By Frank Gaskins: Undefeated pound for pound king and World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) will be taking on WBA light middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30 KO’s) on May 5th, though many critics and boxing fans alike believe this fight will be just another one or Mayweather’s masterful and brilliant performances, Cotto will actually be somewhat of a test for Mayweather in many ways.
It is believed that the super fight Pacquiao/Mayweather WILL take place at some point due to lack of opposition of each fighter, but I don’t believe this to be true. Pacquiao is surely out of opponents unless he chooses to continue fighting guys from lower weight classes that are willing to jump one or two weight classes to take a fight with him (no one wants to see Pacquiao vs Peterson or Pacquiao vs Maidana). Allow me to make it easy for you, if Bradley can’t beat Pacquiao; none of the smaller guys coming up will, BOTTOM LINE.
Sure Pacquiao could fight Berto or Ortiz at 147, but trust me the risk isn’t worth the reward with a Mayweather looming, besides Bob Arum would never allow that to happen. Then you add in the fact that Pacquiao will not fight a 154 fighter at their natural weight and there you have it. On the other hand Mayweather has no problem fighting in the 154 Division even though he will be outweighed, as Roger Mayweather would say “his skills pay the bills”.
Mayweather fighting Cotto at 154, is like a tune-up fight for Floyd to stay in that division; providing Floyd takes care of business on May 5th, his next opponent will likely be Saul Canelo Alvarez at 154 in November, providing Floyd wins that fight I can see Mayweather testing the waters at 160 in early 2013 verses a lesser known opponent to see how he fairs, and if he performs well, which I believe he will, I can see a Mayweather vs Martinez fight in late 2013 at 160 Division or 154 Division (Mayweather would be nearly 37 years old and Martinez would be nearly 39 y/o at this time), either way it’s a fight that Pacquiao would never take . You see as Floyd Mayweather has always said “I don’t need Pacquiao to complete my legacy”, he’s actually right. If the Pacquiao/Mayweather fight never happens, Floyd could take this route and still solidify himself as an all-time great; he could then retire with the respect of everyone, with his undefeated record still intact, with better opponents on his resume, with the blood testing he wants, the purse split he wants, with the title of true Pound for Pound King all without even having fought Pacquiao. Truth is Manny needs Floyd way more than Floyd needs Manny.
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