Ricky Hatton).

To me, and people will be quick to throw it down, I always thought Cotto had a shot to beat Mayweather circa 2008. Did Cotto have defensive flaws? Yea, but he also had a way of adjusting mid fight and was (is) really crafty with the way he got his shots off and had a good amount of speed in comparison to Floyd's previous opponents since the Zab fight. What Cotto also wouldn't have a problem with in this fight is being pressured. That isn't Floyd's forte' more than trying to counter and select his shots and keep it moving. Cotto was a pressure fighter, but he was also a very underrated boxer who can mix it up and just surprise you with shots you don't see coming (again, a 2008 version of Cotto). I think it would've been something like Castillo vs Mayweather I (maybe better).

All in all, I believe Mayweather might've had an edge in the fight and quite possibly could've won with his ring smarts, but Cotto to me has always been a difficult guy to fight and in comparison to De La Hoya, Hatton, and even skipping to JMM and "that" version of Mosley, Cotto (2008) was still much better opposition. Who knows, maybe they'll fight one day (hopefully before 40 lol).

[JmH Reborn]

Cotto isn't in his prime anymore, but he has alot more left in him than Margarito, honestly at this point...beating Margarito doesn't mean much, I expect Cotto to stop him. He'll soften him up by boxing in the early to mid rounds, then take him out late. If he beats Martinez, especially at 160, hard to express how great of an accomplishment that would be, I doubt that happens though.

I disagree with Cotto being the best guy Martinez has fought, strongly disagree.

Margarito still has his toughness and of course the mental edge over Cotto. It may not mean much in today's rankings, but historically, I think it would be good for Cotto. Margarito was a good-to-great Welterweight who popped Cotto's cherry the first time around. Cotto winning it I think would bode well for him, especially when people in 10-20 years start talking about Hall of Fame, ATG Welterweights, and this generation's best group of fighters.

Also, who has Martinez beaten or fought that at any point is on Cotto's level? He fought Margarito 10 years ago, Pavlik and PWill. Out of those three, Margarito and Pavlik are the best ones. He lost to Margarito (even if they were both pups) and Pavlik has been through some ****, and he lost to, in my opinion, the best fighter in the last 15 years, which is no shame. And Pavlik, with all things being equal can never carry Cotto's jockstrap, neither can PWill.

[JmH Reborn]

This is one of those unfortunate situations where a great fight never happens. I remember the days of Cotto being the #1 guy to fight Floyd, but admittedly, Cotto wasn't that "star" that you "needed" to be to fight Mayweather at the time (who had just beaten Ricky Hatton).

To me, and people will be quick to throw it down, I always thought Cotto had a shot to beat Mayweather circa 2008. Did Cotto have defensive flaws? Yea, but he also had a way of adjusting mid fight and was (is) really crafty with the way he got his shots off and had a good amount of speed in comparison to Floyd's previous opponents since the Zab fight. What Cotto also wouldn't have a problem with in this fight is being pressured. That isn't Floyd's forte' more than trying to counter and select his shots and keep it moving. Cotto was a pressure fighter, but he was also a very underrated boxer who can mix it up and just surprise you with shots you don't see coming (again, a 2008 version of Cotto). I think it would've been something like Castillo vs Mayweather I (maybe better).

All in all, I believe Mayweather might've had an edge in the fight and quite possibly could've won with his ring smarts, but Cotto to me has always been a difficult guy to fight and in comparison to De La Hoya, Hatton, and even skipping to JMM and "that" version of Mosley, Cotto (2008) was still much better opposition. Who knows, maybe they'll fight one day (hopefully before 40 lol).

It was and still is a great fight, if it happens now or in 2012. But if it doesn't happen, historically, how would both fighters measure up if Mayweather retires, with his last 5-6 years intact, and Cotto finishing 2011 strong? I'm assuming that Cotto/Martinez pops off after the Margarito fight, and he perhaps win.

[bigcursedawg]

mayweather will be looked at as the best boxer in his era as far as skill goes. but he has been a fighter that thinks of himself and making money rather than what the fans want to see. he has also ducked people and while saying he has fought the best in the world, and he has but not through out his career.
cotto has always been a fan friendly fighter. he has fought however his promoter puts in front of him and usually putting on a dominating performance. he grew from a slugger to being a pretty good boxer.
for me when i started to get back into boxing i always liked watching cotto because he didn't just get decisions he punished people. i took a while for me to appreciate mayweathers style of boxing.

[MARKBNLV]

**Real Boxing Discussion Please**

These two fighter's careers are winding down. Mayweather may not come back, and if he does, history suggests that he'll fight only once and step out of the game for another long duration. I will say, as of now, I don't see Mayweather fighting in 2011. Mayweather is 34, and this inactivity eventually will catch up to a fighter, like it did Oscar. The last five years have completely wasted his prime and nobody knows if he has the heart to fight on.

Cotto, having been through several wars is on his way out. 2011 may be his last year, or even more likely, 2012. It all depends on how 2011 ends up for him. Cotto has some serious competition looming for him and has a chance to go out with a ****. First up, is most likely Antonio Margarito in July. Cotto has made it known his desire to face Sergio Martinez, which could happen in November. So I ask this NSB, if Cotto finishes 2011 by beating, Margarito and Martinez, pushing him to 38-2, capturing a championship in four divisions, and avenging his first defeat...

Will history favor Miguel Cotto or Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Discuss

**Disclaimer**

In an effort to minimize the trolls, I do not favor Cotto over Martinez, however I must note that Martinez does seem to fade late, worse than Cotto does and leaves himself open for hits. Lastly, Cotto will be the best fighter Martinez will have ever fought, which must be accounted for. This is just all hypothetical.

Mayweather people forget about his body of work before becoming a self absorbed scum bad he destroyed very good fighters,just look at what he did to Corrales dead or alive a sure fire hof.beat castillo badly after winning a close fight with him and moved up in weight all the way to 154 and beat a semi shot dlh at his best weight at the time.Cotto is a very good fighter but every time he fights the elite he loses,i see Mayweather beating both Margarito and Pacquiao sadly it will all be speculation he is now 34 and past his prime honestly the man should retire for good.even past prime if they were to face off this year he beats both.

[Doctor_Tenma]

Margarito still has his toughness and of course the mental edge over Cotto. It may not mean much in today's rankings, but historically, I think it would be good for Cotto. Margarito was a good-to-great Welterweight who popped Cotto's cherry the first time around. Cotto winning it I think would bode well for him, especially when people in 10-20 years start talking about Hall of Fame, ATG Welterweights, and this generation's best group of fighters.

Also, who has Martinez beaten or fought that at any point is on Cotto's level? He fought Margarito 10 years ago, Pavlik and PWill. Out of those three, Margarito and Pavlik are the best ones. He lost to Margarito (even if they were both pups) and Pavlik has been through some ****, and he lost to, in my opinion, the best fighter in the last 15 years, which is no shame. And Pavlik, with all things being equal can never carry Cotto's jockstrap, neither can PWill.

Yeah maybe historically, but really...doesn't do much. I'm more with Martinez in how he views the possibility of avenging his lost to Margarito, he sees it as nothing but a lose in his column, he knows Margarito doesn't have much left, so it's pointless. I wouldn't knock Cotto if he wanted to head that direction, wouldn't knock him one bit.



Maybe not the skill set of Cotto but Pavlik, Paul Williams and Dzinziruk hold attributes that make them more threatening an opponent than Cotto, especially now. Also when you say 'as good, do you mean as challenging? or as accomplished? Kind of confused there.