Comments Thread For: Photos: Cotto, Martinez Go Face To Face in Puerto Rico

[ThePunchingBag]

All the guys who dropped Martinez were much bigger and stronger than Cotto. Don't forget, Cotto was hurt by Pacquiao and Mayweather. So it won't take Martinez's best punch to hurt Cotto. Martinez's speed nothing compared to Mayweather's, Pacquiao's, and Judah's? Martinez is extremely fast. His speed will still trouble Cotto. Cotto is a good fighter, but what makes you think middleweight Cotto will be a good fighter? People are forgetting, Cotto is much smaller and weaker than the guys Martinez is used to facing. Skillwise, you are really underrating Martinez. He has a very good jab, is a very good counterpuncher, and is also a very smart tactician. The way he neutralized Chavez's size advantage and inside fighting was very smart. He also outboxed a fighter who is much more fundamentally sound than Cotto in Dzinziruk.

You said Martinez was hard to hit, but that's obviously wrong if guys slower and less accurate than Cotto can hit him.

Cotto is the smaller man, but not by much. Martinez himself is a small Middleweight. You are overrating Martinez's speed. He only looks fast against slow fighters like Chavez Jr, Pavlik, Barker, Murray.

Martinez has good skill, but his style is unorthodox, his defense is worse than Cotto's. He's also slowing down now due to age and injury.

Chavez is a slow plodder who many people agree isn't that good, but still good enough to beat Dzinziruk. You can't really compare Chavez Jr's skills to Cotto's. Cotto is in another league in terms of boxing technique.

Dzinziruk is not more skilled than Cotto. He might have a better guard than Cotto, but his footwork is nowhere near. If Martinez is not in the best shape then Cotto will easily pummel him with punches.

[PRBOXINGCOTTO]

Cotto is going to out class Sergio keep sleeping and going by size cotto is the better fighter

[NearHypnos]

Sergio only has a puncher's chance in this one IMO. Cotto has had to deal with WAY faster fighters than Sergio. Cotto has had to deal with taller and tougher fighters too. The only thing Sergio has going for him is if can land a huge punch to hurt or stop Cotto.

Cotto is going to land at will in this one. I think it'll be the other way around with Cotto toying with a hobbled Martinez. No way Martinez is in his peak with the surgery and long layoff.

Cotto is just going to catch Martinez flush all night, but probably no KD or KO. Sergio has no shot of outboxing Cotto to a decision and is going to have to rely on a big punch. That's the way I see it.

Cotto has dealt with faster fighters and taller but not this combination of faster, hits harder and bigger...not to mention Sergio might even be more skilled.

Cotto will land at times but I don't for a second believe he wont pay for it. Sergio has a brutal jab and straight to the body. Cotto will land some jabs and get in at times but it wont be free. The skillset and size of Martinez isnt the big threat it's his temperament. Martinez doesnt need full ability in his legs so long as he pops Cotto every chance he ets with the jab and keep him in distance with it and straights to the body and throw left counters as Cotto makes his way in. Look for engagements to end or start with martinez throwing right hooks around Cotto's high guard as well (something Martinez is very proficient in and something thats worked on Cotto).

I just cant picture Cotto beating a combination of Trout and Pacquiao. :/... Cotto is just a sucker for the southpaw stance and Martinez's jab is going to brutalize him I feel. Cotto doesnt hold a single advantage outside of age and the POSSIBILTY of Sergio being too far gone.

I think it really comes down to Cotto is just plain not good enough to deal with a not fully gone Sergio at 154 let alone 160. As much as I love Cotto I don't think he has the goods for Sergio...just a bad matchup against whats likely a better fighter...

[Alpha & Omega]

Some of you are out of your mind. Unless Sergio is totally shot and worn out, he is going to wreck Cotto's face and stop him. There is no way on earth Cotto can take his shots all night. Not a chance in hell. Cotto takes a beating at MSG. Cotto has never fought anyone as big as Sergio, he will be like 170+ in the ring. Cotto is a small JMW. Those straight lefts from Sergio are going to bust open Cotto's face. Some of you are reading WAY too much into that Cotto win over Rodriguez. If JCC Jr. or Murray could not stop Sergio, there is no way Cotto will.

