Despite the hype, Floyd will likely take on Cotto

By Boxing News - 01/28/2015 - Comments

cotto22By Jaime Ortega: Yesterday, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr coincidentally met in Miami in the sidelines of the basketball court, on a night where the Miami Heat played against the Bucks.

Pacquiao and Floyd had never met before, so the video images showing them talk have made headlines all around the world.

For fans this unexpected meeting came as a surprise. I have to admit that I was surprised to see Floyd briefly chat with Pacquiao, shaking hands and exchanging phone numbers to supposedly discuss the memo of written agreements before signing the final contract according to ESPN correspondent Dan Rafael.

Does that mean the much anticipated fight is finally a reality? Well, I hate to break it down, but have come to the conclusion that it doesn’t hold much relevance despite what boxing optimist believe .

Al Haymond has maintained contact with Cotto for the likely bout involving Mayweather on 5 de Mayo. Cotto has remained quiet so far denying an agreement, but negotiations have taken place. You have to remember that the real Mexican independence day is celebrated on September 16, so 5 de Mayo is more or less a made up US festivity. Most Hispanics take it as a Latino festival, so Cotto been Puerto Rican would attract a Puerto Rican fanbase mostly found in NYC and Chicago.

Mayweather has the chance to beat Cotto and win another belt. On paper winning another world tittle would strengthen his legacy in the near future. As when Floyd retires he will have ended with seven championship belts by beating Cotto.

For Floyd, Cotto is a good-selfish fight to take, as for the fans, its nothing but a pugilistic bluff.

I say it know and I will say it again. Floyd doesn’t care about his fans, if anything, his fans care more about him than vice versa. ESPN First Take host Stephen A. Smith, a known loyal Floyd supporter took an epic diatribe vilification lesson from his hero in Fight Hype’s interview when he questioned Floyd’s legacy for not fighting Pacquiao. If he did that to Stephen A. Smith, imagine what he thinks about fans that likewise question his decisions.

He gave his fans the chance to pick between Amir Khan and Marcos Maidana, and after the poll overwhelmingly showed Khan as the favorite opponent, Floyd choose the opposite of what was voted to take on Maidana instead. The point is that he doesn’t care about his fan-base, but his fanbase sadly defends his posture overlooking his greediness.

Its simple folks. Floyd wont fight Pacquiao because if he lost, it would not only tarnish his legacy, but expose his status as the undefeated champ. So why risk it? Why take on your nemesis when you can regain another world championship fighting a lesser opponent in Cotto! Its called strategical advantage.

Don’t get it wrong at this point everything points to Cotto. Floyd stepping up on court-side in half time speaking to Manny is just a show to pretend he is the upper man, making Pacquiao look bad. A strategy to question Pacquiao, who has agreed in all terms to comply with Floyd’s never ending demands which he might refresh soon.

Also think about it. Why will Floyd give him his number? He knows Pacquiao belongs to Arum, so does he want Arum to not be part of the negotiations when Floyd knows its Pacquiao’s promoter. In fact Floyd said “Pacquiao is not his own boss. He responds to Arum” so why would he give him his self phone? Its a nonsensical facade.

Remember not long ago, Floyd called Pacquiao out in front of showtimes cameras demanding what he thought Bob Arum could not possibly change to prevent crossing paths with Pacquiao, that was changing Cotto/Canelo fight to another date to satisfy his own excuse. Yet when Oscar De La Hoya smartly gave permission to Arum to comply with Floyd’s demands, knowing he wouldn’t take the bout, Floyd in retrospective suddenly became quiet after he had been given what he thought wouldn’t be done.

At this point, the best bet for boxing will be for Floyd to retire. As I am afraid there is an emerging trend in boxing, where undefeated means good PPVs, even if its at the cost of ducking the hardest opponents to prevent the ‘L’. Floyd has harmed boxing thanks to his pick and choose policy, hopefully future new regulations will reformat the current state of boxing, and bring it back to what it once was long ago. Cross fingers.



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