1 thing i have noticed bout Cotto fans and appreciate

[Walt Liquor]

still waiting for dan, what are you doing, searching my posts from a year ago? what about all these claims in this thread I'vew asked you to quote for me so you don't look like you're making shi t up. BECAUSE YOU ARE and its weak.

you can't find the quotes that you are saying I said in the last 4 pages of thread....no wonder you're answering other posters now.

[Bushbaby]

For real...

Think about it: the guy was 150 on fight night for Victor Ortiz.

If Amir Khan can make 140, then Floyd can make 144.

This is July 17th... TWO MONTHS before the Marquez bout:

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/box...k/boxingjuly17

Asked yet again for a clarification on the contract weight, both fighters refused to answer, as did promoter Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions. All they would say is that it's a welterweight fight -- even though multiple sources with knowledge of the contract have told ESPN.com that the maximum weight is 144 pounds.

That makes it a welterweight fight -- anything above 140 pounds to 147 is technically a welterweight match -- but you have to wonder, why all the secrecy? They were more guarded with information than the Bush administration.

AND...

Then there is the debate about the weight. Even though some outlets reported it as a 143-pound fight and sources directly involved in the fight told ESPN.com it was 144, Mayweather isn't saying.

When asked if he would have a problem making 143 pounds, Mayweather, who estimated his weight at 149 or 150 during the call, said, "I'm not weighing 143. This is a welterweight fight. Whatever I come in weighing, that's what I come in weighing, but I don't have to weigh 143. I don't know where you heard those rumors from."

Schaefer, who won't publicly discuss the weight so as not to damage the fragile business relationship he has forged with Mayweather, added, "It will be the most covered weigh-in ever because everybody wants to know what the weight is. So make sure you don't miss it!"

Gino, my guy, did I ever tell ya it's good to have you back?? Cause it is. However there wasn't a need for all the work you put in, cause The only thing that's a fact here is that Floyd didn't make weight for whatever. The reasons are debatable & I'm not debating it.

[Doctor_Tenma]

He's very good at debating, but he's debunking his own opinions. He can't bully welterweights. That's how he fights. So if he can't bully them, he don't belong there, period.

Berto didn't have any more success than Hatton in trying to bully Collazo. I think where we're getting it is Hatton had the same qualities at 147 that he had at 140. Collazo was simply around or just a notch better than Ricky.

[Walt Liquor]

versy, are you really putting their wiki pages in here?

[Roman Moreno]

I want a pueto rican chicka but there is none here in tx what do i do?

Where in Texas? Because, they're all over San Marcos.

[Verstyle]

Super Featherweight

Mayweather fought his first professional bout on October 11, 1996 against fellow newcomer Roberto Apodaca, who was knocked out in round two. Mayweather's trainer at the time was his uncle, Roger Mayweather, because Floyd Mayweather, Sr. was still imprisoned after having been convicted of illegal drug trafficking in 1993. Mayweather, Sr. took over as Mayweather, Jr.'s trainer when he was released from prison (after Mayweather, Jr.'s fourteenth fight—a second-round knockout of Sam Girard).[26] From 1996 to early 1998, Mayweather won most of his fights by knockout or TKO.

Early in his pro-career, Mayweather received praise from all corners of the boxing world and was touted as a prodigal pugilist.[27]

During Floyd Mayweather vs. Tony Duran,[28] the ESPN commentator remarked, "(IBHOF & WBHF trainer) Emmanuel Steward was quoted as saying, there have been very few who have been more talented than this kid [Mayweather], he will probably win two or three world championships, I think he will go on to be the best ever."[29]

The IBHOF trainer and commentator, Gil Clancy, commented before Floyd Mayweather engaged in his 9th professional fight against Jesus Chavez, boldly declaring, "I thought that Floyd Mayweather was the outstanding pro prospect in the entire Olympic games."[30]
Mayweather vs. Hernandez