[Stark777]

Some of you are out of your mind. Unless Sergio is totally shot and worn out, he is going to wreck Cotto's face and stop him. There is no way on earth Cotto can take his shots all night. Not a chance in hell. Cotto takes a beating at MSG. Cotto has never fought anyone as big as Sergio, he will be like 170+ in the ring. Cotto is a small JMW. Those straight lefts from Sergio are going to bust open Cotto's face. Some of you are reading WAY too much into that Cotto win over Rodriguez. If JCC Jr. or Murray could not stop Sergio, there is no way Cotto will.

Totally agree.

Could Cotto defeat Chavez Jr, Pavlik, P-Will, Dzinziruk?

Cotto isnīt the most dangerous opponent Martinez have had, by far. Not at 160 lbs.

[NearHypnos]

Totally agree.

Could Cotto defeat Chavez Jr, Pavlik, P-Will, Dzinziruk?

Cotto isnīt the most dangerous opponent Martinez have had, by far. Not at 160 lbs.

I think Cotto beats Dzinz in an uneventful fight by UD with Dzinz maybe winning a round or two early and a few late.

[ThePunchingBag]

Cotto has dealt with faster fighters and taller but not this combination of faster, hits harder and bigger...not to mention Sergio might even be more skilled.

Cotto will land at times but I don't for a second believe he wont pay for it. Sergio has a brutal jab and straight to the body. Cotto will land some jabs and get in at times but it wont be free. The skillset and size of Martinez isnt the big threat it's his temperament. Martinez doesnt need full ability in his legs so long as he pops Cotto every chance he ets with the jab and keep him in distance with it and straights to the body and throw left counters as Cotto makes his way in. Look for engagements to end or start with martinez throwing right hooks around Cotto's high guard as well (something Martinez is very proficient in and something thats worked on Cotto).

I just cant picture Cotto beating a combination of Trout and Pacquiao. :/... Cotto is just a sucker for the southpaw stance and Martinez's jab is going to brutalize him I feel. Cotto doesnt hold a single advantage outside of age and the POSSIBILTY of Sergio being too far gone.

I think it really comes down to Cotto is just plain not good enough to deal with a not fully gone Sergio at 154 let alone 160. As much as I love Cotto I don't think he has the goods for Sergio...just a bad matchup against whats likely a better fighter...

The problem is that you're imagining a fight where Cotto is the constant aggressor. It's going to be Sergio trying to make his way inside and getting his face carved up by Cotto's speed.

All Cotto has to do is box and counter the bigger guy and the fight is simple. I think you overrate Sergio's speed by comparing him to Pacquiao. Sergio just looks amazingly fast because he's fighting guys that are much slower. Cotto is the fastest guy Sergio has had to fight in a long long time. Cotto has the best footwork that Sergio has ever had to deal with. If Sergio can't keep up with Cotto due to his legs being shot then it'll be a long night for him.

Sergio is not and never was a technically sound boxer. He uses a mix of speed and athleticism to go along with a southpaw stance and an unorthodox style. Cotto is by FAR the more accurate puncher.

Size does not guarantee victory. Whoever imposes their style better will win. Unfortunately for Sergio I don't think he can impose himself anymore since he's on the decline made worse by a major injury.

[ThePunchingBag]

Totally agree.

Could Cotto defeat Chavez Jr, Pavlik, P-Will, Dzinziruk?

Cotto isnīt the most dangerous opponent Martinez have had, by far. Not at 160 lbs.

Triangle theories aren't really reliable arguments.

I do believe that Martinez looks really good against slow fighters. He can showcase his speed and athleticism.

Martinez looks less spectacular against more technical boxers who have good footwork.

[TOBYLEE1]

Martinez is far better than Trout so unless Sergio's layoff, age and injuries have an effect on him I don't give Cotto much a chance even if he goes in very aggressive

[Da Boxer]

not saying it was or wasnt, but Pacquiao himself said he had to fight harder against cotto over the first 6 rounds than any other fighter hes faced.... his words... can you really argue that? Mayweather himself said Cotto was his toughest fight. "mother****a made me wanna retire"

Great post! Green k!