Cotto says Mayweather is the best he ever fought

By Boxing News - 11/30/2017 - Comments

Image: Cotto says Mayweather is the best he ever fought

By Jeff Aranow: Miguel Cotto (41-5, 33 KOs) says his toughest opponent of his 16-year pro career was Floyd Mayweather Jr. Cotto rates Mayweather as the best fighter he’s fought due to his intelligence. Mayweather beat Cotto by a 12 round unanimous decision on May 5, 2012.

(Photo Credit: Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos/Golden Boy Promotions)

Mayweather fought most of the fight in a flat-footed manner, choosing not to use movement to befuddle Cotto through most of the fight. It wasn’t until the championship rounds where Mayweather started to move, as he realized that the fight was very close and he needed to turn it on to preserve the victory.

”I would have to say Floyd Mayweather. He was very smart,” said Cotto when asked who the best fighter he’s ever fought.

This is surprising for Cotto to pick Mayweather as his toughest opponent, considering that was a pretty close fight. Cotto was knocked out by Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao. You would think that Cotto would pick one of those 2 as the toughest. Pacquiao totally dominated Cotto in their fight in 2009.

Pacquiao knocked Cotto down twice in the fight in dropping him in rounds 3 and 4 before stopping him in the 12th. Margarito gave Cotto a beating in stopping him in the 11th round in their fight in July 2008. Cotto took a knee to get out of the fight in the 11th.

Cotto has been getting asked a lot of questions this week due to this Saturday night being his final fight of his career against Sadam Ali (25-1, 14 KOs) at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Cotto-Ali fight will be televised by HBO Championship Boxing. Cotto will be putting up his WBO junior middleweight title on the line for Ali to fight for it.

Sadam Ali will likely be trying to take a page out of Mayweather’s playbook to out-box Cotto and possibly win a decision. Ali isn’t thinking of trying to KO Cotto. He realizes that would be extremely tough for him to try that approach to winning.

If Ali can out-box Cotto the way Mayweather did, it would be a huge feather in his cap to send him into retirement off of a loss. It won’t be easy for Ali to get a decision win over a star like Cotto though. Don’t be surprised if Ali loses a controversial decision if the fight goes to the cards.

”It’s been a pleasure for me to try to entertain you guys for 17 years,” said Cotto at Thursday’s final press conference. ” I am going to be a warrior and do my best for the benefit of my family,” said Cotto.

Cotto said that he wanted to fight Saul Canelo Alvarez, but he couldn’t take that fight due to him being tied down with a rematch with Gennady Golovkin.

”If you’re not ready for a legend like Miguel Cotto, then you’re going to be in trouble,” said Sadam Ali. ”On Saturday night, you’re going to see an amazing fight.”

YouTube video