Who next for Cotto?

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 10 May 2004, 05:19

Cotto is quite possibly the best 140 pounder in the world right now. I believe he could cope with whatever anyone tries to throw at him.

Hatton could not beat this guy. Compare their respective punching ability, different class.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 10 May 2004, 08:29

chado wrote:
Southpaw Stylist wrote:A mover who is strong enough and good enough to not get walked down and can command respect from their own shots.
Junior Witter fits that description.

Don't be silly. Witter can move, but can he take what we now know to be rib-breaking body shots?

Coconut · Post by **Coconut** » 10 May 2004, 08:49

Was Hatton running scared or just being his typically polite self doing the studio commentary bit? He certainly sounded like he was looking up to Cotto. Whilst Cotto may want Hatton next, Hatton had evidently taken a leaf out of his promoter's book and did some 'subtle' back-pedalling there. I don't fancy Hatton over Cotto I must say.

One thing I did notice, especially after a lot of folk who saw him working his brother's corner said so, was that Hatton was carrying a few pounds. Less than a month to go and the boy had a double chin. A spot of credence to those pessimists who say he won't be going out on the 5th.

As far as Cotto looked, I was very impressed, although I've only seen a handful of his other bouts. This was a proper step up and although I don't know how good N'Dou really is, it was nevertheless a good performance. Some chinks, but overall solid for a guy still at the start of his career. Could be a good one, this boy. May have the goods for the rest of the division, but want to see it before I believe it.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 10 May 2004, 11:58

I think that fight will do more for Cotto than ANYTHING else could've done for him. He will gain so much confidence from that victory. But maybe Vivian Harris was right when he said don't put Cotto in with me right now (said in late 2003). But Cotto is definitely ready now. I can't wait to hear what James McDonnell has to say about Cotto as he saw the fight from ringside.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 10 May 2004, 12:50

Ive yet to see the Harris vs Urkal fight but from what ive heard Urkal was hurting Harris. Now Urkal can't punch at all and was hurting Harris then what would Cotto do to him?

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 10 May 2004, 14:24

Coconut wrote:One thing I did notice, especially after a lot of folk who saw him working his brother's corner said so, was that Hatton was carrying a few pounds. Less than a month to go and the boy had a double chin. A spot of credence to those pessimists who say he won't be going out on the 5th.

I was going to say the same thing, even thought the fight has now been put back a week it's a bit of a worry that he seems to put on so much weight between fights.

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 10 May 2004, 14:28

hmm,
i was a little dissapointed in cotto to be honest.
the other times i`ve seen him he seemed to stalk his opponent and when in range dismantle the fella with thoughtfull accurate shots, he always seemed to give out that aura of an immovable object, however...........
he seemed too keen to back off from n`dou and not get into a war, obviously he doesnt rate his own power and chin as much as some do here......
up against the ropes he seemed to mentally switch off and obviously doesnt like to fight at a pace.
he beat n`dou but n`dou has no real offensive skills but still gave cotto trouble, and some people have been saying cotto`s chin is excellent, well at one point in the last round i thought he was going to go!!
i know n`dou has a good chin but cotto landed half a dozen flush shots without much effect..... maybe his power is a little over rated.
he can bang but he`s no tommy hearns.
i`m impressed that he took such a fight and that he won it in only his 19th contest and i know hattons had more fights but i thought hatton looked better against a similar opponent in ben tackie.
dont get me wrong cotto`s good and i know a lot of people dont agree but i think hatton would take him.

Eric the Viking · Post by **Eric the Viking** » 10 May 2004, 15:40

headhunter wrote:hmm,
i was a little dissapointed in cotto to be honest.

{snip}

`m impressed that he took such a fight and that he won it in only his 19th contest and i know hattons had more fights but i thought hatton looked better against a similar opponent in ben tackie.
dont get me wrong cotto`s good and i know a lot of people dont agree but i think hatton would take him.

But that's just it - Tackie was decent, but not in the same class as N'Dou. Yes, N'Dou has more losses on his record, but was a much hotter fighter coming into the Cotto fight than Tackie was coming ito the Hatton fight - Tackie had been beaten up pretty one-sidedly in both his previous fights (vs. Tszyu and Mitchell) coming into the Hatton match, so was by then known to be a pretty safe bet. N'Dou was at least somewhat competitive with Mitchell just a few months back, so for a young guy like Cotto to take him on in just his 19th fight was an impressive step up.

It's called "stepping up to world class," and lots of hot prospects look less than dominating the first time they do. Would you rather have Hatton continue to look impressive against second-raters and lightweights or step up in class and take his chances?

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 10 May 2004, 17:27

tackie was somewhat competitive with zoo.
imo ricky looked more comfortable against tackie and to make out that n`dou is in a different class is just being pendantic.
you,me and everyone else, might not like the painfully slow pace that ricky`s career is progressing at but that doesn`t mean ricky is a crap fighter. allegedly seems reluctant to put ricky in with the fellas at the top and boxing fans (including me) are frustrated with the situation but i sense people are having a go at ricky to have a go at warren.
if cotto would have fought tackie people would have said he was stepping up into world class.
i repeat, cotto doesn`t seem to want to fight at any great tempo (which ricky does,and untill the final bell), in fact he was blowing hard by the 9th (worrying considering he was hardly going like the bells of shannon) and for a pressure fighter cotto seemed reluctant to stand his ground.
i think hatton would give cotto all he could handle.
thats just my opinion.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 10 May 2004, 17:31

For one, Cotto is hardly a pressure fighter, and for two no-one is saying that Hatton isn't a good fighter, people are just saying that Cotto is better. All you have to do is look at who Hatton fought on his 20th fight. Look at that, then ask would he have beaten N'dou at that point.

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 10 May 2004, 17:43

well what i`ve seen of cotto (admittedly not very much) he seemed to adopt a pressure fighter style.
cotto`s progressing quicker than hatton.....true, but it still doesn`t mean he would beat him.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 10 May 2004, 18:32

headhunter wrote:tackie was somewhat competitive with zoo.

Not from what i saw he wasn't, Tszyu gave him a Boxing lesson. Hatton means well but his promoter doesn't share the same ambitions, i don't see Hatton beating Cotto, Cotto is way too accurate and sharp hitting. However on the flip side Cotto is beatable, some people place him as this demi god and even though he is undeniably good, let's remember Mohammed Abdullaev

In fact there's a good next fight for Cotto, Abdullaev V Cotto....any takers?

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 11 May 2004, 06:20

Well if people are saying he doesn't like pressure fighters, it's a shame that Valenzuela pulled out. Would still love to see that fight next and think it's a step up from Ndou.