By Dan Ambrose: – Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime – Former two division world champion Ricardo Mayorga (29-7-1, 23 KO’s) got the better of World Boxing Association (WBA) junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (35-2, 28 KO’s) at today’s press conference to hype their March12th fight at the MGM Grand, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cotto, 30, has taken some beatings in his his last three fights and also taken a terrible beating in his loss to Antonio Margarito in 2008. Cotto hasn’t looked the same since taking a royal pounding from Margarito but has still won three out of the last four fights. However, Cotto looked on the verge of losing to Joshua Clottey in 2009 until Clottey ran out of gas.

Mayorga has obviously spotted the deterioration in Cotto’s game, as he said this about it today at the press conference: “That belt you are holding, polish it up for me because I will be taking it on March 12t. I will make a promise here today that I will knock him out in four rounds. I have been watching all of your fights for the past two months, you are punch drunk. You can’t take a punch anymore and I will retire him. You and your trainer [Emanuel Steward] will fail. Like Margarito after the Pacquiao fight, you will be thinking about retiring when I am done with you. I will make you think twice about getting in the ring again. Don’t let your mom or our family suffer anymore by watching you get in the ring. This is the first time I will fight someone that is as small as a kid. I think my pants are taller than you.”

Although Mayorga is one to make a lot of press conference boasts, I actually believe he’s telling the truth about Cotto. It’s painfully obvious that Cotto isn’t the same fighter he once was and he doesn’t take shots well anymore. You can see the doubt in Cotto’s eyes when he starts getting hit. It’s almost like he’s thinking about quitting when he starts getting hammered.

Mayorga continues: “Buy the pay-per-view so you can watch the retirement party for Miguel. Your hands are like a woman’s. Look at my hands. They are man’s hands…On March 12th, all the Peurto Ricans are going to be wearing black for your wake. I see fear in your eyes. We have never crossed paths but I have to tell you I never liked you as a fighter.”

Wow! Mayorga was really hammering Cotto, but I believe what he says. Cotto looked scared of Mayorga at the press conference and I think he’s worried already about the shots he’s going to be eating on March 12th. Cotto doesn’t react well to getting hit and Mayorga has got excellent power.