14.6.07 – By Vivek Wallace: Coming into last Saturday night’s ‘X-Plosive’ showdown between Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto (30-0, 25KO’s) and Zab Judah (34-5, 25KO’s), many questioned whether or not Cotto was ready for this increase in oppositional quality. His answer to fans as well as critics was loud and clear. Low blows aside, there wasn’t a whole lot that Cotto did wrong as he managed to shift the spotlight to a more mainstream focus.
Present in Cotto’s fight game was alot of grit and determination, while absent was the chin that most began to openly question. A far from flawed performance by Cotto prompts immediate attention to a man who is far from short of it after his victory over Oscar Dela Hoya.
Yep, you got it, none other than Mr. Floyd Mayweather Jr. A man who has single-handedly used what is probably the purest form of Boxing attributes in the game right now to stake his claim as the current Pound 4 Pound Champ.
Fight fans around the globe have talked about a matchup between Mayweather and Cotto for quite some time now but it wasn’t until last Saturday night that those outside of Cotto’s fanclub truly saw the worth of a young Miguel. That being said, today we’ll examine perhaps the best three reasons why Floyd Mayweather Jr. should make this fight against Miguel Cotto happen.
1.) Reason #1, Floyd has made it very clear to the public that he only wants to take on the best in the game and make money while he does it. Not to say Zab’s fans weren’t in the house because they were there in the droves, but for a man who’s part responsible for selling out the ‘Mecca’ of Boxing, who better to tango with? Miguel Cotto doesn’t have a fan base, he has a whole damn island behind him in which most of its hombre’s reside here in this neck of the woods. If money and quality opposition is what Floyd’s in this for as he gets set to wrap up a stellar career, he’s got to look no further.
2.) Reason #2, Obviously Floyd wants to be (not to say he is or will be) part of the G.O.A.T. discussion one day, so what better way to help cement the pro-argument portion of that debate than by not only defeating yesterday’s borderline pound for pound media child, but also by defeating the one who is not quite there, but quickly on the rise. A victory over Miguel Cotto and Oscar Dela Hoya gives Floyd major bragging rights on top of ‘Chico’ Corrales (RIP), Zab, and the other notables to fall victim. Now granted, there are still those out there that say Shane, Margarito, or Paul Williams should be Floyd’s ultimate gauge but in the same order: Shane vs Floyd will never command the same type of money that Floyd/Cotto will. Shane is great and has probably the better skills of all the others mentioned, but he’s never been a great box office/gates kinda guy and if Floyd wants money, he won’t get it in the same portions as he would against Cotto in this fight. As far as Margarito goes, he would make for a very interesting fight but you kinda have to back Floyd’s argument in the ‘Who has he beaten’? department. Margo has the skills to pay the bills but beating an unproven at the time Cintron and an injured Clottey don’t compare. A fight between Floyd and Margo would do well, but once again, a fight of epic proportions is what Floyd wants and even though Margo has his fan base, there are still a lot of people out there who know the name but has never seen his game. Margo would be a runner up in the Floyd ‘sweepstakes’ but due to his level of competition, he can thank his management team for not winning. He simply hasn’t done enough on a broad enough spectrum.
3.) Third reason and perhaps the most important reason for this fight…Dammit, because we said so!!! Fight fans wanna see a bruiser with wicked intentions try to knock that smile off of Floyd’s upper torso after watching the 24/7 clips of braggadocio. If nothing else, Cotto has established himself as a fighter with actual skills to go with his ability to bang. That’s one of the knocks that the Margo-haters have, but it’s also one that no one could ever place on Cotto after Saturday. Thinking back, this is one kind of fighter I don’t remember Floyd really facing. A ‘banger’ to the body, who has enough fight intellect to mix it up at will.
Not only is this a fight the fans want to see, but in a world of sports where image is everything, even the borderline fans out there would want to see another dose of the whole Floyd induced ‘good-guy versus bad-guy’ episode. Apparently Floyd likes to play that role, Miguel’s role on the other hand is cemented as completely the opposite. It’s a no-brainer. Floyd by no means has to take this fight because he’s the big dawg and it’s his ball game right now, but if he wants to walk away from this sport with a bang, he’ll consider it.
Floyd is certainly talented enough to handle most anyone, but his talent is more dominant when he’s fighting a slower guy that’s a head-hunter. Now that being said, what strategy does he employ when the guy has decent speed, and is a body banger with the skills to go up high as well? Dela Hoya didn’t answer that question. Shane could, but I don’t see him getting the chance. Williams and Margo don’t have the strength of resume and besides, one of the two will be exposed in another month. So that only leaves one notable and proven man untouched. Hopefully Floyd’s in the mood to go find ‘Waldo’. But then again, this is one ‘Waldo’ he won’t have to find. He’ll be right in front of him, ready and willing. And we’ll all be right at ringside or in front of our tubes bringing to life those same to words…READY AND WILLING. So for the record, Cotto is ready and willing, apparently we are too…Question here…Is the ‘Prettyboy’ on deck?