Circa 2008 the welterweight fight that all boxing fans wanted to see was a battle between the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather
and unbeaten Miguel Cotto.
and unbeaten Miguel Cotto.
Mayweather was boxing's resident cash cow coming off a decision victory over Oscar De La Hoya the year previously that launched him to superstardom.Cotto, a former junior welterweight titlist like Mayweather, had moved up to welterweight by winning 5 straight, 4 of those wins coming within the distance. Among Cotto's victims were Shane Mosley and Zab Judah.
Some boxing fans were beginning to feel that Cotto could be the foil to Mayweather. However, Money May wanted no part in the fight.
He cited financial reasons telling ESPN that Cotto was not yet a star, he answered to Bob Arum at Top Rank Inc. (Cotto's promoter and Mayweather's former promoter) and that Floyd was his own boss.
Ultimately, Mayweather "retired" from boxing. Cotto took a fight with Antonio Margarito and looked good through 6 rounds before losing via 11th round TKO in a fight many suspect Margarito entered with gloves loaded with plaster of paris following a discovery before Margarito's following fight with Shane Mosley.
Mayweather was out of boxing for the time being due to "retirement" and Cotto had lost. By time Mayweather had unretired and returned, Cotto had regrouped but was stopped in a grueling fight against Manny Pacquiao last year.
The Mayweather - Cotto ship had sailed. Whether intentional or not, Mayweather has maneuvered his way around fighting Cotto.
Now, intentional or not, Mayweather may be maneuvering his way around Pacquiao.
Let's hope that Money May is just taking some time off and if Pacquiao emerges unscathed from his fight this November, which could be either a rematch with Cotto or a fight with Margarito, that Mayweather and Pacquiao get it on in the early quarter 2011.
Mayweather - Pacquiao is not just the fight boxing fans want to see. It's the fight sports fans want to see.
Source: examiner.com
I like how the way Mayweather thinks even if most sports fans dislike him. He knows when to fight and avoid someone if he thinks he will be on the disadvantage side. But I hope the two best boxers in the Welterweight division can slug it out so that we will who really is the best boxer in the world.
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