After Miguel Cotto?s sensational, title winning effort against Sergio Martinez this past Saturday night, head trainer Freddie Roach had more than a few words to say to the media in attendance about a potential rematch between the newly crowned 160 pound champion and pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. at 154 pounds. ?I don?t think Mayweather will fight Cotto after seeing this performance,? claims the five time ?Trainer of the Year? award recipient. ?He?ll come up with some excuse why he shouldn?t.?
After watching Floyd?s most recent performance against hard charging Argentine Marcos Maidana on May 3rd, Roach is convinced that Mayweather?s best days are far behind him.
?All Cotto has to do to beat this version of Mayweather is just be in shape and beat him to it all night long,? stated Freddie Roach. ?I think Floyd?s legs are gone.”
“When he says he doesn?t move anymore because he wants to please the fans, I think it?s bull$h!t. He just can?t. I think he?s shot!?
?I think he won?t fight any of my guys.?
When Freddie refers to ?his guys?, the Wildcard Gym trainer more than likely is referring to Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, and Ruslan Provodnikov at 147, 154, and 140 pounds respectively.
On May 5th, 2012, a 35 year old Floyd Mayweather Jr. out pointed a game but overmatched 31 year old Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Caguas native put forth a surprisingly competitive and spirited effort, but ultimately succumbed to Mayweather?s customary brand of ring generalship, and clean, effective punching in the mid to late rounds.
At the time, Miguel was training with former Cuban National Team fight coach Pedro Diaz, who began working with Cotto for his December 3rd, 2011, rematch with Antonio Margarito, before losing two consecutive bouts to Mayweather and Austin Trout in 2012.
Freddie believes that Miguel has become a much better and happier fighter since training at the Wildcard Gym.
?You know what?everyone asks me how I finally got Miguel to smile,? admits the Hall of Fame trainer. ?I simply tell them that I fed him. Making weight is such a b!tch, and everyone doesn?t understand that it?s why fighters are so moody during the week of a fight. He had a bad reputation at one time. Now he?s smiling and he?s happy, because he can finally eat.?
?When I brought Pacquiao up to a weight where he could have breakfast and lunch before a weigh in, he became a better fighter. I did the same thing with Cotto, and he became a better fighter.?
Although the world renowned trainer was more than likely being a bit modest when talking about the keys to Cotto?s success under his tutelage, Roach?s assessment of a rematch between Cotto and Mayweather remains consistent.
?Cotto would knock-out Floyd Mayweather in a rematch.?
