Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Angel Cotto is ON for May 2012 which is very good for boxing. It will not come close to becoming the biggest event in boxing history but it?s an excellent matchup of two contrasting styles and personalities, which really should have been made in 2008 when both were undefeated.
Cotto wanted to fight Mayweather in 2008 but Team Mayweather was reluctant to cooperate. As the welterweight unification battle of unbeatens was prime to be made, here is what Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe said to the New York Post regarding why Floyd was not interested to face Cotto: ?I think Cotto is a good fighter who?s definitely improving. His promotional company has done a good job in getting the right type of fights to increase his visibility. But he?s still not there yet. The numbers don?t lie. If nobody?s watching him as evidenced by the ratings, what makes him important? I?m not saying he?s a bad fighter. He?s a good fighter. But he?s obviously not on Floyd?s level because nobody?s watching.?
?It took Floyd nine years to get on pay-per-view,? Ellerbe said. ?When Floyd steps into the ring, it?s going to be about legacy and economics. He?s in control of what?s going on and if those two things aren?t happening, Floyd?s not going to be part of that.?
This was not altogether true as Cotto has proven himself as a major live gate attraction. Arum said after his recent win over Antonio Margarito that Cotto has sold more seats for Madison Square Garden fights than Ali, Frazier or any other fighter. What hurt Cotto was that he never got the chance to become a crossover star because he never got an opportunity to fight a major superstar on the Leonard, De la Hoya or Duran level. Cotto was willing and eager but it didn?t happen. Floyd Mayweather in 2008 would have been Cotto?s breakout fight.
Also, in case you forget some of the details back then, Team Mayweather used several other excuses to avoid Cotto: 1. We won?t do business with Bob Arum. 2. Floyd actually said, ?I?m not going to let boxing retire me, I will retire from boxing?, when he was asked by Larry Merchant on HBO after the Hatton win if he will fight Cotto. 3. Floyd claimed he was bored with boxing. 4. Floyd claimed his body is breaking down. 5. Floyd actually said at Boxingtalk.com that ?Cotto is a punching bag and he knows he can?t beat me.? 6. Floyd was also claiming to be considering going to MMA or WWE.
In early 2008 I asked HBO commentator Emanuel Steward about Cotto vs. Mayweather, if it was possible. ?You?ll never see it,? Steward told me at a New York City press conference. ?It?s a matchup I would love to see. But I don?t think Mayweather will ever fight him.? When asked if HBO could force it or if Floyd is fearful of Cotto?s awkward boxer puncher style, Steward replied, ?I won?t even get into that. I just don?t think you?ll ever see it.?
Top Rank Bob Arum agreed with Steward?s assessment, although a little more vehemently. ?I think Mayweather will never ever EVER go into the ring with Miguel Cotto. Ever. EVER.? I asked Arum couldn?t HBO force Floyd to fight Cotto? ?No. No! Nobody can force him to do it. He won?t do it.?
So now that Mayweather is actually signed to face Cotto he deserves a lot of credit, especially from his previous doubters, like Steward and Arum.
Also, back in early 2008 I asked the still hopeful Cotto himself about his thoughts on facing Mayweather and Mayweather?s tendencies for ducking and dodging, excuse making and selecting safe opponents. ?That?s the thing he does for his entire career. He run from the really good boxer kind, he choose the others. I don?t know how the people who know about boxing put him in the first place in the pound-for-pound champion.?
Those were pretty heavy words from gentleman Cotto who is as diplomatic and respectful of boxers (except Antonio Margarito) as any champion I have ever covered in twenty years in the sport. That afternoon with Cotto, the other American reporters at the press conference did not press Cotto to articulate further about Mayweather?s reluctance, but I did.
Do you think Mayweather actually is afraid of you? ?I don?t know what kind of reason he has for choosing another fighter. If you want to be the best you have to fight the best.?
Do you actually believe you will beat Floyd don?t you? ?I?m pretty sure of that,? answered Cotto. When asked why he believes so: ?Because of my training. Because of my ? I trust a lot in myself. And I?m always do more than 100% in my training sessions.?
Cotto also stated that he sees vulnerablilities in Mayweather which he knows how to exploit. ?He?s quick. He?s fast. But when you put pressure on him he closes his mind.?
So fast forward to 2012. Mayweather is now singing a different tune about Cotto, about how worthy Cotto is to face him and what a talented fighter he is, which you will read in the boxing meda this week. It?s quite a contrast to four years ago when Floyd mocked Cotto, calling him a ?punching bag? and a man ?who knows he can?t beat me.?
All of this drama and these contradictions, and the long history between Cotto and Mayweather, combined with their special and diverse boxing talents and clashing personalities should mix together to make for a fantastic 154 pound world title fight on May 5 in Las Vegas. Full credit to Team Mayweather, Golden Boy and Al Haymon for making this fight a reality, even if it?s four years late, I still believe the current version of Cotto will be the most difficult and dangerous opponent Floyd has ever encountered. But as good as this fight can be, let?s not lose sight of the fact that Mayweather vs. Cotto will be a far cry less than the biggest and grandest Super Bowl event in boxing history ? Pacquiao vs. Mayweather.
Hopefully that event will take place in November of this year. In the meantime, let?s all enjoy Floyd Mayweather testing his skills against Miguel Cotto.
