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The biggest boxing night of the year takes place tonight in Las Vegas when Floyd Mayweather Jnr puts his unbeaten record on the line by facing Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Cotto at 31 is no stranger to the big fight occasion. A three division world champion, he has is now in his 11th year as a professional.
Cotto’s first shot to prominence came when he captured the WBO light welterweight title in only his 21st professional fight, stopping Brazilian Kelso Pinto in six exciting rounds in September 2004.
Cotto would go on to dominate the 140 pound division, defeating the likes of Demarcus Corley, Muhammad Abdullaev and Paulie Malignaggi over a two year period.
Cotto, realising he was huge for the 140 pound limit, moved upto the welterweight division where he would annex the vacant WBA title. Although weight was the reason for Cotto moving up, there was also the realisation that he would be facing bigger names and this is what happened when he would defeat the likes of Zab Judah and Shane Mosley in exciting fights.
Defeat would follow against Antonio Margarito in July, 2008 in controversial circumstances but revenge was sweet three years later when in a dominant display Cotto dismantled his bitter rival over 10 rounds in New York last December. Cotto’s only other defeat was a 12th round loss to Manny Pacquiao in November, 2009 when he was in his second spell as 147 pound champion.
For Mayweather, the carrot of a Pacquiao superfight still dominates his future. Unbeaten now in 42 fights, the moneyman has won titles in five divisions. A world champion since 1996 in various divisions, Mayweather’s list of victims is a match for any boxer in history.
Fighters such as Genaro Hernandez, Diego Corrales, Joe Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley have all tasted defeat either by knockout or by wide points decision. You could argue that only two men in that list have pushed him close. Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007 and Jose Luis Castillo during two fights in 2002.
The era of Mayweather reminds me of an era of a young Muhammad Ali. People will be paying their dollars to hopefully see the braggart silenced. Come Saturday night the proud, respected family man known as Miguel Cotto has his chance.
For me, it’s not a matter of if Floyd Mayweather Jnr wins but when. Cotto is good, don’t get me wrong. He’s probably the best inside fighter Mayweather has ever faced. However, as proved in his fight with Mosley, if Plan A doesn’t work then Mayweather always has a Plan B or even a Plan C. In that fight after being rocked early, Mayweather changed his tactics and didn’t lose a round.
Mayweather, I feel, will want to defeat Cotto more comprehensively that Pacquiao did a couple of years ago and I feel with his speed, angles and smarts he should get the job done by around the 8th.
Also on the Vegas bill in a fight that would be the main event anywhere else, Mexican Saul Alvarez defends his light middleweight title against veteran Sugar Shane Mosley.
Mosley, now 40, has not fought since losing a wide points verdict to Manny Pacquiao last May. In Alvarez, he meets a man on the up, a man touted as Mexico’s next superstar.
There’s always a case, however, that a great old warrior may have one great fight left in him and there’s a possibility that Mosley will take Alvarez out of his comfort zone.
I feel Alvarez should come through this one on points as Mosley fades down the stretch but don’t be surprised if Sugar Shane pulls off another great victory.
