The March 12th Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga scrap is inching closer and neither man has been relenting when it comes to dishing out some heavy trash talk. Cotto, the reigning WBA junior middleweight champion, has seen his typically-mild demeanor shaken because of the brazen and brash attitude of his Nicaraguan foe.
Mayorga’s career has been based on his raucous nature outside of the ropes, even going as far as to criticize Cory Spinks’ then recently-deceased mother during the lead up to their fight years back, and he has been in rare form with his assaults on Miguel. Entering his eleventh year a professional, Cotto seems to shake off Mayorga’s theatrics, showing a steely demeanor instead.
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“I don’t care what he is saying about me,” Cotto said during a conference call earlier this week. “He’s always going to be talking, but as everyone knows, the fight starts when you enter the ring and that’s where I’m going to win the fight, in the ring.”
If there is anything you can say about Mayorga, the guy is fearless and he has a rock solid chin. Asked how he plans to attack his elder, Cotto insists that all options will be explored.
“I’m going everywhere,” he continued. “I’m going to the body. I’m going upstairs. We are preparing for whatever type of Mayorga we see this night. I?m going to capitalize on any type of mistake he makes on this night. I never make any excuses; and the same thing with this fight. I?m coming and I?m going to be prepared for what I need to do to win.” Cotto’s star skyrocketed early in his career as he tore through the junior welterweight division before solidifying himself as a champion at 147 pounds, showing deadly efficiency and a seemingly iron will every step of the way. His status has been dampened in recent years with his TKO losses to Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao yet he feels reinvigorated heading into the Mayorga duel.
?I feel like I?ve had a great career,” said a reflective Cotto. “It?s been very productive. I know it?s near the end of it, but I feel like it?s the beginning. I feel great and I feel like I have a lot left in me before I go.?
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Mayorga certainly has his share of doubters entering the contest, given the fact that he is now 37 years old while having fought just once in the nearly two and a half years. Mayorga weighed in a tad over 162 pounds for his December stoppage over Michael Walker in Miami, Florida and many feel he won’t be able to squeeze himself down to 154 pounds for next weekend’s bout.
The skepticism is something Mayorga is all too familiar with and something he seems to be embracing.
“If there are any doubters out there who don’t believe that I’m in the best shape of my life, I’m willing to make myself available for public exhibit to show my weight on Monday in L.A.,” a confident Mayorga stated. “I’m at weight and I will show anyone. I feel like I’ve had the best camp of my career.”
This is Cotto’s second fight with legendary trainer Emanuel Steward. The duo appeared to mesh well together given the result of their last performance, a 9th round TKO over Yuri Foreman last summer at Yankee Stadium, and Cotto appears to have a newfound focus working under the Kronk master.
Still, as expected, none of that means a thing to Mayorga.
?They?re both clowns and they?re both failures and I will prove that they are both failures. That?s how I respond to that,” Mayorga continued.
If anything, he feels that Steward’s renown reputation has been overblown and that a union such as theirs is something that shows desperation in Cotto.
?I?ve said it before and I?ll say it again, Emanuel Steward is a failure in this boxing business,” claimed Mayorga. “He?s had some sort of fame and been very lucky in his career because he helped a very famous name back in the day. That?s how he grabbed some sort of attention and fame. But how sad for Cotto to change his style and try to change his boxing game at this late stage of his career. It?s only going to mess him up and play into my favor.”
Boxing is a sport driven by Benjamins and Mayorga is after his piece of pie like anyone else. He claims that if he is able to dispatch Cotto, he would love a shot at WBO welterweight champion and cash cow Manny Pacquiao later in the year.
?This is the fight where I?m going to impose my will so much so that, because I want that fight so bad with Pacquiao, that if I don?t beat Cotto by knockout and I happen to beat him by decision then I don?t feel like I?m deserving of a fight with Pacquiao. So that?s how strongly I feel I?m going to win this fight.
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?When I knock out Manny Pacquiao I will become the most famous fighter of all time. So that?s what I want and am working for,” Mayorga proclaimed.
Given his verbal berating of Cotto, you could expect a bit of animosity coming from Steward. But like the old pro he is, no signs of bias or resentment rise to the surface when he talks. Steward admits that Mayorga has been dangerous in the past but feels that Cotto is now on a whole different level, even giving a bold prediction on the outcome of the fight.
?No one?s ever had an easy time with Mayorga,” said Steward. “That?s been with all the greats he?s been in there with like Trinidad, Mosley and De La Hoya. Miguel has been punching with both hands really well, especially now that his right shoulder is fully healed. I personally don?t see this fight going more than four rounds. I just don?t see Mayorga lasting that long with the accuracy of his punches which only means it?s going to be a very exciting and explosive fight.”