In 1998, within two years of entering into professional boxing, Mayweather decisively won his first world title, the WBC Super Featherweight (130 lb) Championship, with an eighth-round technical knockout of The Ring No. 1 ranked Super featherweight in the world, Genaro Hernández, after the corner of the outclassed opponent stopped the fight. Hernández had never been defeated at that weight class, until then. Hernández remarked post-fight: "He defeated me, he is quick, smart and I always knew he had the speed. I give him respect. He is a true champ."[31]

With Mayweather's win, he became the Lineal Champion of the division as Genaro Hernández had previously beaten Azumah Nelson, whose dominance of the super featherweight division had prompted all boxing publications to give him the vacant Lineal Championship.[32][33] The Ring stopped awarding belts to world champions in the 1990s, but began again in 2002,[34] Azumah Nelson had won his Lineal status in the 1990s, therefore The Ring's vacant title was not awarded to him, Hernández or Mayweather, although it was not needed as Mayweather was The Ring No. 1 ranked super featherweight.

Furthermore, Mayweather became the first 1996 U.S Olympian to win a world title.[35] Following his victory, Floyd Mayweather's promoter Bob Arum had the following to say: "We believe in our heart of hearts that Floyd Mayweather is the successor in a line that starts with Ray Robinson, goes to Muhammad Ali, then Sugar Ray Leonard," Bob Arum trumpets. "We believe that he epitomizes that style of fighting."[36]

After capturing the title, Mayweather defended it against top contender Angel Manfredy in dominating fashion with a TKO victory in round two, giving Manfredy his first defeat in four years.[37]

By the end of 1998, Mayweather was ranked by the The Ring as the No. 8 pound-for-pound best boxer in the world[38] and became one of the youngest recipients of The Ring "Fighter of the Year" award, aged only 21, the same age Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali had won their first awards.[39][40]

In 1999, Mayweather continued his domination over the super featherweight division by defending his title three more times. Mayweather's second defense of his title, was against the Argentine Carlos Rios, winning by unanimous decision. Mayweather, fighting past the eighth round for only the third time in his career, won on the judges' cards 120–110, 119–108, 120–109.[41] Mayweather's third title defense was against Justin Juuko, winning by ninth round knockout. Juuko could not beat the count of 10 by referee Mitch Halpern and the fight was scored a knockout for Mayweather at 1 minute 20 seconds of the round.[42] Mayweather's final title defense of 1999 was against Carlos Gerena with Mayweather winning by seventh round referee technical decision (RTD). Mayweather said post-fight, "I want to show the world that along with Oscar De La Hoya and Roy Jones, Jr., I'm the best fighter in the world."[43] This dominance did not go unnoticed in the boxing world and by the end of the year, the 22-year-old Mayweather was ranked The Ring No. 2 pound-for-pound best boxer in the world, behind boxing great Roy Jones, Jr..[38]

Before he made the fifth successful defense of his title against former WBC Featherweight Champion Gregorio Vargas in early 2000, Mayweather fired his father as his manager and replaced him with James Prince. A few months after the fight, the rift between the father and son grew and Mayweather, Jr. fired Mayweather, Sr. as his trainer as well.[44] In an interview in 2004, Mayweather, Jr. said that he loves Mayweather, Sr. as his father but feels that he has better chemistry with Roger and his father had put too much pressure on him to be perfect.[45] The younger Mayweather, in his fifth title defense, won a near shutout over 'Goyo' Vargas in Las Vegas. In the 10th round, Mayweather overheard HBO announcer Jim Lampley say that the champ had switched to a southpaw stance for the second time in the bout. Mayweather leaned ringside and said, "It was the third time." Even after a six-month layoff, Mayweather was elusive. In the sixth round Mayweather dropped Vargas with a hook to the ribs.[46] Mayweather cruised to a comfortable unanimous decision.

