Floyd “Money” Mayweather is never at a loss for words as he tackles questions from the press. The media blitz is in full swing for the Ring Kings: Mayweather vs Cotto event with both fighters hosting media days with live streams for their fans.
Take a look for yourself to see which fighter you think is better prepared to enter the ring on fight day. Of course, this fight is not just a test of punching power and skill. Each man will have to execute his personal game plan to defeat his opponent. In Floyd’s case, no one has found a plan that works to end his undefeated streak.
Whether you’re cheering for Miguel Cotto or Floyd Mayweather to emerge victorious on May 5th at the Ring Kings event in Las Vegas, as a boxing fan, I think you will enjoy watching Floyd working the mitts and the heavy bag. If you didn’t see any of the live stream of Floyd Mayweather’s media day featuring him training and answering questions and doing everything Floyd knows how to do to sell a fight, then watch this snippet of the action. video
Floyd is flashy and dynamic as he works the crowd. By contrast, Miguel Cotto’s media day workout seems tame. That’s the difference between these two men. One is cool, calm, controlled and level-headed. The other is engaging, vibrant and in-your-face. Which style will prevail on May 5th? video
Fight Dedication
Floyd is dedicating his fight with Miguel Cotto to the mother of Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, “I think I’m going to be a lot sharper this fight than I was for the Ort?z fight…May 5th, I’m going to dedicate this fight to Leonard’s mother who just passed away. So this fight is very, very important to me.”
5 Revealing Mayweather Quotes
The following questions and answers are from a media conference call with Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. He reveals himself to be a regular guy who is a master in the boxing ring and–just like any famous person–has to deal with the good things and the bad things–that go along with being famous.
1. Opening up to interviewers and fans
Media: “You just talked about the fact that you say the things that you go through just make you stronger, and in light of some of the things that have happened recently in public… you’ve opened yourself up, did a live stream of your workout, you go on an interview with Michael Eric Dyson [Floyd Mayweather: Speaking Out] and he asked a lot of questions. What prompted you to make that decision, to just open yourself up to let everybody see your workouts in full and what effect you think that has had?
Mayweather: “… I think it’s a great thing, even with the Dyson interview, it was marvelous because people had a chance to see how articulate I am and I’m not just a young flashy, hothead man that’s making a lot of money. When it’s all said and done, I’m making smart business decisions. I understand when I’m on 24/7, it’s about the viewers. It’s about ‘You Must Watch TV’. When I’m on TV, I want to keep people glued to the television, because that’s what it’s about. So even people that aren’t boxing fans are going to say, ‘You know what? We got to tune in and watch this guy. He’s very, very interesting. He has a great story.’ So, I don’t mind telling my story to the world, and I think sitting down with Dyson was great.”
Floyd reflected on the double bind he finds himself in with fans. He said that when he talks about the things he does to support organizations and different people financially, the TV surveys say that fans get bored. Instead, fans say, “…’We want to see the Floyd Mayweather with the flashy money…with the diamond necklace…with the nice cars’. And the response we get from that is, they love it, they love it–we get more viewers. But then on the flip side, they say, ‘All the guy do is show off.’ So, it’s a catch 22. It’s like damned if I do, damned if I don’t.”
2. Playing Mind Games
Media: “Your last fight you had a great victory over Victor Ort?z, a young talented boxer, that maybe made some mistakes. Miguel Cotto is a ring veteran that will not fall for any kind of a mind tricks in boxing. Are you prepared to give the performance of your lifetime and what makes you think you have a great advantage over a heavy puncher like Miguel? Because you must know your strong skill, what is Floyd’s advantage?
Mayweather: “Well, I just say like this, it was one mind trick when Bob Arum made him fight Pacquiao at a catchweight. He fell for that, didn’t he? Another mind trick is when his corner man didn’t thoroughly check out the hand wraps of Antonio Margarito. He fell for that, didn’t he? So, if a guy fall for certain tricks, he’ll fall for it again.
3. Being Reborn as a fighter
Media: “Floyd, we have seen you very relaxed in this fight promotion and in extreme concentration–maybe a little different from the Floyd we all like. Do you see it that way, and if you do, why is it? Is it respect for Cotto or maybe a new Mayweather is born?
Mayweather: “No, Mayweather was born in 1977. The fighter you’re talking about that’s reborn, is Cotto. He’s the guy that they said that was reborn in the last Antonio Margarito fight. I’m always the same. I’m very, very outspoken. Sometimes, like I said, since I’m outspoken, they just say it’s overconfidence. I’m very animated, so they just say that it’s cocky, but that’s life. When it’s all said and done only God can judge me, so while I’m here and I’m in this sport, I’m going to continue to entertain and give the fans what they want to see.
4. Having Respect for Cotto
Media: “How much respect do you feel for Miguel Cotto as a boxer and as a person as well?
Mayweather: “I respect Miguel Cotto as a man always. I think he has a beautiful family. I don’t really know him, but he seems like a cool guy. But yes, I respect him as a man, what else can I say. Come May 5th, he’s going to have to make me respect his boxing skills. Every fighter, you have to earn that. That’s nothing you can’t just get from me. Marquez, he earned my respect. He made me earn his respect. A couple other guys made me earn their respect. Shane Mosley made me respect his power. But when it’s all said and done, I’m pretty sure they respect my fighting skills also.
5. Mayweather vs Pacquiao
Media: “Are you personally disappointed in the fact that the Pacquiao fight hasn’t happened?”
Mayweather: “No, I don’t worry about that at all. If it really was all about Pacquiao, then I didn’t have to fight all 42 opponents…All I had to do was come into the sport of boxing and train for just train for one twelve-round fight, beat that guy, then I was going down in history as the best…Like I said before, Floyd Mayweather has to live his live for Floyd Mayweather, and I’m happy. I can care less what Manny Pacquiao is doing. He’s with Bob Arum, and Bob Arum lives his life the way he lives his life and I live my life, the way I live my life.
Source: press release from Swanson Communications
