Cotto/Matthysse at jr. welter.

[Rover]

While both are still active, Cotto left jr. welter in 2006. No way he goes back there; hence, I consider this a mythical match-up of a current jr. welter v. a past one (kind of like a current super feather v. Floyd at that weight).
Matthysse's jr. welter resume is pretty comparable with Cotto's at this point. This should be fun; what happens here?

[gilgamesh]

I'd still favor Cotto as it stands right now, I think his overall attack and skill would enough to wilt Matthysse enough that he could either take a hard fought decision or possibly stop him late. Cotto's not a guy you just take out with one shot, so as powerful as Matthysse has proven to be I still don't think he's just gonna get a guy like Cotto out of there so it's going to come down to all around skill...and in that department. I gotta favor Cotto.

[Rover]

I'd still favor Cotto as it stands right now, I think his overall attack and skill would enough to wilt Matthysse enough that he could either take a hard fought decision or possibly stop him late. Cotto's not a guy you just take out with one shot, so as powerful as Matthysse has proven to be I still don't think he's just gonna get a guy like Cotto out of there so it's going to come down to all around skill...and in that department. I gotta favor Cotto.

I'd be quite surprised if Cotto would have stopped him. I could see a Cotto points win. But Cotto could be hurt (and badly so) by lighter punchers than Matthysse such as Chop Chop Corley. I also think Matthysse hits harder than Torres and is more skilled.

[Rover]

Matthysse by stoppage

Yeah, I'm leaning towards this also.

[zorndeslammes]

Cotto could be hurt - everyone remembers the Ricardo Torres fight. Obviously that plays into this. But Cotto was so good at so many different things that I just can't see Mattysse weathering the hurting Cotto would put on him, especially with the body attack. There's not a comparable body puncher than Lucas has fought at this level, and hell, he might not see one for a good long time either. Cotto's record looks even better in retrospect than it did at the time, and it was really good back when he was winning those fights.

[Rover]

I don't think Cotto saw anything like Matthysse at jr. welter.

[zorndeslammes]

Cotto fought Torres and Bailey and KOed them both, and they could definitely bop. Did he fight anyone as good as what Matthysse is assumed to be on the internet? No, but he fought plenty of good talent. There's six guys on his record BEFORE the Zab Judah fight whom went on to win world title bouts after losing to Cotto.

[SenorPipino]

Unless he gets busted up and stopped on cuts (always a possibility with the easily bruised Cotto) the Puerto Rican stands up to Mathysse's best shots early and then gradually wears down the Argentine on the way to a 11th round KO.

[Rover]

Cotto fought Torres and Bailey and KOed them both, and they could definitely bop. Did he fight anyone as good as what Matthysse is assumed to be on the internet? No, but he fought plenty of good talent. There's six guys on his record BEFORE the Zab Judah fight whom went on to win world title bouts after losing to Cotto.

Torres and Bailey aren't as good as Matthysse. He's proving that beyond the Internet.

[zorndeslammes]

Torres and Bailey aren't as good as Matthysse. He's proving that beyond the Internet.

Who said they were? Well, actually, Bailey's career is better than Matthysse, who hasn't done very much yet. But seeing as that isn't the point of bringing them up, maybe you can construct strawmen to fight in another thread?

[Rover]

I was referring to their power (Torres and Bailey). Also, you didn't say either way if you thought Torres and Bailey are as good as Matthysse, instead bringing up the as good as Internet forums line.

[zorndeslammes]

Oh, in terms of their power alone? Bailey hits a shit ton harder. I don't even see that as debatable.

[Borinken25]

Matthysse had a very close fight vs Judah and Judah was able to survive. I had Matthysse winning that fight by one point. Matthysse is not the monster that some people on here want to pretend he is. He has tremendous power but his boxing ability is limited and when he throws his left hook he always wide open for the counter. He is going to have a lot a problems with Garcia who times his left hook perfectly even though he closes his eyes every time he throws that punch. I think Cotto's superior boxing skills will give him the victory. Matthysse of course, goes without saying has always a punchers chance but there is no way he would outbox Cotto. My prediction is Cotto by decision after a few scares.

[SenorPipino]

Matthysse had a very close fight vs Judah and Judah was able to survive. I had Matthysse winning that fight by one point. Matthysse is not the monster that some people on here want to pretend he is. He has tremendous power but his boxing ability is limited and when he throws his left hook he always wide open for the counter. He is going to have a lot a problems with Garcia who times his left hook perfectly even though he closes his eyes every time he throws that punch. I think Cotto's superior boxing skills will give him the victory. Matthysse of course, goes without saying has always a punchers chance but there is no way he would outbox Cotto. My prediction is Cotto by decision after a few scares.

You make sense to me. Matthysse is just the flavor of the month. Big punchers with average overall skills always explode quickly into public consciousness and then depart dramatically or disappointingly.
If Danny Garcia doesn't get overally macho in September, egged on by his crazy father, then he should derail Matthysse by convincing decision.

[Vladimir5555]

Mathysse TKO in midrounds.