By Allan Fox: Despite the blowup between HBO analyst Larry Merchant and WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. last September when Mayweather and Merchant briefly argued after Mayweather’s fight with Victor Ortiz, Merchant has been assigned to Mayweather’s May 5th fight against WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Mayweather already said he doesn’t plan on ever giving another interview to Merchant again. This should be interesting because if Mayweather turns down Merchant’s attempt at getting a post-fight interview from Floyd, it will be a lost chance for Mayweather to be heard by millions of his boxing fans. It will be Mayweather shooting himself in the foot if he says no Merchant. Sure, he’ll be punishing Merchant by turning down his interview attempt, but he’ll also be messing things up for himself by saying no as well.

Merchant told Dan Rafael at ESPN.com “There’s been times when there have been contentious interviews, but we try to treat it professionally, both the fighter and me.”

Merchant is going to be professional in trying to get an interview with Mayweather, and doesn’t see this as any kind of rematch between him and Mayweather as part of their argument last September. He just wants to hear what Mayweather’s views are about his fight against Cotto without he himself being the one being discussed.

Mayweather already said recently that he won’t give Merchant the interview if he attempts to get some responses after the fight. But knows? Mayweather could change his mind if he has an especially good performance against Cotto.