by Jorge Alarcon-Swaby: It was 4PM PDT and I was already sitting at Barney’s Beanery bar in West Hollywood. I had a cold Corona in hand and I was eating a Philly Steak sandwich while patiently waiting for at least two of the twenty nine TV’s in the bar to switch from the NBA Playoffs to the HBO PPV Telecast.
At 6:07 finally the HBO Telecast pops up in the TV in front of me and the one behind, Cinco de Mayo officially begun for me. It feels familiar and I know why.
Floyd Mayweather has used Cinco de Mayo as a promotional tool once again, the first time he did it was in 2007, when he faced Oscar De La Hoya on the same historic holiday. This time he is not facing a Mexican superstar like Oscar De La Hoya, but he did provide Mexican fans an under card featuring twenty one year old Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez.
Alvere’z whole purpose in this under card is to provide more PPV buys from Mexican fans. He is in fact facing a 40 year Sugar Shane Mosley so any anything less than a dominant performance will be a disappointment..
Alvarez dominates, wins all 12 rounds easily and gives the veteran Mosely the beating of his life. Mosley walks off the ring with his head down, most likely that last time he will ever do so.
Its time for the main event, Everything until this point has seemed very familiar, but it takes a turn. The first unusual thing that happens is Maywaether coming out to the ring first, for years Mayweather has always had the luxury of being the last man to step in the ring, something most boxing experts believe the be a mental advantage.
The second thing that caught my attention was Justin Bieber walking alongside Mayweather to the ring. I didn’t mind Lil Wayne, I didn’t mind Triple H, I didn’t mind Mayweather’s remora (the little fish that follow sharks) 50 cent, but Justin Bieber ? Now that seemed out of place, and well, it was.
Miguel Cotto is in fact the champion of this bout and therefore comes out second, with no entourage, just the nessecary people, his trainer and his son, total class.
Its fight time, the fighters are introduced and the meet in the center of the ring to hear final instructions from referee Tony Weeks. The first bell rings.
Round 1: The fighters feel each other out, no one really doing much, but Mayweather lands a good left hook to the body and several solid jabs. Cotto continue to pressure without doing much. Mayweather lands a punch to the body, Cotto dosen’t even flinch. 10-9 for Mayweather.
Round 2: Again Mayweather lands a left to the body. Cotto continue to apply pressure. Mayweather AND Cotto clinch in the corner and Cotto picks Floyd up, the crowd roars. There is an exchange in the corner and the crown is into it. Floyd continues to make Cotto miss and ends the round looking confident as usual. 10-9 for Mayweather.
Round 3: Mayweather finds a a chance and lands a good uppercut on Cotto. Cotto tries to imply his game plan by going to the body, trows a good combination but no punches land. Cotto continues his body attack and lands a few, then lands a flush left to the head of Mayweather. 10-9 for Cotto.
Round 4: This rounds looks more like a normal Mayweather round, he makes Cotto miss on everything he throws, he lands solid shots on Cotto, including a solid right that seemed to bother Cotto, Easy 10-9 round for Mayweather.
Round 5: Mayweather backs into the corner, Cottos sees it as chance to attack but once he does, Mayweather lands several flush rights to the head of Cotto. Cotto maintains the pressure but Floyd is dodging mostly everything, his defense is a thing of beauty. 10-9 for Mayweather.
Round 6: Cotto gains some momentum, hits Maywather with a solid jab, then connects with a straight right. Mayweather gives a smiles and shakes his head.. Cotto continues to pressure and lands a good left, then connects with a good left to the body towards the end of the round. Good 10-9 round for Cotto.
Round 7: Mayweather takes it easy in this round, dosen’t do much but maintain his distance and lands a few good jabs on Cotto, he is keeping his distance now and looks to fight from the outside against Cotto.10-9 for Mayweather.
Round 8: Cotto comes out with great pressure against Mayweather, Floyd lands a straight right in exchange of a good body combo return by Cotto. The actions again ends up the corner with Cotto throwing combinations to the body while Mayweather smiles, a few shots land to the body of Maywather and Cotto lands two solid jab to Maywather face, his nose is bleeding, Great 10-9 round for Cotto.
Round 9: The fight is closer and Cotto maintains the persuade, but not enough to frustrate Maywather. Cotto seems gassed out from the hard effort in round 8, Maywather takes advantage a lands a few solid shots here and there to win the round. 10-9 round for Maywather.
Round 10: Cotto keeps pressure to the body with combinations but most punches are blocker.Mayweather lands counter straight right and looks willing to trade with Cotto. 10-9 for Maywather.
Round 11: Mayweather looks in control in this round, lands a solid uppercut but is tagged by good left from Cotto. Mayweather moves around and lands a solid combo and ands lands a flush right. 10-9 for Mayweather.
Round 12: : Cotto drags Mayweather to the corner and unleashes a combo, Maywather comes back with a straight right. Floyd lands a hard right on Cotto and hurts him, and follows up with another straight right later on in the round, finishes off with round looking very sharp. A strong 10-9 round for Maywather to secure him the victory.
My final score ends at 117 – 111 in favor of Mayweather.
The judges final scores were 118-110, 117-111, 117-111 all in favor of Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In conclusion.
Floyd Mayweather remains on top of the boxing world with yet another impressive performance. Was it his most impressive one, not even close. But he did face a game Cotto who came to win, a Cotto with a great trainer and game plan. Still it wasn’t enough for Mayweather’s overall ring intelligence and boxing abilities. Cotto showed he is no push over and still compete with the elite fighters of the sports.
The thing that stood out to me the most was Floyd’s inabilities to move as he once did, he is fact 35 years old and is no forced to fight more often than box. How will he do if he faces a fighters like Manny Pacquiao who is as fast, hits harder, trows way more punches, and has the same endurance abilities as him ?
Hopefully we’ll get to find out in 2013.
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