Diaz: Mayweather a normal fighter

[CubanGuyNYC]

I listened to the entire interview. I believe it was "Comedian" who actually posted it on this forum yesterday. I am not allowed to post links yet, but u can find it on youtube just search "Miguel Cotto habla de Floyd Mayweather en La Perrera"

its in Spanish.

Nice show, man. Good interview, they talked plenty of boxing and injected humor when necessary.

I'm not very familiar with the lingo some Cubans use. Diaz used the word "normal" a few times, at moments that made it seem like he uses the word as a habit. I've heard Rigondeaux, for instance, use the word "tranquilo" (meaning cool, or "it's all good") habitually. Sometimes it doesn't even make sense to me why he would use it when he does. lol

(For the benefit of the non-Spanish speaking members here, I've made a transcript of the portion of the interview in question.)

Interviewer: What's Mayweather's main weakness? The worst thing you've seen? That makes you say, "Here..."

(Someone in the studio): His father?

(Everyone laughs.)

Pedro Diaz: Well, I've studied various videos of him...

Interviewer: And?

Diaz: A normal boxer.

Interviewer: Normal?

Diaz: No human is invincible. All humans have weaknesses. And we'll base our work on that.

Miguel Cotto: (Quickly adds) And everyone will see on May 5.

Interviewer: You guys are being very secretive.

Diaz: Because we're being quiet doesn't mean that we're over-confident.

Cotto: The secret is being guarded like the recipe for Coca-Cola.

The studio breaks out into jokes. The interviewer thanks Cotto and Diaz for showing up at the studio. They take calls and the first caller (a Puerto Rican, I presume) advises Miguel to retire, that he's going to get hurt. (lmao) Several other callers basically wish Miguel well. The interviewer thanks both men once again, Cotto talks a little about the venue, they joke a little about Bob Arum and the show ends. (The show lasts almost 22 minutes.)

[CubanGuyNYC]

Thanks @ Cu****uyNYC, you already know. I disagree with you too. Mayweather ain't seen a man like Cotto with something left before, his trainer is a huge reason why I think he's winning too, dude is dedicated as hell. We all human and the same way Floyd trains and dedicates himself so can Cotto and Diaz. And they can win. Won't be easy but ain't impossible.

No, not impossible. Just like I said, "Not likely." It's an uphill battle.

I wish Miguel well; he seems like a good guy. And I wish you luck, as it appears you've put your points where your mouth is....

[AllEyesOpen]

From the outside looking in, you can always point out the flaws, but when in the ring, believe it or not , fighters can't see everything.

Sure, Mayweather isn't unstoppable, and Cotto is far from a bum(at least in my eyes).


But when it alll comes down to it, as it's been stated before. it's not about the weakness of your opponent, but about being able to take advantage of that weakness.


Mayweather can be beat, but Cotto isn't the fighter to do it. He'll look better then a lot of people are willing to give him credit for, but in the end, Cotto's weaknesses will more evident and exploitable to Mayweather, then Mayweather's weaknesses are to Cotto.


Again, I see Mayweather taking this fight by late tko.

[MayMosPeaHop]

Cotto is going to get walked down.

[straightleft]

Cottos trainner said in the radio show La Perrera The Dog House, Mayweather is a normal fighter . we already saw few videos of him, there are some weak areas in his boxing, we expect to win the fight

I think I know their fight plan is to make Cotto grows his hair and mustache that will look like Pacquaio. Once Floyd saw Pacquaio in the ring he will most likely jump out of the ring!

[CubanGuyNYC]

From the outside looking in, you can always point out the flaws, but when in the ring, believe it or not , fighters can't see everything.

Sure, Mayweather isn't unstoppable, and Cotto is far from a bum(at least in my eyes).


But when it alll comes down to it, as it's been stated before. it's not about the weakness of your opponent, but about being able to take advantage of that weakness.


Mayweather can be beat, but Cotto isn't the fighter to do it. He'll look better then a lot of people are willing to give him credit for, but in the end, Cotto's weaknesses will more evident and exploitable to Mayweather, then Mayweather's weaknesses are to Cotto.


Again, I see Mayweather taking this fight by late tko.

Well said.

Anyone that calls Miguel Cotto "a bum" is not only disrespectful, but doesn't know what they're talking about. I've said this before, but I see Cotto being comparable to Victor Ortiz, except Miguel is older. Cotto will put on a better show than Victor, because he's more mature and won't let Mayweather get in his head, but he won't be able to keep up the necessary pressure to trouble Floyd.

I think this fight ends in a Mayweather UD. Miguel is tough, and I don't see Floyd trying to force the issue.

[frosty-g]

Can you elaborate? I'm curious to read what you have to say about this.

Nice show, man. Good interview, they talked plenty of boxing and injected humor when necessary.

