by James Slater in Las Vegas – Supserstar Floyd Money Mayweather showed his true greatnerss last night at a sold-out MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The 35-year-old won yet another belt with a wide 12round UD (too wide on the cards: Money had to WORK to get the win last night, despite what the three cards read), yet he gave his fans so much more – arguably the most entertaining fight of his now 43-fight pro career.
Cotto, showing great durability, really came to fight, as was expected, and the hugely pro-Puerto Rican crowd felt their hero had done enough to have won the fight. This was not the case, despite the defending WBA 154pound king having somer genuine success on a number of occasions, the 8th being a real rough ride for Floyd – and Mayweather’s win was deserved. What we saw last night was a FOTY candidate and Mayweather had to show his granite chin at times.
The defensive skills of Mayweather are still firing on all cylinders; it was simply a case of Cotto fighting one of the best fight of his career. Mayweather boxed, he fought and he even sluged at times. The fans, nearly al of those crammed into the MGM, may not like him, but they must agree that the one-time Pretty Boy showed heart and guts last night, as well as superb skill and class.. A joyt to watch, even more so when [pushed hard as he was by Cotto, Floyd gave us all value for money last night.
Of course, Mayweather (and Cotto) was well paid, but he earnt his cash, sporting a bloodied, maybe broken nose throiughout the battle. Money was also marked at the side of his left eye. Cotto too showed marks of battle. Deafening boos acccompanied the readind of the scorees, and thery were certainly way too wide. Yet the right man won in the end, and Mayweathere has proven once again that when it comes to boxing he is indeed the main man.
What next for both fighters? Cotto has a ton left to offer, and we all hope Mayweather wil finally get it on with Manny Pacquiao after he has served his jail time. Mayweather looked like he wanted a relatively quick KO last night, his right hand being thrown with real venom, yet the month or so he now has to enjoy before he begins his sentence will be spent resting up after a long and hard battle. Floyd will take a look at a tape of last night’s fight and he may reconsider his desire to fight again this year. Last night’s encounter was that hard.
How would Pac-Man do if he were to apply a similar aproach to the one Cotto used? Mayweather is still the P4P number-one, yet Pac-Man fans disagree and Cotto’s performance against Floyd wil have done nothing to change their minds.