Knockout Nation

By Brown:

I was recently thinking back to June of 2005 when my friend Randy and I were watching the Mayweather vs Gatti HBO PPV. If I recall correctly, there were fans and media during that time beginning to plant seeds for an inevitable showdown between Mayweather and another young and undefeated fighter, Miguel Cotto. Even further back, talk of this inevitable matchup actually gained a little steam when Floyd dominated Henry Bruseles, a former sparring partner of Cotto’s. It was during this period that Cotto would make comments alluding to the fact Mayweather really wanted no part of him.

However, during that PPV, I remember seeing Cotto sitting ringside watching Mayweather ply his craft against an overmatched Gatti. As the HBO cameras briefly panned on Cotto after the 5th round, he had a certain look on his face which made my friend and I joke that Cotto was a having a revelation. As he had an up close and personal look of Floyd effortlessly dominating Gatti, the thought may have crossed his mind that perhaps, he indeed was not quite ready to face the likes Mayweather. In all seriousness, I don’t know what Cotto was thinking that night. But if he didn’t have that revelation, Im sure many fans and media did. The seeds they were once planting for a Mayweather/Cotto showdown were promptly pulled from the ground. After that night, everyone including Bob Arum, were saying that a potential fight between the two should wait and be built up over the course of a year or so. Instead of rushing a potential mega-fight, both fighters should go on their own way and meet later. Another translation would be that Cotto needed more time to develop before he was ready to face a technician such as Mayweather.

Mayweather went on to defeat veteran Sharmba Mitchell before moving onto 4 consecutive PPV appearances against Judah, Baldomir, De la Hoya and Hatton. Other than facing some early trouble from Judah and a few close rounds by De La Hoya, Mayweather’s in ring ability allowed him to keep his undefeated record. However, not everyone was pleased with Floyd’s selection of opponents. His critics would state: “He fought Judah who was coming off an embarrassing loss to journeyman Carlos Baldomir. He fought Baldomir for the lineal welterweight championship in a bout no one gave Baldomir a chance in. He fought De La Hoya who was 35 and coming off a year of inactivity. And most recently, he fought Hatton who is a natural 140 pound fighter.” Regardless of the criticism, between these four fights, Mayweather earned the Lineal Welterweight Championship, the WBC Jr. Middleweight title, and multi millions. Not bad by any means. However, he was becoming tagged as more of a businessman than a fighter who was interested in fighting the best possible opposition.

Meanwhile, Cotto was gaining his experience and looking more impressive in each outing. After a few more fights at 140 pounds, Cotto dominated Carlos Quintana for the vacant WBA Welterweight title. Not only did Cotto seem to fill out much better at 147, but he became stronger with no trace of the chin issues that previously plagued him (See the Corley and Torres fights). In his next four fights, he predictably dispatched of overmatched foes like Otkay Urkal and, Alphonso Gomez. However, in fighting both Zab Judah and Shane Mosley, Cotto was facing two veteran fighters who were faster, powerful and had been in the ring with some of boxing’s best. In the Judah bout, Cotto’s chin was tested early and often. However, he was able to wear Judah down late in the fight with constant pressure and brutal body shots. In the Mosley bout, Cotto adapted to Mosley’s speed, showed great movement, and was even able to outbox Mosley in the center of the ring at times. Over these 23 rounds, Cotto showed versatility, great conditioning, the ability to adjust to different styles, and most importantly increased confidence.

We are now at a point where Mayweather vs. Cotto would be a Mega-Fight. However there seems to be one last order of business on each end before it could take place. Cotto faces a stern test in June against Antonio Margarito. Margarito is a huge welterweight who will be the biggest opponent Cotto has faced thus far. Should he win that fight, Cotto will have done his part to potentially set up a match with Mayweather at the end of the year. On Mayweather’s end, he has his sights set on a De La Hoya rematch. Although most fans oppose this fight, it is still a bout that will net Floyd anywhere from 25 million or more. Assuming that Floyd will be victorious against Oscar in a rematch, the stage will finally be set for the two proven, premier welterweights in the division to face off.

Now let’s assume my perfectly laid plan doesn’t run that smoothly. If Cotto were to lose to Margarito, he is still young enough to recover and could always point out that Mayweather is more his size and will be an easier task. Now, if Oscar were to upset Mayweather in the rematch, I think Floyd’s pride would make him more than eager to take on a young gun to prove he just had a bad night at the office. Of course, this is all hypothetical as no result is promised in boxing.

However, no matter how the rest of 2008 plays out for Mayweather and Cotto, this is a fight that fans have patiently waited years for. An unlikely loss on either mans record before their fight couldn’t dull the potential encounter these two men must have. Mayweather can no longer claim Cotto isn’t ready to face him and Cotto needs no more time to develop. We are past that and it’s time to finally lock up. Before Floyd retires, he should accentuate the point to his critics that he is not scared to engage with a young bull like Cotto. A victory would only increase the mystique of his legacy at this point of his career. Of course, Floyd and Cotto’s promoter, Bob Arum, have some unfinished business matters to work out before this fight could happen. However, if Arum could bury the hatchet with Golden Boy last year for the sake of better fights in the sport, I’m sure he can do it with Mayweather as well. So to all parties involved, please, let’s finally make the fight at the end of this year that the boxing world really awaits.