Back when his magnificent voice and wit spewed words like an out of control garden hose, Muhammad Ali had a standard left handed compliment. If you said something painfully obvious, something “The Greatest” concurred with, he would say, “You’re not as dumb as you look!” At the risk of coming off as a wiseguy, I now use Ali’s phrase to answer Floyd Joy Maywetaher’s (he wants us all to drop the “Jr.” from his handle) selection of Boricua Banger Miguel I’m No Angel Cotto as his Cinco de Mayo date opponent at the MGM Grand. Herewith the Top Reasons Why Cotto Was A Canny Choice For “Money:” 1. You can’t dismiss Cotto simply as “a Pacquiao leftover” when Cotto was just on Manny’s short list for a June 9 rematch. Cotto is halfway shotski, yes, but he dazzled against the 90 percent shotski Antonio Margarito in December. 2. Free agent Cotto’s declaration of loyalty to Bob Arum and Top Rank went bye bye once Mayweather came a calling. Mayweather must feel like he’s the vampire killer driving a stake in Arum’s octogenarian heart by “hiring” heretofore loyal liege Cotto. 3. Mayweather did not tab either immature Canelo Alvarez or not universally known Robert “Ghost” Guerrero. Instead, he procured the services of the third best PPV TV draw in this hemisphere, meaning popular Cotto. 4. Mayweather’s massive ego gets some more self-massaging. His Own Boss chose May 5 as the date of his next fight and His Own Boss selected free from Arum Cotto. It wouldn’t be as delcious a meal if, let’s say, Cotto had broken a contractual chain with Lou DiBella. 5. No Mexican in the main event seems awakward but I guess Canelo and other Mexican attractions with fill up the undercard. It might be amusing to hear the Boricuas joining forces with the Mexican fans to boo Mayweather. 6. Mayweather’s tailor can get work on those new ring outfits. You know, the ones which read “Mayweather Loves Puerto Rico.” As far as “Mayweather Loves The Philippines,” I guess we’re back to November or never. Which reminds me, didn’t Bill Murray mention Mayweather-Pacquiao in “Groundhog Day?” It seems like it but perhaps I am as dumb as I look. ([email protected])
