By Gary Todd: With just a little over two weeks to go until these two fighters step into the ring. For one, it’s probably going to be their final fight, while for the other; it’s one step closer to landing a fight with Manny Pacquaio, for a multi-million blockbuster in November….
All that matters right now is Mayweather v Cotto.
For Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30 KO’s) this will be his biggest fight, in a professional career spanning almost 11 years. Sure, he has had big nights, big fights, and big paydays, but this has to be everything for him. This is it for him.
Since turning pro in early 2001, Cotto has fought with passion and an unparalleled sense of pride for himself, his family, and his country.
How can you forget his fights with Cesar Bazan, Carlos Maussa, Kelson Pinto, Ricardo Torres, Oktay Urkal, Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquaio, and of course, his fights with Antonio Margarito.
To sum up Miguel Cotto, the words pride and passion would have to be in there.
As Floyd Mayweather Jnr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) finishes up his training camp in his hometown of Las Vegas, as always he has done the work. It’s no secret, Mayweather works hard in the gym. In all my years in boxing, experiencing, going to see these guys in the gym, there has been a few stand outs. Tyson, Benn, Cotto, Tszyu, Hatton, Corrales, Pacquaio, but then you have Floyd Mayweather Jnr.
You get the gym rats, the guys who live there, who just train and hang out there, then you get the fighters who only go to the gym to train, and do what has to be done, and then go home. That’s Mayweather. For him, it’s all business, from signing the contract, to putting the hand wraps on, to unlacing his boots after 2 and a half hour of work in the gym.
Like Cotto, Floyd has had some pretty big nights in the ring, with guys like Genaro Hernandez, Emanuel Augustus, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Zab Judah, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Haton, Shane Mosley, and Victor Ortiz.
For Floyd Mayweather Jnr, it’s always been about the money.
My Analysis
For me, this is not going to be a good night for Cotto. I just can’t see him getting close to the faster, cleaner combination punching of Mayweather. I know for a fact that Mayweather has lost a bit of his movement in his legs. He will be fighting heavier than he has been, since the De La Hoya fight in 2007, but he still has a tremendous defence and lightning offence, not to forget he is a brilliant tactical fighter. He has always found a niche in his opponent’s armour of defence, and always capitalized on their imperfections from the gym to the ring. I think that will be the difference in this fight, once again.
Cotto will be 32 this year, and he has taken a hell of a lot of punishment over the years. I have to say for the record, that I am a huge Cotto fan, and I have followed him since the Sydney Olympics, but I feel that, although he absolutely beat Margarito in his last fight, I predicted Cotto would win in the 9th round, and I’m glad he won] had it not been for Margarito’s eye, I am sure the Mexican would have came on stronger in the last rounds to possibly stop Cotto. Miguel was very tired, late on. I feel his legs are starting to betray him. I feel that if Cotto has any chance of victory, he has to launch an attack on Mayweather’s body, following up with power hooks to the head. He has to push him back, and take him to the ropes [and the trenches.] He has to try and make this a war.
The other thing which is noticeable is, he throws the same combinations all the time, and if i have picked up on this you can be sure uncle roger [Mayweather’s trainer] would have. He would have noticed that Cotto drops his head low, leaving himself open to the uppercut punch. Can Cotto’s pride and passion give him what he needs to beat Floyd Mayweather Jnr?
My Prediction
Mayweather will capitalize, as he always does, on these imperfections, and throw his jab, hook, uppercut combination, at will, all night, to bust Cotto up, and possibly force a corner stoppage in the 9th round.
Gary Todd has been involved in all aspects in the sport of boxing for over 25 years. He is the proud author of his books on world champions, “Workouts from boxing’s greatest champs, volumes 1 and 2. www.blakepublishing.co.uk, and www.amazon.com www.amazon.co.uk
email: brave_haggis@hotmail.com
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