Cotto is Not Tito
August 8th, 2009
By Mike Burnell: I would absolutely love to contribute more often to this website; however it is challenging to find an interesting, plausible premise in today’s barren boxing landscape. This is why you see so many articles on the same topics from many of the same authors. I will do my best to maintain my credibility by not writing “fast food” articles.
Moving forward this article is about the same match that everyone is buzzing about and I, for one can’t wait to see it. There is a reason that writers are feverishly tapping the keyboards on the same topic with wildly different opinions. There is not a more intriguing bout to be made (until the winner faces the reluctant Mayweather) We are boxing junkies who see things with different perspectives and are ultimately united like a dysfunctional family including the drama of extended family who doesn’t see each other often and generally disagree.
Uncle Ned may not agree with me (though he has been tipping the flask a bit) the bout between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao is fairly easy to predict. Miguel is absolutely a very tough costumer and a top 5 welter and has the scalps on his belt (and scars on his brow) to prove it.
In my opinion his heart can’t be questioned though I do understand hardcore fans looking at his taking a knee vs. Margocheato as submission. No one reading this article could absorb more punishment than Cotto, but we also don’t assume the risk that leads to becoming a millionaire in an evening win or lose. Who reading right now wouldn’t fight for a fraction of that money?
In a day of almost all time high unemployment we junkies will find the change in the couch cushions to view this bout and many identify with blue collar workman who is Cotto, It’s impossible to ignore his marketability. He will be meeting Filipino overachiever Pacquiao who, agree or not, convinced Cotto to meet at 145 rather that meet an old, weight drained “Sugar: Shane Mosley at 140. Regardless this is one of very few bouts we must manage into our budgets if you are an addict of the sweet science we will order now and pay later. Cotto vs Pac bring it on!
Cotto at 28 is tired and has endured much punishment in his last few performances. One may ask if it is for the adoration of his country. The responsibility of being the “next Tito” was thrust upon him. He is not Tito. Cotto succeeded in an epic bout with Zab Judah and capped it with a razor thin win over Shane Mosely. He was soundly defeated by Antonio Margorito who endured his bombs and eventually stopped him in what many will consider a possibly tainted win. Most recently he won a disputed decision vs oft avoided Josh Clottley.
Cotto will weigh in one lonely pound under his usual weight and will absolutely re-hydrate before fight night (reminiscent of Gatti v Gamache) and be huge on fight night. It won’t matter, this is a case of a tough fighter who has been through wars with solid fighters and survived vs. nothing less than an all time great who is a knock knocking on legends door.
There aren’t many bouts that I will allow myself to pay the bucks for but this one will be a barn-burner.
Pac TKO 9 on cuts in a competitive but clear victory.
Tags: 31 Responses to “Cotto is Not Tito”
Leave a Reply
please use above banner to link back to us!
well, both of them have advantages and disadvantages so everything remains the be seen. watch cotto vs pacquiao live here
There is no reason to be calling names because of some ones opinion That is not a boxing fan but a fanatic of his favorite boxer. The article is not that good driving away from the title, more about the writer than the title it’s self. Now about the the fight IMO this will be a repeat of the Judah fight
BigJohn:
*I say Pacman at 9th round.
*Cotto is tired and 3 months of training will add more fatigued. He will end up like Dela Hoya. His punches will be slower and with less power.
*Check out Cotto’s last fight with Clottey and Pac’s fight with Hatton. You will see who’s in good condition to fight and who’s not.
*No doubt it will be a good fight………
This article sucks a**
Sir, you should teach Manuel Perez writing boxing 101 . he is just sh*t in writing about boxing.
Hey Wayne Lord very nice comment but i have to say that imo your heart can betray you but your mind is a powerful force. So given my experience in reading your articles that are filled with extensive knowledge on boxing i find that you saying that your head is with Cotto is a strong prediction on Cotto’s upset against Manny. I agree with your mind If Cotto comes out to hurt Manny with good timing and powerful combinations i beleive he will hurt Manny and pull off the upset. Just for the record i am not a writer just a fan who really enjoys the sweet science of boxing.
no cottos not tito but they both have that p.rican pride and come fight night cotto will shock alot of you with a k.o!!! over pacman!
If the fight is 145lb, it has no effect on Cotto. He normally weigh 146 or 147lb officially and bulk up at least 10 lbs heavier during the fight night. A mere 1lb difference is easy for Cotto to make.
Pac however is a mere lightweight. A year ago, he was featherweight 130 pounder. He did not reach the 140lb limit of jr.welter having barely weight 138lb only. He struggled to make a 142lb during his fight with ODLH but people don’t see this.
In my opinion, Cotto being the bigger, younder and stronger man can dictate the fight inside the ring. Watch Cotto’s previous fights and you will see how good he is when mauling someone. Cotto’s rapid punches are underrated. I see here Cotto great chance to wobble Pac’s chin.
Its really sad how people give up on someone so quickly. Before the Margarito fight everybody beleived that Cotto was the man to beat at welterweight. Then he lost a fight against a great fighter (Margarito)who may or may not have cheated ( loaded gloves ). Since then he had a 5th round knockout and got a decision against a very good Joshua Clottey. May i add that he could hardly see for 3 quarters of that fight. How he is the underdog for this fight i have no idea but im glad as i think i have a very good chance of winning some money on this fight. My money will be on Cotto for this fight. Long live the underdog.
