WILL TAKE SOME HYPOCRISY IN EXCHANGE FOR A GOOD FIGHT!
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 03 Feb 2012
San Mateo, CA?Finally, after weeks of non-stop coverage of the biggest contract negotiation in the history of boxing, fans can look forward to an actual fight that will take place inside the boxing ring and not on social media. WBC Welterweight Titlist, Floyd Mayweather Jr., will return to the ring on May 5th, 2012, to challenge WBA Super Welterweight Titlist, Miguel Cotto. This will be the second time Mayweather challenges for a belt at 154lbs. The first was when Mayweather won a split decision against Oscar De La Hoya back in 2007. Miguel Cotto is coming off an impressive stoppage over rival, Antonio Margarito, back in December of 2011. Both are elite level boxers and two of the biggest stars in boxing.
Detractors of the fight will say that the fight should have taken place back in 2007 or 2008, while Cotto was still undefeated and before his loss to Margarito. There were numerous reasons why it didn?t take place during that time. The main reason was that Mayweather was inactive in all of 2008, when he announced his retirement from the sport, which last until September of 2009. By the time Mayweather was available to fight, Cotto had already suffered a stoppage loss to Antonio Margarito. Obviously, had Mayweather not retired in 2008 and had been available to fight Cotto, a deal would have had to require Top Rank and Mayweather negotiating a deal. However, by the time Manny Pacquiao beat Cotto in November of 2009, any interest in a Cotto-Mayweather match-up all but disappeared.
Fast-forward to 2012, Cotto is coming off a win in a big revenge fight, which, more importantly, did tremendous business. Cotto clearly became the third biggest PPV draw in boxing behind Pacquiao and Mayweather. And that made him an attractive opponent for either Pacquiao or Mayweather. Several weeks ago, many suspected that it would be Pacquiao that would fight Cotto again. However, Cotto seemed unwilling to move down to 147lbs, especially since Cotto, a promotional free agent, had other options at 154lbs, including Mayweather.
For Mayweather, he needed a fight on May 5th, and was willing to take on any fighter who can create huge business. Mayweather faces a jail time on June 1st, and the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who granted him a license, made it clear that Mayweather must serve that sentence if he seeks to continue fighting in Nevada. Thus, if Mayweather wasn?t going to land the Pacquiao fight, Cotto was the only other option that could generate the kind of business Mayweather wanted, which was another PPV that would draw over a million buys. And with Cotto as his opponent, the event will draw over a million buys.
Inside the ring, the match-up is compelling because both fighters are still physically at the top of their games. Cotto is a top 3 Super Welterweight, and Mayweather is a top 3 Welterweight. Neither fighter is considered to be old or washed up. Both fighters have a strong fan bases and have plenty of big fight experience. Mayweather does have the style match-up advantage because of his speed and footwork. Cotto is still a strong fighter and is willing to make adjustments in the middle of a fight in order to win. Cotto?s lone defeats were against power- punching aggressive fighters, who had to beat Cotto up physically in order to win. Mayweather isn?t the type of fighter to physically dominate his opponents. His dominance consists of mentally taking his opponent out of fight. The fight is well worth watching despite the cost of not having Pacquiao-Mayweather in May.
Even though the fight is compelling on many levels, it can?t be ignored the hypocrisy that is ?Money? Mayweather. For years, Mayweather has bashed both Pacquiao and Cotto for fighting his leftovers. Mayweather criticized Pacquiao for fighting Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley, and Juan Manuel Marquez after Mayweather had already defeated them. Mayweather dismissed those victories by Pacquiao as merely beating opponents Mayweather already left behind.
Technically, unless a fighter is undefeated, you are always fighting somebody?s leftovers. No one should really criticize Mayweather for fighting Pacquiao?s ?leftovers? in Cotto because the premise itself is extremely flawed. However, there is one person who should be extremely critical of Mayweather?s decision to fight an opponent that was previously knocked out by Pacquiao, and that?s Floyd Mayweather himself. Since he was the one who made a big fuss about holding himself to a higher standard by not fighting leftovers, he should be highly critical of his own choice. Instead, Mayweather will likely claim that Cotto was weight-drained against Pacquiao, who forced him to fight at 145lbs catch weight, whereas Mayweather will fight Cotto at 154lbs. Mayweather will defend his decision to fight Cotto by ripping Pacquiao, something Mayweather has perfected in the recent years rather than defending his decision because Cotto is a great fighter.
With that said, the fight is still intriguing and should be supported and watched as a big time fight featuring two boxing superstars. How they got to the fight or why the fight was made will be the topic of a lot of discussion, but at least the fans have a fight, and in the end that?s what it?s all about.
Follow on twitter @sportnjordan or email sportnjordan@gmail.com
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Jason Aniel.
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