It’s only a week before Floyd Mayweather Jr wins his 43rd career fight, to once more extend his unbeaten record as a professional boxer. Or is it? This time could be different.
Questions are always drawn up before every Mayweather fight about ways his opponent could get the better of him. Then he steps in the ring and we are all reminded of how unbeatable he is.
Those build-ups have usually taken similar shape, but this one has differed. There has been no trash-talk from Mayweather – he has been respectful and complimentary about Cotto. But does he really understand the opposition he will be facing?
It has been a relaxed training camp from the ‘Money’ man, with clips on HBO’s 24/7 series indicating that he seems more focused on a future fight with Manny Pacquiao. One in particular showed the U.S fighter training while on the phone.
Cotto is coming off the back of one of his best performances against Antonio Margarito, and despite two losses on his record he has all the tools to trouble Mayweather.
He is not as quick and has a shorter reach, but his power along with his ability to get up close with his straight-forward style may nullify Mayweather’s quick hands.
If Mayweather comes out and produces his best then there is only one man to bet on: he is quicker and defensively almost perfect.
But an off day would be punished, as Cotto’s straightforward and hard-hitting approach would endanger any fighter.
It has been an eventful year for Mayweather, and a 90-day jail term still looms weeks after the fight, so it isn’t impossible for the 35-year-old to head into this bout with a clouded mindset that Cotto could exploit.
Many have backed him to be Mayweather’s biggest test to date, with trainer Pedro Diaz reportedly coming up with a strategy to beat the unbeatable.
Oscar De La Hoya recently threw his backing behind Cotto, and believes that mixing his hard-hitting style with patience could be his way to outdoing Mayweather. De La Hoya believes that now is the time to beat Floyd.
Few people are actually predicting that Cotto will wipe the ‘0′ from Mayweather’s record, despite backing a close contest.
Who would bet against Mayweather? But some back the Puerto Rican to put on the pressure, using superior power and jab to limit Mayweather’s counter shots.
Others say the 31-year-old will be patient and wait for the welterweight great to come after him, as he will be in the rare situation of not being able to dictate the pace.
Whatever the strategy from Cotto, he will be fighting without pressure, while in the other corner Mayweather will be aiming to keep a dream match-up with Pacquiao alive. The fight is no Money v Manny, but it has the ingredients to be just as exciting.
Cotto could be the one eyeing Pacquiao – to avenge one of his two career losses – if he were to force Mayweather into a shocking first career loss.
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