Floyd Mayweather breaks down Miguel Cotto bout, alludes to knockout victory

Floyd Mayweather breaks down Miguel Cotto bout, alludes to knockout victory

Denzil Stone – Atlantic City Credit: Hogan Photos

Having campaigned at welterweight for six years, Floyd Mayweather Jr boxes at junior middleweight for only the second time in his storied career when he challenges reigning ‘Super’ WBA champion at 154lbs; Miguel Cotto, for the Puerto Rican’s world title on May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. A potential size disparity does not concern Money, though, who is confident he has the required technical tools to deconstruct his opponent.


A Mayweather versus Cotto (37-2-0, 30ko) match-up represents the coming together of two multi-dimensional prizefighters. A defensive-wizard, Floyd, 35, is known primarily for his trademark shoulder-roll and his ability to deny fighters a route to his face and body by relying formerly on movement and now, on blocking. Mayweather (42-0-0, 26ko) is also a remarkable inside fighter, well-conditioned, has good speed, a high ring IQ, a tough overhand right and a contest-ending check hook.

Four years Mayweather’s junior, Cotto, under ex trainer Emanuel Steward and current coach Pedro Luis Diaz has seen a renaissance of his erstwhile box-and-move style rather than one who gets drawn into an exchange of slugs. Cotto boxes, is a tremendous body-puncher and, as his most recent bout – a rematch with Antonio Margarito – demonstrated, is disciplined enough to follow a game-plan in a fight laden with high emotion.

“I feel like I have what it takes to win this fight,” said Mayweather recently, unfazed by Cotto’s talents and credentials as a champion of three weight divisions. “I feel that my hands are faster, I’m the better counter puncher,” he added. “I’ve shown that I have a great chin. My thing is to be Floyd Mayweather and keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

Mayweather has pledged to stand and trade with Cotto should a toe-to-toe war erupt and, if such a scenario were to occur, believes the potential mental scars from Miguel’s stoppage defeats to Margarito (2008) and Manny Pacquiao (2009) will come into play.

“I feel like if a guy has hit the canvas before, it’s in his mind that it can happen again.”

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.

Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares both gunning for 118lb glory - 'Boxing’s little guys make the best fights'

Denzil Stone - Atlantic City
The Showtime-organised Winner Takes All: Bantamweight Tournament is set to conclude on Saturday, August 13, with both participants, Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares, determined to take the competition crown, the IBF title at 118lbs and the accolade of the division's finest. Mares pledged to put on a clinic and claimned that boxing's "little guys put on the best fights".

"I feel great," King Kong Agbeko, who withdrew from the original bout scheduled earlier in the year due to suffering a sciatic nerve attack, explained to the media recently. "I was never afraid that I would not fight again. I was surprised a thing like this could happen to me, but I knew in my heart that my career was not going to end this way. I mostly felt very bad that our first fight could not come off as scheduled.
"I have trained for nine weeks and my camp was excellent. At no point did I feel weak and now it is all behind my and I am focusing on Mares," said the Ghanian prizefighter.
"There is no way I am going to lose this fight," added Agbeko (28-2-0, 22ko), the current incumbent of the IBF championship title due to a decision win over Yonnhy Perez in the semi-final last year. "I don’t watch a lot of tape on my future opponents and I have only seen a few rounds of Mares’ fight against Yhonny Perez, but I know he is a very good, fast, aggressive fighter with a big future in this sport.
"I have prepared for everything he brings. He may be the one running in this fight."
The 31-year-old continued: "I am the only champion in boxing now from Ghana and I plan to continue to carry the torch from Azumah Nelson [former three-time world champion]. The winner deserves to be recognized as the number one bantamweight in the world."

Mares (21-0-1, 13ko), known for his swift fists and undefeated record, said: "It was difficult for me when our fight was cancelled, but eventually I got over it. I took a few weeks off and then was back in the gym. My camp was different this time around. We changed it up, first when I was in Mexico and then when I was in Santa Fe Springs [California], just so I wouldn’t get stale.
"This camp went by fast and now my training’s done," added the Mexican, a 25-year-old who defeated Vic Darchinyan in the semi-final stage in order to set up the finale with Agbeko. "I’m in great shape and very excited about fighting on Saturday. I’m totally focused and ready to explode. I believe the winner of this tournament should be called the top bantamweight in the world.
"A chance to become the first homegrown Golden Boy world champion is very exciting to me. I definitely would like to be the first, but I don’t feel any nervous pressure.
"I’m really grateful for everyone involved in making this fight happen and for this tournament. Everyone knows that boxing’s little guys make the best fights. Fans are in for a real treat on Saturday."

♔EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess♔, See you at the Fights and Thank You for your time.EL Boxing Empress Online @ Twitter http://www.twitter.com/Keishamorrisey ©®™ 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All photos other than specified by "EL Boxing Empress & MMA Princess" Keisha Morrisey, for ♔Empire Morrisey Photo-Studios♔, KCKMT for Bloodline Boxing Communications Entertainment and ★Starlite★ Boxing's Sweetscience Magnews-Online Publication all rights reserved.