Mayweather versus Cotto: Certainly interesting, but just a filler bout

By Boxing News - 02/06/2012 - Comments

Image: Mayweather versus Cotto: Certainly interesting, but just a filler boutBy Babatis Banda: After Manny walked away yet again from his biggest pay cheque, Floyd had to settle for Cotto as his nemesis on May 5. For now, there is no single justification for us to discuss why the Floyd versus Manny bout failed again. All we can say is that, let it happen when it happens, and we have just to move on.

Looking at the Mayweather versus Cotto, it is clear that this was one of the very best options available to Floyd. Cotto, despite his bloodied loss to Margarito, and a savage beating on the hands of Manny Pacquiao, has managed to remain relevant to the sport by avenging his loss to Antonio Margarito in a somewhat, impressive fashion. Another option would have been Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, but clearly, the young fighter still has some ‘milk’ in his mouth so to speak. Cotto makes a better challenge and he has a decent following for a good PPV income generation. He is a tough fighter who brings excitement to his bouts because of his experience and style. We are also tempted to question his loss against Margarito because of the plaster incident when Magarito fought, and got knocked out by Sugar Shane, a tired lion with blunt teeth.

The Cotto we are going to see against Floyd might be a notch better than that we saw against Manny. This is simply because Cotto is coming off an impressive revenge win and has his ego high up, and the fact that he is fighting at his comfortable weight of 154 without a catch weight, an element that could have worked against him in the Manny bout.

Without any disregard to Cotto as one of the best fighters of this era, he is in a no win situation against Floyd. He is facing the best there is in the sport, with a style like no other. He is attempting to be the first to etch a dent on a clean sheet that Floyd has established over the years, a task that is going to take more than a miracle. It has to be on Floyd’s worst night for this to happen, probably when he is literally plagued by a disease.

Floyd can toy with Cotto, or box him from the outside, he can brawl with him in the inside but any which way, Floyd will be the victor. Floyd may not beat Cotto in a savage way, it is certainly not his style, but he will lecture him on the does and don’ts, and the core elements of the sport at this level. I am sure of one thing though, Floyd will be the comfortable winner, and Cotto will not have many opportunities to hurt him.

Floyd versus Cotto is just but a filler bout, until Manny is ready to face him, and when Manny feels it is time to retire or Arum feels there is nothing at stake anymore.



Comments are closed.