By Chris Robinson
It was announced on Wednesday that undefeated superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. reached an agreement to face WBA junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto on May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
While the fight may not serve as the bout everyone wanted to see Mayweather in, that being a dream fight with his rival Manny Pacquiao, Cotto still represents one of the best options available.
A three-division champion and one of the biggest draws in the sport, Cotto has bounced back very well from a November 2009 defeat to Pacquiao by winning three straight over former title holders Yuri Foreman, Ricardo Mayorga, and most recently Antonio Margarito in a grudge rematch this past December 3rd at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Upon hearing the news of the Mayweather-Cotto announcement, I paid a stop to Floyd Jr.’s personal gym in Las Vegas and caught up with his uncle and trainer Roger Mayweather to get his take on the bout.
“He can’t do sh!t with him anyways,” Roger said of Cotto. “Because he don’t know sh!t. You seen Pacquiao whoop his a** didn’t you? Shane Mosley whooped his a** too. I thought he should have got the decision but they were fighting in New York, that’s why he didn’t get it.”
Never one to be easily impressed, Roger shot down the threat of Cotto instantly. Cotto looked solid in busting up Margarito’s right eye last month and forcing a stoppage seconds into the tenth round. Margarito was the first man to hand Cotto a defeat three and a half years ago and while his vindication was cause for applause in some circles, Roger could have cared less.
“F*** no, get the hell out of here,” said Roger when asked if he was impressed by Cotto’s display. “I don’t give a f*** about Margarito. Margarito aint sh!t. Margarito aint a pro.”
Roger was asked what his nephew would bring to the table that Cotto hasn’t seen before and his response was concise.
“Everything he aint never seen. He knows what the f*** he’s up against,” Mayweather added.
Roger finished up by pointing out that he expects Floyd to be in training camp by the end of the month.
Expect much more from Uncle Roger in the coming weeks leading up to the fight.
