If Cotto gets by Margarito, he should fight Mayorga and then Forrest
Miguel Cotto will be facing Antonio Margarito who has been a notable fixture of the Welter Weight Division for a very long time. A win against him would mean Margo's name would be added to the list of top 10 WW's Cotto has beaten: Carlos Quintana, Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, and then Antonio Margarito. Miguel would have beaten 4 fighters that are in the top 6 out of 10 in the division. This win would confirm that he has pretty much done what he needed to do at Welterweight.So what should he do next?
Step 1: Continue To Raise His PPV Stock By Facing Mayorga.
For now, it looks like the only direction Miguel's career is going is up. He's got a newly marketable swag about him. He's inked a clothing sponsor ship deal with Ecko which is a pretty admirable feat considering the state of Boxing in the mainstream. It really doesn't matter that Ecko is "played out" because the fact is that a major urban clothing company has decided to invest in Miguel Cotto's celebrity. He's becoming a very well known sports figure in the latino market and the "Cotto Buzz" in the Boxing world is growing. Everywhere Floyd goes, Cotto is being mentioned. Whether the best and second most popular fighter in the world bashes him or praises him, Cotto's name is being spoken and heard. He is obviously benefiting from that type of exposure. But to truly reach that echelon of Boxing Royalty and become a bona fide boxing celebrity, he needs to "step his PPV game up" like PBF has put it many times.
Since Cotto has beaten the best in the Welter division, he should fight someone who is popular and has done major numbers in the PPV circuit. The last 3 fighters in and around his division that have recently done major numbers are not going to fight him. Floyd, De La Hoya, and Hatton are not going to fight Cotto. There is no current quality fighter who can produce PPV numbers willing to face Cotto. Sitting and waiting for someone to fight him is not an option. So who else is there that can help Cotto raise his stock? The only real option is Mayorga.
Williams recently lost to Quintana who Cotto already beat (destroyed) and is still relatively unknown, Clottey is still relatively unknown, Collazo is a no no, Bronso who? Mayorga is the only fighter right now in the Division range that Cotto can benefit from. Mayorga is a name in boxing. There is no disputing that. He isn't the same Mayorga that murdered Forrest and Mosley and taunted Trinidad. But he still is the same Mayorga who's last 2 fights generated around 1.2 Million PPV buys. 900,000 + people purchased his fight with Oscar De La Hoya. 300,000 + people purchased his fight with Fernando Vargas. Whether he was the direct draw is not a question because 1.2 million people tuned in and saw him fight. Mayorga was his vintage self in both fights, arrogant, disrespectful of his opponent and opponent's family and ignorantly entertaining. Mayorga still generates buzz in the boxing world. A fight with Williams and Clottey would not be able to generate the same kind of buzz that would interest the casual fan therefore, these fights would obviously not generate the PPV #'s that a fight with Mayorga would. It is just simple common sense. If the issue with Cotto is that he needs to step his PPV game up, then this is really the only way to do it.
Step 2: Move Up To Jr. Middleweight And Take On The Division's #1, Vernon Forrest.
Since there isnt much left to do in the Welterweight Division that is worth while, the only direction to go is up. Moving down wouldnt make much sense because Cotto would have issues making the weight and Hatton wont fight him. He already beat Malignaggi. Going up to Jr. Middleweight would be more meaningful and sensible.
Enter Vernon Forrest.Currently ranked at #1 in the division by the Ring, Forrest is the best Jr. Middle. Forrest has been on the comeback with a respectable winstreak of 5 wins. Notable wins include a decision against Ike Quartey, Carlos Baldomir and a TKO of Michelle Piccirillo. I recognize though that these arent GREAT wins. Quartey and Bladomir are pretty much past their primes and really just AVERAGE wins. Piccirillo, I've never even heard of dude. But Forrest is schedule to fight one of The Contender's most popular alums, Sergio Mora. If Forrest can make some noise and get rid of Mora in exciting fashion, he would definitely raise his stock a little more.
Unfortunately though, I only see Vernon Forrest as the best possible and credible win for Cotto if he moves up. It would benefit Cotto more to move up and fight Forrest than to stay at Welter. Forrest at least HAS looked real good in his previous wins. His boxing has been great. He still has his power and agility and if size isn't and issue when facing a 5'10 Margarito, then it shouldnt be an issue facing a 6'0 Forrest. Stylistically, it could be a very entertaining fight seeing that Forrest's career is nearing its end and Forrest may want to make his presence known. If Cotto were to win, it would be another credible win and accomplishment on his resume seeing that there isnt really anyone for him to fight.
Maybe by this time, Cotto has done enough for Floyd to consider a fight with him, but to be honest, I'm starting to care less if it happens. Cotto is quickly becoming his own entity. He may not become the best fighter in the division because of Floyd, he prolly wont reach #1 P4P status, but he WILL be a fighter that everyone wants to be a fan of and wants to watch. This is just my opinion on the direction his career should go.
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