Cotto: too good for Gomez

I think the fight everyone wants to see is Cotto v Mayweather Jnr. That's a fight that would be a toss-up as to who would win.

Miguel Cotto
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• Cotto crushes poor Gomez

Miguel Cotto is definitely one of boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters today.

He can punch and has great skills. Even though we've seen him hurt at times he always come back to win.

This past weekend Cotto met Alfonso Gomez centre ring in a defence of his WBA welterweight belt which many thought would be a solid test for Puerto Rican Cotto. The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City was the venue for this championship fight.

Gomez, a star of reality show The Contender, has shown since his TV appearances that he isn't just a contender but a world class fighter.

His biggest win to date was over former champion Arturo Gatti in July 2007 stopping the shop worn Gatti in seven rounds. Gomez's last fight was a points win over durable Ben Tackie in October 2007 so the fight with Cotto was his chance to become a champion instead of a contender.

Cotto had been hurt badly in his fight with Demarcus Corley in February 2005 and during his fight with Ricardo Torres in September 2005 he hit the deck for the first time in his career.

Cotto was coming off a big win over Shane Mosley in November 2007 and was hoping to show that he is the real deal.

Many thought that Floyd Mayweather Jnr v Cotto would have been Cotto's next big fight after Mosley but that didn't materialise.

Ring experience

However, he already has a proposed match up with Ricardo Mayorga set for July and avoiding a loss or injuries in the fight with Gomez that would be his next step.

Gomez had a two-inch height advantage while both fighters are the same age at 27. Cotto obviously was ahead in world class ring experience and although Gomez had three losses on his record he had never been stopped so he was seen to be a durable opponent for Cotto.

Cotto showed in this fight that he is arguably the best welterweight in the world. The only other candidate for that title would be Mayweather Jnr.

Gomez was put down three times throughout the fight - he had never been down before. Cotto picked his shots, threw and landed uppercuts, right hands to the head and several beautiful left hooks to the body.

Gomez was retired by the doctor after five rounds. He showed heart but was clearly at a different level than Cotto.

Cotto could face Antonio Margarito - who fought earlier in the night stopping Kermit Cintron to win the IBF welterweight belt.

But I think the fight everyone wants to see is Cotto v Mayweather Jnr. That's a fight that would be a toss-up as to who would win.