Cotto washed up? Think again!

Miguel Cotto is undoubtedly one of the most exciting boxers out there today. He personifies what a great boxer should truly be: a champion who strives to face the best competition while continuing to improve his craft.
In my opinion, too much emphasis has been put on his loss to Margarito and his “controversial” win against Clottey. Many so-called “experts” have branded him as a washed up fighter while others have questioned if he is the same fighter mentally. Are you kidding me?

Without a doubt, Miguel Cotto is still an elite fighter; maybe even one of the top 5 boxers today. His lone loss to Margarito should be changed to a No Contest. How many of you actually believe that the Mosley fight was the first time that Margarito used plaster on his handwraps? When has Margarito ever been that dominant against an elite fighter before the Cotto fight? He clearly lost against Daniel Santos and Paul Williams and struggled to win a decision over an injured Clottey. Even with the plaster on his wraps, Cotto was still winning throughout most of the fight until his body could no longer handle the damage caused by Margarito’s loaded gloves.

The questions about his mental state are nonsense. On the contrary, his mental strength is one of his best attributes. How many times have we seen him hurt and knocked down in fights, only to come back and find a way to win? How many “mentally damaged” fighters, whose confidence was supposedly shaken, would have taken a fight in the first place against Clottey, who was considered to be one of the most “avoided” fighters at the time?

The truth is Miguel Cotto remains to be among the elite in the welterweight division. He is far from being a washed up fighter. What exactly is the definition of a washed up fighter in the first place? Is it a fighter who struggles against subpar opponents? Well, Cotto dominated a solid fighter in Jennings after the Margarito fight. Is it a fighter who can no longer be competitive against the elites of the division? Didn’t Cotto just beat Joshua Clottey?
While some may question the validity of his victory over Clottey since he escaped with a narrow decision, the fact remains that Cotto did enough to win despite a severe cut over his eye. Besides, has anyone ever dominated Clottey in his career? Throughout the history of boxing, there are always fighters that are tough to look impressive against and Clottey just happens to be one of those fighters. He’s got enough skill, toughness and awkwardness to challenge anybody in the division.

Miguel Cotto may not win against Pacquiao, but before anyone completely writes him off or makes him a 3-1 underdog, they probably need to look at Cotto’s past fights. He is a very versatile fighter who can box coming forward or backwards. He fights in an orthodox manner, but is a naturally a southpaw and often switches stances during his fights. Many experts often mention that Pacquiao’s speed will be too much for Miguel Cotto, but that is what they said before the Judah and Mosley fights as well. Speed is a great asset no doubt, but it can be nullified with great accuracy and timing, both of which Miguel Cotto has unveiled as weapons.

No matter what happens come November 14th, it will only enhance the legacy of both fighters. Pacquiao and Cotto are two of the classiest and most humble fighters in the sport. If you ask a number of Filipinos who their favorite fighter is besides Pacquiao, a great number would likely mention Cotto. Likewise, many Puerto Ricans love Pacquiao for his style and aggressiveness. This fight may not surpass the pay-per-view numbers of Mayweather vs. Marquez, but it will surely provide far more action and excitement, making the fans the real winners regardless of the outcome.

Source: http://la.fighthype.com/2009/11/02/cotto-washed-up-think-again/