Did Cotto duck Mayweather?
By Alexander Fugate: People first became interested in a Maywether-Cotto match-up around 2005 when both fought at 140 pounds. However, most thought Cotto still needed some more experience before stepping up to someone as good as Mayweather. This was pointed out by Chris Ackerman of Doghouseboxing.com on October 16, 2005 when he reported, “…no one in the Cotto camp is foolish enough to look for it (a fight with Mayweather) anytime soon. They know, as do most analysts, that Cotto has a lot of things to work on before he is ready for the likes of Floyd Mayweather.”
At the time Kosta Tszyu, Ricky Hatton, Floyd Mayeather, and Arturo Gatti were all in the 140 pound division; Hatton retired Tszyu and Mayweather dismantled Gatti. Cotto never fought any of these fighters who sat atop the division he fought in.
A Mayweather-Cotto bout seemed inevitable in 2007 or 2008. At the end of 2006 Mayweather had unified the WBC, IBF, IBO, IBA, and Ring magazine championships and was the lineal champ. Despite all these titles, no offer came from Cotto.
Then after Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton in 2007, he was considered the number one pound for pound fighter by every credible source and one of the biggest draws in boxing history. For Cotto a fight with Mayweather would have wielded him his biggest payday and with a win, recognition as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, if not the best. However, Cotto never made any offer to Mayweather and instead, in January 2008, agreed to fight Alfonzo Gomez. Gomez was a journeyman who had appeared on The Contender television show, with amazingly few known opponents. This bout was scheduled on the undercard of Margarito-Cintron II. This was done to built up hype for a Cotto-Margarito showdown. Michael Swann of CBSsports.com reported, “No one expected Gomez to beat Cotto or even provide much of a challenge.” Mr. Swann went on, “Cotto needed a tune-up bout… in preparation for his July 26 meeting with the Kermit Cintron-Antonio Margarito winner.” So a month after Mayweather knocked out Ricky Hatton, Cotto had his next two bouts already planned, with neither of the opponents being named Floyd Mayweather Jr. This is an interesting move if Cotto really had any desire to face Mayweather. If Cotto was so intent on facing Mayweather why did he schedule his next two fights without attempting to get Mayweather in the ring with him first?
And as we all know, Margarito gave Cotto a gruesome beating; a beating many suspect Margarito accomplished through wrapping his hands with a plaster-like substance. Regardless of if Margarito cheated against Cotto or not, after that fight Cotto was in no condition to fight Mayweather. After beating Michael Jennings, Cotto won a controversial decision over Joshua Clottey that left most analysts with the believe that Cotto was damaged goods at best and shot at worst.
After Clottey, Cotto was quick to sign to fight Manny Pacquiao. This fight made him plenty of money, but Cotto was forced to weigh-in at 145 pounds, lighter than his normal weight. Cotto agreed to this catch-weight despite his well known history of severely struggling earlier in his career to make 140 pounds. Also, Cotto was only offered a 35% cut of the purse. Despite the big payday, Cotto suffered another beating and severely damaged his marketability.
Throughout his entire career, Miguel Cotto never made one offer to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. At 140 pounds, no one realistically thought Cotto was experienced enough for Mayweather and Cotto never fought any of the top four fighters at that weight. When Mayweather won numerous belts at 147, no offer was forthcoming from the Cotto camp. When Mayweather received a $15 million guarantee against Hatton, where was the $10-$20 million offer from Cotto? No where, instead he scheduled Gomez, and the winner of Margarito-Cintron II. If one actually looks at the facts, there is no argument to be made that Mayweather ever ducked Cotto. However, there can be a strong argument made that Cotto ducked Mayweather despite Floyd possessing numerous titles and a potential record payday for Cotto
By Alexander Fugate: People first became interested in a Maywether-Cotto match-up around 2005 when both fought at 140 pounds. However, most thought Cotto still needed some more experience before stepping up to someone as good as Mayweather. This was pointed out by Chris Ackerman of Doghouseboxing.com on October 16, 2005 when he reported, “…no one in the Cotto camp is foolish enough to look for it (a fight with Mayweather) anytime soon. They know, as do most analysts, that Cotto has a lot of things to work on before he is ready for the likes of Floyd Mayweather.”
At the time Kosta Tszyu, Ricky Hatton, Floyd Mayeather, and Arturo Gatti were all in the 140 pound division; Hatton retired Tszyu and Mayweather dismantled Gatti. Cotto never fought any of these fighters who sat atop the division he fought in.
A Mayweather-Cotto bout seemed inevitable in 2007 or 2008. At the end of 2006 Mayweather had unified the WBC, IBF, IBO, IBA, and Ring magazine championships and was the lineal champ. Despite all these titles, no offer came from Cotto.
Then after Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton in 2007, he was considered the number one pound for pound fighter by every credible source and one of the biggest draws in boxing history. For Cotto a fight with Mayweather would have wielded him his biggest payday and with a win, recognition as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, if not the best. However, Cotto never made any offer to Mayweather and instead, in January 2008, agreed to fight Alfonzo Gomez. Gomez was a journeyman who had appeared on The Contender television show, with amazingly few known opponents. This bout was scheduled on the undercard of Margarito-Cintron II. This was done to built up hype for a Cotto-Margarito showdown. Michael Swann of CBSsports.com reported, “No one expected Gomez to beat Cotto or even provide much of a challenge.” Mr. Swann went on, “Cotto needed a tune-up bout… in preparation for his July 26 meeting with the Kermit Cintron-Antonio Margarito winner.” So a month after Mayweather knocked out Ricky Hatton, Cotto had his next two bouts already planned, with neither of the opponents being named Floyd Mayweather Jr. This is an interesting move if Cotto really had any desire to face Mayweather. If Cotto was so intent on facing Mayweather why did he schedule his next two fights without attempting to get Mayweather in the ring with him first?
And as we all know, Margarito gave Cotto a gruesome beating; a beating many suspect Margarito accomplished through wrapping his hands with a plaster-like substance. Regardless of if Margarito cheated against Cotto or not, after that fight Cotto was in no condition to fight Mayweather. After beating Michael Jennings, Cotto won a controversial decision over Joshua Clottey that left most analysts with the believe that Cotto was damaged goods at best and shot at worst.
After Clottey, Cotto was quick to sign to fight Manny Pacquiao. This fight made him plenty of money, but Cotto was forced to weigh-in at 145 pounds, lighter than his normal weight. Cotto agreed to this catch-weight despite his well known history of severely struggling earlier in his career to make 140 pounds. Also, Cotto was only offered a 35% cut of the purse. Despite the big payday, Cotto suffered another beating and severely damaged his marketability.
Throughout his entire career, Miguel Cotto never made one offer to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. At 140 pounds, no one realistically thought Cotto was experienced enough for Mayweather and Cotto never fought any of the top four fighters at that weight. When Mayweather won numerous belts at 147, no offer was forthcoming from the Cotto camp. When Mayweather received a $15 million guarantee against Hatton, where was the $10-$20 million offer from Cotto? No where, instead he scheduled Gomez, and the winner of Margarito-Cintron II. If one actually looks at the facts, there is no argument to be made that Mayweather ever ducked Cotto. However, there can be a strong argument made that Cotto ducked Mayweather despite Floyd possessing numerous titles and a potential record payday for Cotto
