By Davey Hogg: Since the confirmation of this fight during Floyd Mayweather Jr’s Nevada State boxing license hearing, fight fans around the world have responded with both joy and displeasure. Some fans are saying the fight has come too late, some even condemning it as a mismatch. On the other hand, some are elated that this bout is going to finally take place and considering it a legitimate match up.
Personally I’m happy about this fight for two reasons, the first being that Cotto looked great in his last fight against Antonio Margarito in which he avenged a now tainted and suspicion ladened 2009 TKO loss. Yes, Margarito was again taking Cotto’s punches, but this time it was plain to see that he was being hit with more power and authority. My second is that this fight is being made at 154lbs, which means that not only will Miguel be comfortable and strong for the biggest fight of his career, he will also be the much bigger man on the night.
Floyd Mayweather Jr has of course shown us on many occasions that he can more than handle bigger men. In 2001 he completely outclassed and stopped the late Diego Corrales in ten rounds, knocking his much taller opponent down five times. In 2006 he fought Ring Magazine welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir, a not quite elite level fighter who nevertheless had’nt lost in ten years and had had an excellent two fight run with upset victories over then champion Zab Judah and late fan favorite Arturo Gatti. Baldomir was also known to walk around between fights at light heavyweight and would no doubt be much bigger than Floyd come fight time. None of this mattered as Mayweather dominated from start to finish with very little trouble. May of the following year saw Mayweather jump to a career high of 154lbs to fight legendary Oscar De la Hoya. As the fight progressed it looked as though it could’ve been a leap too far as De La Hoya’s size advantage and excellent strategy began to make the fight extremely competitive and hard to score. Oscar’s fire seemed to dwindle in the second half of the match which allowed Floyd to take the initiative and ultimitely scrape a split decision against his hugely popular opponent.
At the end of the day the above tells me that although Mayweather has beaten his past bigger foes, sometimes easily, the last time he fought at light middleweight he struggled. Cotto probably isnt as talented as “The Golden Boy” was during his career, but in 2007 De La Hoya was past his prime, not greatly past it, but past it all the same. Cotto is an elite fighter, a fighter who’s only two losses have come when many believe he was at a disadvantage. His first loss is heavily believed to be at the hands of a cheating opponent, while some have maintained that although he would likely have lost anyway, he would have performed much better the night he was beaten by the great Manny Pacquiao had it not been for him having to shed extra weight prior to the bout. Whatever one may think or feel, the fact is that Miguel Cotto is still to lose without any excuses.
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