Heroes & Villains

There is some truth to Teddy Atlas' observation about Miguel Cotto being "damaged goods" and, before we dismiss Atlas' personal unbiased opinion as baseless, the proof is in the DVR.

Atlas, the longtime boxing trainer who also serves as a TV analyst, recently explained that often times when fighters suffer a severe beating like Cotto did against Antonio Margarito last year, they become gun-shy and doubt creeps into their head.

That doubt was evident in Cotto's last fight, a 12-round split decision over Joshua Clottey in June. Some thought Clottey won the fight. I recently reviewed that fight in its entirety (with the sound down, of course), and I must say I had a hard time giving the fight to Cotto.

When Cotto began bleeding profusely above his left eye after an accidental head butt from Clottey, he began to fight cautiously. You could sense Cotto was more worried about the cut than his opponent.

Cotto fought Margarito in July 2008, a slugfest Margarito won decisively and Cotto left the ring that night bleeding from the nose, around the eyes and his ears. It was the kind of pounding that would make any proud boxer question his ability. Margarito won by TKO and Cotto was battered and severely bruised physically and emotionally.

Miguel Cotto, left, suffered a TKO loss to Antonio Margarito in 2008 in Las Vegas.

A year later, though his wounds have healed, Cotto is still scarred by that devastating loss.

This is exactly what Atlas was referring to when he said Cotto is damaged goods. Atlas is not convinced Cotto has gotten rid of the memory of his bloodbath against Margarito - who is currently suspended from the sport for reportedly having a plaster-like substance in his gloves when he fought Shane Mosley in January in Los Angeles.

Cotto's handlers are saying the Puerto Rican fighter is back to being Miguel Cotto, and that the former unbeaten fighter is at the top of his game and ready to take down pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 14.

Is he? Can a fighter who just a year ago was knocked down twice and lost buckets of blood rebound that quickly? Can Cotto honestly say he will not have any visions of Margarito when he steps into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden on Saturday night, the site of his only professional defeat?

Pacquiao is not Margarito. He's better.

The Filipino six-time world champion may not be as big as Margarito but he's faster and more elusive. I anticipate Cotto, a more natural welterweight, to try to bully the smaller Pacquiao with body shots, but that would mean Pacquiao would have fight flat-footed, which he rarely does. Cotto has never fought anyone with Pacquiao's slippery movement, and he will have a hard time cornering the southpaw who has now added a solid right hook to his repertoire.

The one advantage Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs) will have when he enters the ring is size, having fought at 147 pounds most of his career. And the catch-weight of 145 shouldn't bother Cotto. But being the undersized fighter didn’t slow down Pacquiao in his convincing victories over Erik Morales, Oscar De La Hoya, David Diaz and Ricky Hatton.

While Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) has his sights set on a huge payday against Floyd Mayweather, Saturday’s bout is more of a therapy session for Cotto.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, is the best at breaking down a boxer's weaknesses and bad habits, and he has seen plenty of bad habits from Cotto.

Roach revealed during an episode of HBO's 24/7 that he doesn't think Joe Santiago, Cotto's lead cornerman, is experienced enough to make the proper adjustments during the bout. Obviously, Santiago disagrees with Roach's assessment but the stark contrast between the two corners are overwhelming.

Pacquiao likes to start fast and Cotto's physical and mental state will be severely tested early. Even if Cotto survives the first barrage, I just don't see him weathering the storm and the sustained barrage of punches that Pacquiao will send his way. Prediction: Pacquiao wins, ninth-round TKO.

Let the countdown begin for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather.

Note: Heroes & Villains author Joel Huerto will do a live round-by-round scoring of the Pacquiao-Cotto fight on Nov. 14. To read his live round-by-round blog, visit SportsFanLive.com/heroesvillains.