I don’t often write replies on this site, but I totally disagree with your prediction that pacman will TKO Cotto due to cuts, did you even the see the Clottey fight when Cotto was cut in Round 3, he has one of the best corners in boxing. I love both these fighters, but my Head says Cotto on points, he may even take Pacman out in rnds 10-12 with menacing body punches which in the past has been a weakness of the Pacman. People should stop moaning over the weight limit and just look forward to the most anticipated fight of the year.
legendary article mike, but Pac TKO 9?
Pac TKO 6 on devastating lefthook onesided easy walk in the park clear victory.
all that and you didn’t say anything. just trying to get the hits… boring!!!!!
Decent article once you get into the heart of what you are saying. On current form, Paccy is the favourite and Cotto will need to perform much better than he did against a lazy Clottey.
In the future, don’t bother making apologies for the garbage writers on the site.
I like when “Boxing Experts” say Pacquiao will win. But that’s before the fight, after the fight, you will see those “Boxing Experts” trying to explain what happened to their Pacquiao who just got beaten by the real welterweight.
I think this fight will be great. But both fighters are good but to compare the two. I’d say pacquiao is better. No matter how strong cotto will be. He gets sluggish at a latter rounds. That is why pacquiao told me he’ll get him from there…the plan is being developed.
Hahaha, hilarious Alex. But very true.
cotto to smash pac man cold . same as usual over hyp about a fighter who is fighting fighters at the end of there careers Oscar ,E.Morales hatton to some extent .in my op j.m.m beat him .Pac man and the roach are picking fighters .clottey ,sugar shane would do the same with ease for some reason they think they have the better of cotto they are all big punchers and are big for the division and pac man dosent like it being brought to him look at the j.m.m fights the proof is there but time will tell
And thats me the real Ukansodoff. The article is fine, especially seeing as it looks to get responses that may actually wana talk about the fight instead of fishing for angry responses about the article writer.
TKO On cuts? Thats quite specific. But Cotto cuz cut up and Pacman seems to have razor fists or somethng cuz usually anybody he faces ends up cut.
I keep on doubting Pacquaio and he keeps proving me wrong. Even though its at a catchweight its only a couple of pounds under 147 so it aint guna be a weakened Cotto so on this occasion i think Pacmans guna have to prove me wrong again cuz i just cant see him overcomin Cotto.
Hes brilliantly moved up the weights but i have a feeling that when facing the real big boys of the division Welterweight is 1 step too far for the P4P king.
no cotto is not tito they are different fighters but the reality is that to me cotto is a better boxer than tito was tito was a more devastating puncher that would hurt oponents with every punch. both have a lot of heart and determination but now to pacquiao and cotto who in this wedsite thinks that pacquiao can beat margarito,sugar shane,judah and clottey i don’t think that he can. cotto foght all of them one lost and most of the people now why. plaster i think pac would get destroy by shane and by margarito or clottey and if judah can land one of his upercup pac would be gone. cotto would knock pac out before 9 rounds but if cotto land in any round a clean shot pac would pay a visit to the hospital.
cotto will destroy all of you at the same time in the ring…
yawn!thought tony blair had quit politics!laden with rhetoric mate and seriously lacking punch,the article seems unconcerned with its title!
This probably the most boring thing i’ve ever read. WTF is this guy talking about again?
COTTO has got the best heart in the sport at this stage,
but i have to agree, Cotto will be stopped on serious cuts, i say round 10 TKO win for Pacman
i see it as Cotto winning only 4 rounds, in the begining,
You have to be kidding me, only a Pac fan can stomach this article. Its stupid & funny but good one Mike Bernell. LMAO…………………
i agree cotto is not tito i think tito accomplished a lot and carried a country on his back.cotto is an icon also but we have to see on nov 14 if he can win the biggest fight of his carear.tito did remeber when he got a controversial desicion over oscar dela hoya i think cotto has the heart and determination and power to do it but i guess will see on nov14.manny will test him in everyway possible.
The first couple of paragraphs of this article contain the author’s thoughts on how he does not write articles without any substance and how his articles actually make a point unlike everyone else’s articles. The author then goes on to say the same thing that many other articles speak about, how Pacquiao will beat Cotto. I personally don’t mind many writers’ belief that Pacquiao will “clearly” win the fight, however, if you are going to bash other writer’s for what you term as “Fast Food” articles then you should follow your own advice and write something with actual substance. There is absolutely nothing of note in your article and the subject of the article (Why Cotto is not Tito) is barely spoken about. I think the only reason you wrote this article is for the first portion. You wanted to fulfill some type of personal belief that your articles are superior to any others. Next time follow your own advice.
“I embrace educated disagreement.” Cool, but you got another thing coming if you’re expecting it from the thick-skulled Pacnuthuggers. There’s just no end to that groups stupidity.
good one, keep it coming…..
somebody must tell the truth.
Boring, as contraversial as Gilfoid and Santiago are at least they are entertaining…
Do you know if the fight will be on any of the british channels e.g sky box office?