Mayweather-Cotto: it will be closer than people think

By Boxing News - 03/05/2012 - Comments

Image: Mayweather-Cotto: it will be closer than people thinkBy Dominic Sauboora: Floyd Mayweather Jr. is considered to many the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. There’s no doubting his talent, his slick style of fighting, his sharp reflexes and his incredible defence.

Mayweather has been a credit to the sport of boxing and I’m sure he still has a few years left in him because he was quoted as saying after the Ricky Hatton fight “the sport won’t retire me, I’ll retire from the sport.” His perfect professional record of 42-0 is something that people from around the world can admire at. He’s fought the best of the best and none of them found a way to beat this somewhat unstoppable force. Nevertheless his next fight, despite what the media and bookmakers have predicted, could be very tough.

Miguel Cotto, a tough, hardened and proven South American fighter. He’s fought the likes of Zab Judah, Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito, blowing each of them away with his powerful punches and quick hand speed. Many people have come to the presumption that Mayweather will beat Cotto very comfortably, however I don’t see it being an easy night for the pretty boy.

Without a doubt Cotto isn’t the same fighter ever since he lost to Antonio Margarito in their first fight, but you’ve also got to remember that Miguel Cotto is going to be the defending champion when he takes on Mayweather. He’ll be more motivated than ever before and he’ll want to hold onto his WBA super welterweight title. A lot of people underestimate Cotto’s defence too. For sure Cotto has been hit with big shots before and has been down before. Nevertheless he has shown to be a very illusive target at times and examples could be when he fought Manny Pacquiao and at times Pacquiao did struggle to hit Cotto due to his upper body and foot movement. These sorts of factors could play into Cotto’s hands. This is due to the fact that Mayweather loves fighters coming at him, because his counter punching ability comes into play. Miguel Cotto isn’t the type of fighter to go totally on the offensive, like Oscar De La Hoya did when he fought Floyd Mayweather. I don’t think Mayweather has been in with someone with the punching power of Miguel Cotto. Cotto has shown to punch from weird angles and is a very accurate puncher. He’s also fighting at his natural weight class whilst Mayweather is a natural welterweight so obvious physical advantages lie with the WBA champion. Despite Mayweather being the odds on favourite, anything could happen.

As a prediction I see Floyd Mayweather winning on a unanimous points decision as I don’t believe that he has enough power to knock Cotto out, but has the defence and the endurance to go the twelve round distance and pick Cotto off at range. Nevertheless you can’t rule out the talented Puerto Rican, because if he lands one solid shot to Mayweather’s chin, anything could happen. A 38-year old Shane Mosley was able to land a flush right hand on Mayweather’s chin. Who’s to say that the reigning super welterweight champion of the world, at the age of only 31, can’t do the same?



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