I'm not very familiar with the lingo some Cubans use. Diaz used the word "normal" a few times, at moments that made it seem like he uses the word as a habit. I've heard Rigondeaux, for instance, use the word "tranquilo" (meaning cool, or "it's all good") habitually. Sometimes it doesn't even make sense to me why he would use it when he does. lol

i think you're **** right.
"tranquilo" is definitely used like english speakers use the word cool, in an informal way and with many loose meanings.
a typical quick conversation passing in the street in la habana vieja-
"qué bolá?"
"na'a, to'o tranquilo" (nada, todo)
effectively =
how's it going?
yeah, cool.

"normal" as well, can be used in a similar way, bit hard to explain precisely, but often means in a truer sense than we use it in english. normal in english usually means "ok, but nothing exceptional", which isn't exactly what it does mean literally in english- it actually means the norm, the standard etc.
so to say "normal" in cuban spanish can mean "the usual", but without the slightly negative tone and is more likely to mean "nothing particularly unusual to report" kinda thing!

in the context díaz uses it, from my experience of speaking with cuban boxing coaches, i would imagine it also means that mayweather doesn't have something that makes him stand out in terms of a specific attribute as i explained earlier.
he's great at most things but like for example cotto is a converted southpaw and has that bodyshot, or vitali has that chin and awkward style, or mayorga is technically bloody awful but has a real crazy natural style, gamboa with his "cyclone", pacquiao with his handspeed and funny angles on combinations, naz with his crazy power from incomprehensible angles, etc etc.
those guys are all away from the norm and that makes things a little complicated.
mayweather is kinda "normal", except perhaps the shoulder roll.
doesn't mean he's "just average" or easy to deal with though and i'm pretty sure díaz would never talk such crap as that.

maybe i'm talkin cr*p but that's my understanding of it.

[JOM'S]

I guess we'll find out more about this on May 5th. Cotto has a good hook and left uppercut himself. Floyd is aware that people try to counter his pull-counter. Marquez, an intelligent counter-punching specialist, couldn't touch Floyd's pull-counter.

[IMG]http://i4.***********.com/albums/y106/rikux2o6/Boxeo/RHCOUNTER.gif[/IMG]

In every sport, the arm-chair guys (us) try to dissect an athlete's (or team's) weaknesses and how they can be exploited. It's all very interesting and it's partly what makes it fun to be a fan. However, the chances that we're seeing something the pros aren't is slim to none. I'm not only certain Mayweather's opponents try to take advantage of his openings, but that Floyd knows it.

You make a good point. JMM is an awesome counter-puncher, yet even he couldn't effectively take advantage of Mayweather's openings when executing the "pull-counter." (As illustrated in your GIF.) It's a common problem in sports: identifying a weakness is one thing; taking advantage of it is another. Rarified boxers are able to employ risky, unorthodox or predictable techniques over and over in their fights because they're so gifted. Floyd happens to be of that uncommon breed.

the problem with the JMM fight, Marquez was forced due to PBF style to the uncomfortable position of being the lead and aggressor, thats one of the reason he could not counter that not to mention floyd has longer reach and faster ...

[CubanGuyNYC]

i think you're **** right.
"tranquilo" is definitely used like english speakers use the word cool, in an informal way and with many loose meanings.
a typical quick conversation passing in the street in la habana vieja-
"qué bolá?"
"na'a, to'o tranquilo" (nada, todo)
effectively =
how's it going?
yeah, cool.

"normal" as well, can be used in a similar way, bit hard to explain precisely, but often means in a truer sense than we use it in english. normal in english usually means "ok, but nothing exceptional", which isn't exactly what it does mean literally in english- it actually means the norm, the standard etc.
so to say "normal" in cuban spanish can mean "the usual", but without the slightly negative tone and is more likely to mean "nothing particularly unusual to report" kinda thing!

in the context díaz uses it, from my experience of speaking with cuban boxing coaches, i would imagine it also means that mayweather doesn't have something that makes him stand out in terms of a specific attribute as i explained earlier.
he's great at most things but like for example cotto is a converted southpaw and has that bodyshot, or vitali has that chin and awkward style, or mayorga is technically bloody awful but has a real crazy natural style, gamboa with his "cyclone", pacquiao with his handspeed and funny angles on combinations, naz with his crazy power from incomprehensible angles, etc etc.
those guys are all away from the norm and that makes things a little complicated.
mayweather is kinda "normal", except perhaps the shoulder roll.
doesn't mean he's "just average" or easy to deal with though and i'm pretty sure díaz would never talk such crap as that.

maybe i'm talkin cr*p but that's my understanding of it.

I actually enjoyed reading this analysis. lol I didn't grow up in Cuba, or even among many Cubans outside my family. The lingo that Cubans from the island use is often lost on me. I thought Diaz's use of the word "normal" might fall into that category. That's why I felt that the interview had to be clarified. There's no way Pedro would think Mayweather is "run-of-the-mill". It's actually normal to look for weaknesses in your opponent's game. lol

Thanks for adding your input!

[-Kev-]

Why do most trainers make this mistake with Floyd?

Floyd is always saying this about himself, along the lines of "It looks easy from the outside, but when you get in the ring with me you'll see why nobody can't beat me". Paraphrasing that. He has said something like that a couple of times, that people say they see flaws, but then they can't do **** about those flaws when it's fight night.