By Mark Vester
WBA welterweight champion Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25KOs) was all smiles when talking about his upcoming bout with Alfonso Gomez (18-3-2, 8KOs) on April 12 in Atlantic City. Cotto, speaking with BoxingScene.com's Bill Emes, said Gomez earned the right to fight for the title.
"He won the chance. He beat Arturo Gatti and Ben Tackie. The company (Top Rank) thinks he's the right opponent for this moment. He beat two great names in boxing. I'm pretty focused on Gomez now," Cotto said.
The conversation quickly switched to his thoughts on why he can't secure a unification bout with WBC champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
"That's the thing he's done his whole career. He runs from the good boxers. He chooses other boxers. I don't know how people, who know about boxing, place him as the first on the pound-for-pound (list). I don't know what kind of reason he has to choose another fight. If you want to be the best, you have to face the best," Cotto said.
"I think Hatton was overrated (against Mayweather). I'm pretty sure I can (beat him). Because of my training. I trust a lot in myself and I always give more than 100% in my training sessions. he's qyuick and fast, but when you put pressure on him he closes (up).
Cotto gave his prediction on the May battle between two of his former foes, Shane Mosley and Zab Judah.
"I think its going to be a pretty tough fight the first four or five rounds. If Shane Mosley passes the fifth round, he should beat Zab Judah," Cotto said.
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