BoxRec

I had a discussion on this one with my father recently. We both agreed, with both men at the top of their respective 140lb. game it would be a vicious, violent storm of ring activity. In the end, I liked Hatton on a final-round stoppage, while pops preferred Cotto's chances for a slim UD. This would be the Hatton from 2005 against the Cotto of about 2006. Their respective records at the close of those years, as Jr. Welters, were 39-0-0 (Hatton) & 27-0-0 (Cotto).

Who, how & why?

Hatton. Too strong and too relentless. I think it'd be a real tear up for the first four or five with Hatton having to walk through alot to get in a position where he could make his strength tell, but still up on the cards even at this stage. Probably plenty of close rounds though with Hatton mauling Cotto in close to get his shots off. Cotto would be landing on the outside and no doubt Hatton would mark- up and cut but nothing would deter him. By the late rounds it would start to turn heavily in Hattons favour. I think I pretty much agree with you, I don't think Cotto would see the bell. I guess I could see a scenario where Hatton gets stopped on cuts, but that is balanced by the ever present possibility of Hatton breaking a few of Cotto's ribs early on with a body shot. I think both are possible, but unlikley. Cotto can't handle the relentless pressure and goes out in similar fashion to Tszyu, just a little further away on the cards.

I have given Hatton stick over the years, but I have always maintained a prime Hatton at 140 is an absolute nightmare for any fighter, anytime. He had great stamina and heavy weight advantage and new how to use both. Couple that with those tiny little arms of his and he was a monster on the inside. Hattons game was all about pushing, pulling and working an opening to get his body shots off. Manipulation of his opponent was as much a part of his game as anything else. He didn't have great footwork, but he covered the ring well. He had a great up- jab and a few other little tricks to get inside, but there was limited finesse to his work. That said, only the elite would have beaten a prime Hatton and I have no doubt he would've sprung a few surprises on one or two of them.

I say this is a 50/50 fight. Hatton and Cotto are both chinless. Hatton is the better pressure fighter but Cotto is a better boxer. Do I need to remind you of the Cotto vs Torres fight. Torres hurt Cotto bad and could not finish him off. Something very similar could happen in this fight. Cotto coming from behind and stopping Hatton. Hatton's defense sucks just like Cotto and Cotto did have enough power to stop Hatton on his tracks. For me this is a 50/50 fight and if I have to make a decision I'll go with Cotto by TKO. Let's not for forget that Hatton was hurt by Collazo and that says a lot about his chin.

The 140lbs version of Cotto in 2006 was a skeleton with very little punch resistance, remember he nearly came undone against Torres in 2005 and his next two fights were against powderpuff punchers in Branco and Malignaggi and he looked less than solid against them, he didn't have the strength to hold off a 2005 Hatton IMO, Hatton would have been in Cottos face all night and I'd have taken Ricky to win a very competitive decision as Cotto faded in the final rounds. I wouldn't write Miguel off though, not at all.

CheckHook wrote:Hatton. Too strong and too relentless. I think it'd be a real tear up for the first four or five with Hatton having to walk through alot to get in a position where he could make his strength tell, but still up on the cards even at this stage. Probably plenty of close rounds though with Hatton mauling Cotto in close to get his shots off. Cotto would be landing on the outside and no doubt Hatton would mark- up and cut but nothing would deter him. By the late rounds it would start to turn heavily in Hattons favour. I think I pretty much agree with you, I don't think Cotto would see the bell. I guess I could see a scenario where Hatton gets stopped on cuts, but that is balanced by the ever present possibility of Hatton breaking a few of Cotto's ribs early on with a body shot. I think both are possible, but unlikley. Cotto can't handle the relentless pressure and goes out in similar fashion to Tszyu, just a little further away on the cards.

I have given Hatton stick over the years, but I have always maintained a prime Hatton at 140 is an absolute nightmare for any fighter, anytime. He had great stamina and heavy weight advantage and new how to use both. Couple that with those tiny little arms of his and he was a monster on the inside. Hattons game was all about pushing, pulling and working an opening to get his body shots off. Manipulation of his opponent was as much a part of his game as anything else. He didn't have great footwork, but he covered the ring well. He had a great up- jab and a few other little tricks to get inside, but there was limited finesse to his work. That said, only the elite would have beaten a prime Hatton and I have no doubt he would've sprung a few surprises on one or two of them.

I wouldn't go so far as to say he's a nightmare for any 140lber in history at his best, no. However, by & large, this is a good post. I think I'd rate Cotto's chances of victory here a little higher than you, but we agree on the likely outcome

Idisagree wrote:I say this is a 50/50 fight. Hatton and Cotto are both chinless. Hatton is the better pressure fighter but Cotto is a better boxer. Do I need to remind you of the Cotto vs Torres fight. Torres hurt Cotto bad and could not finish him off. Something very similar could happen in this fight. Cotto coming from behind and stopping Hatton. Hatton's defense sucks just like Cotto and Cotto did have enough power to stop Hatton on his tracks. For me this is a 50/50 fight and if I have to make a decision I'll go with Cotto by TKO. Let's not for forget that Hatton was hurt by Collazo and that says a lot about his chin.

He ate some monster shots, & generally took a beating at times, in the fight with Tszyu. People forget how competitive than bout was.

Goodnight, Irene wrote:

CheckHook wrote:Hatton. Too strong and too relentless. I think it'd be a real tear up for the first four or five with Hatton having to walk through alot to get in a position where he could make his strength tell, but still up on the cards even at this stage. Probably plenty of close rounds though with Hatton mauling Cotto in close to get his shots off. Cotto would be landing on the outside and no doubt Hatton would mark- up and cut but nothing would deter him. By the late rounds it would start to turn heavily in Hattons favour. I think I pretty much agree with you, I don't think Cotto would see the bell. I guess I could see a scenario where Hatton gets stopped on cuts, but that is balanced by the ever present possibility of Hatton breaking a few of Cotto's ribs early on with a body shot. I think both are possible, but unlikley. Cotto can't handle the relentless pressure and goes out in similar fashion to Tszyu, just a little further away on the cards.

I have given Hatton stick over the years, but I have always maintained a prime Hatton at 140 is an absolute nightmare for any fighter, anytime. He had great stamina and heavy weight advantage and new how to use both. Couple that with those tiny little arms of his and he was a monster on the inside. Hattons game was all about pushing, pulling and working an opening to get his body shots off. Manipulation of his opponent was as much a part of his game as anything else. He didn't have great footwork, but he covered the ring well. He had a great up- jab and a few other little tricks to get inside, but there was limited finesse to his work. That said, only the elite would have beaten a prime Hatton and I have no doubt he would've sprung a few surprises on one or two of them.

I wouldn't go so far as to say he's a nightmare for any 140lber in history at his best, no. However, by & large, this is a good post. I think I'd rate Cotto's chances of victory here a little higher than you, but we agree on the likely outcome

Well, maybe I exagerated a little for effect. My general point is that Hatton's blend of strength, stamina and power is not going to be a fun night for many fighters. There are plenty of top class fighters who made harder work of easier opposition than Hatton.

ye it woulda been a cracking fight this about 5 years ago a think the hatton that walked through kosta tsyzu that night woulda took some beating imo id of took hatton to win this one possibly by stopage mid late rounds a think he woulda broke cottos heart with his stormin an body shots