Sergio Martinez Willing To Fight Cotto @158

[AP♠]

Catch weight Cotto!

Bbb buuu but Maravilla was willing to come to 154 to fight Floyd?

[soul_survivor]

Bbb buuu but Maravilla was willing to come to 154 to fight Floyd?

I don't mind Martinez fighting Cotto at a catchweight but I don't want Cotto to receive a life threatening beating.

[thuggery]

Roach will probably make Sergio come down to 154...

I'd still favor shot Maravilla though

[mezoomozaa]

It is a very good tune-up for an upcoming fight with Mayweather . but I prefer a fight with a contender @ 160 if he fights GGG in 2014 .

[joesaiditstrue]

Knowing Cotto as well as yo do, what do you think he would have to do to win this fight? What gameplan should he pursue? In a scenario where Cotto wins, how would it go?

Sergio is basically a bigger version of what Pacquiao does, ambush style, though he's much lower volume

Sergio can also fight off the back foot and counter because he has incredibly fast hands for 160lbs

I think this is a pick-em fight, but I know Vegas will have Sergio the favorite

I hope it's at 160lbs

edit: to answer your specific question, Cotto would definitely have to be the aggressor, cut the ring off, and try to get close to Maravilla, try to get him to the ropes

Basically don't do what Chavez Jr did for 11.5 rds

Also, don't try to box Sergio in the center of the ring, try to employ the same gameplan he had for Mayweather

[Citizen Koba]

Roach and Cotto say no catch weight is needed and the full 160 pounds is fine. Good for them. I personally don't think a fighter that wins the title at a catch weight is really the champ but that's just me.I would accept Mayweather as the lineal chanp if he had fought Canelo at 154 but there is no 152 pound world title. There is no 158 pound world title. A catch weight for a non title fight is fine but world champion titles should be fought at the traditional full weight limit in my opinion. Otherwise what is the point of having weight classes? I don't make the rules so that's just my own standard. What is a shame to me is that if Cotto and Martinez fight for the lineal world middleweight title a middleweight known as GGG will never get to fight either of them. I am sure he would knock them both out if he could get a fight with them.

This^ is my only issue with what should be a great fight between 2 of the most respected fighters in the sport.

However, Lewcowicz has basically said Maravilla wants Cotto then GGG. I've an idea that HBO are willing to put up a lotta $s to get Golovkin the lineal shot - remember they've put a lot into the guy and are hoping it'll pay back over the next few years.

Perhaps they'll make a two fight deal with Maravilla vs Cotto and the winner vs Golovkin. Possibly throw in a rematch clause between Cotto and Maravilla as well. Both Cotto and Maravilla are 2-3 fights away from retirement and this option ticks all the boxes - both get some good paydays and legacy fights and HBO get GGG the lineal shot.

Thoughts?

PS. I'm also very much against catchweights in title fights. It shows a lack of respect to the guys who coulda had a shot at the divisional limit for one thing and ain't good for the sport (though I understand it opens the way for some lucrative and exciting match-ups).

[Citizen Koba]

Sergio is basically a bigger version of what Pacquiao does, ambush style, though he's much lower volume

Sergio can also fight off the back foot and counter because he has incredibly fast hands for 160lbs

I think this is a pick-em fight, but I know Vegas will have Sergio the favorite

I hope it's at 160lbs

edit: to answer your specific question, Cotto would definitely have to be the aggressor, cut the ring off, and try to get close to Maravilla, try to get him to the ropes

Basically don't do what Chavez Jr did for 11.5 rds

Also, don't try to box Sergio in the center of the ring, try to employ the same gameplan he had for Mayweather

In terms of strategy yeah. Both fighters will do what they do. Cotto to cut down the ring and get inside, go to Maravillas body and slow him down. Maravilla to use his speed and mobility to avoid being cut off, launch quick in and out attacks to wear Cotto down.

As you say Cotto can't stay in the center and give Sergio the room to maneuver, he must try to trap him in the corners or against the ropes. I think that the determining factor will be whether Maravilla still has the footwork and reflexes to keep it at distance and escape the traps. I know he will slug it out if he gets caught, but that will work against him in the later rounds.

[lefthook2daliva]

http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news...box&type=story

Let the negotiations beging!

Boy, I really don't like this fight for Cotto; sure a good, motivated Cotto could win this against a broken down old Martinez and it would be quite a feather in his cap. But what if a good version of Sergio shows up?

A good Sergio is very fast, with good footwork and is not so easy to hit. A good Sergio has withstood Kelly Pavlik shots.

I don't really think that Martinez is any more skilled or crafty or even faster than Miguel, prime for prime, but a good Maravilla is going to be able to soak up some of what Miguel can put on him. On the other hand, even the best Cotto will not withstand the punch that slept P-Dub.

Would much prefer the Alvarez matchup.

That said, in either case:

WAR COTTO!!!

[DosRounds]

I hope it happens soon