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Kostya Tszyu vs Miguel Cotto (at 140, in 2005)
Posted: 09 Sep 2025, 09:56
by 2128778
Inspired by yesterday's conversation with gilgamesh.
What if Tszyu would've faced Cotto in spring 2005 (instead of Hatton) in what would've been IBF/WBO unification at 140lbs?
Would it have been a stylistically better match-up for Tszyu, than Hatton was? Or would Cotto score his first signature career win?
Re: Kostya Tszyu vs Miguel Cotto (at 140, in 2005)
Posted: 09 Sep 2025, 23:48
by gilgamesh
Probably would've been too much for Cotto in 2005. Remember he had a mighty struggle with Ricardo Torres in this year.
Granted Torres was younger, hungrier and probably had quicker hands than Tszyu, but Tszyu would've had a big experience edge and would've been hitting a good bit harder than Torres could.
If Cotto had the foresight to press in close to Tszyu and bang away at his body he'd have a chance, but he'd usually be in and out and tended fight at range most of the time. I think Tszyu would've been able to stop him, but that being said. This is probably the last year that Tszyu could've won that fight, and even here it's only a maybe.
Re: Kostya Tszyu vs Miguel Cotto (at 140, in 2005)
Posted: 10 Sep 2025, 14:59
by 2128778
gilgamesh wrote: ↑09 Sep 2025, 23:48
Probably would've been too much for Cotto in 2005. Remember he had a mighty struggle with Ricardo Torres in this year.
Granted Torres was younger, hungrier and probably had quicker hands than Tszyu, but Tszyu would've had a big experience edge and would've been hitting a good bit harder than Torres could.
If Cotto had the foresight to press in close to Tszyu and bang away at his body he'd have a chance, but he'd usually be in and out and tended fight at range most of the time. I think Tszyu would've been able to stop him, but that being said. This is probably the last year that Tszyu could've won that fight, and even here it's only a maybe.
Like I said in a Tszyu-Judah 2 thread - I think, Hatton's style was more complicated for Tszyu than Cotto's would've been (as of 2005).
Cotto, while formidable, still hasn't peaked in those years. He was also quite chinny, as he was staggered in almost every title fight that he had at 140. That probably had something to do with his struggles to make weight.
I could see Tszyu lining Cotto up for his straight right hand and nailing Miguel sooner or later.