Roger Mayweather returned to his role as Mayweather, Jr.'s trainer in his next bout—a non-title Lightweight fight against Emanuel Burton. Mayweather would go on to win by technical knockout in round nine.
Mayweather vs. Corrales

In one of the more defining and memorable fights of Mayweather's career, Mayweather fought the hard-hitting, former IBF Super Featherweight Champion Diego Corrales (33–0 27 KO's). Coming in to the bout, both Mayweather and Corrales were undefeated and neither fighter had touched the canvas. Mayweather was at the time, The Ring No. 2 ranked super featherweight in the world and The Ring No. 7 pound-for-pound while Corrales was The Ring No. 1 ranked super featherweight in the world and The Ring No. 5 pound-for-pound.[38][47] Before the fight was announced, Mayweather had stated he wanted to fight Corrales, who was facing jail time for allegedly beating up his pregnant wife. "I want Diego because I'm doing it for all the battered women across America," Mayweather said. "Just like he beat that woman, I'm going to beat him."[48] While both fighters were the same age, 23, Corrales had multiple physical advantages over Mayweather, such two inches in height, an inch in reach and despite coming in to the official weight-in both at the 130 Lbs super featherweight limit, Carroles came to the ring, weighting unofficially 146 Lbs to Mayweather's 136½ Lbs; thereby making Carroles 9½ Lbs heavier.[49] In the bout, Mayweather won every round and knocked down Corrales five times (three times in round 7 and twice in round 10). After the fifth knockdown, Corrales' cornermen climbed onto the apron and stopped the fight, thereby establishing Mayweather as one of the claimants to boxing's mythical pound-for-pound title. At the time of the stoppage, Mayweather was way ahead on the scorecards, leading by the official tallies of 89–79, 90–79, and 90–78.[50] Throughout the Corrales fight, HBO commentators and analysts made notable comments of Mayweather, with Larry Merchant stating, "Mayweather fights in a tradition of boxing and quick handedness that goes back in Michigan, all the way to fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson." Harold Lederman commented, saying, "Jim (Lampley), I gotta tell ya, I'm terribly impressed, I don't think I've seen an exhibition of boxing like this since Willie Pep, this kid is unbelievable, great legs, great speed, unbelievable ring-generalship. I mean he's got tremendous presence in that ring, Floyd Mayweather knows where he is, every minute of this fight..."

Corrales landed 60 of 205 punches and landed no more than nine punches in a single round. Mayweather landed 220 of 414 punches.[51] Corrales was unable to land any clean shots as he stalked Mayweather through the early rounds. He landed an average of six punches a round, according to Compubox stats – the only time that a fighter has landed in single digits in the 20 years CompuBox has been tracking punch stats.[52]

After the fight, Mayweather remarked, "I would like to fight Prince Naseem [Hamed], hopefully we can meet at 128 (Lbs) or he can come up-to 130 (Lbs), we can fight or I can fight the winner of Casamayor..." "Prince Naseem isn't going to fight you," intervened HBO commentator Larry Merchant, "after he saw this, it aint gonna happen." "I really want to fight Prince Naseem..." Mayweather continued, "but hopefully I can face the winner of Casamayor (vs) Freites."[53] Although both fights did not materialise, Mayweather's victim, Diego Corrales, would go on to hand Freites (the winner of the Casamayor vs. Freites fight) his first professional defeat. Corrales would also go onto defeat Casamayor in a rematch of their first bout.

Afterward Arum was ecstatic about his new star. "Better than Sugar Ray Leonard," he gushed. "And did you see him at those press conferences...?"[54]

The fight was met with tremendous acclamation throughout the boxing world and sports in general. 'Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s speed was dazzling. His power was unexpected.' -CBS,[51] '... a near flawless performance...' -BBC,[55] 'Floyd Mayweather Jr., displaying blazing speed and punishing power...' -New York Daily News,[52] '... a fistic masterpiece.' -Sports Illustrated.[56]

[tredh]

So Hatton says he is not ready for PBF when they are both at 140. PBF moves to 147 and after a few fights Hatton is ready for PBF. So some folks are of the opinion that PBF should have moved back down to 140 for the Hatton fight cause Hatton is now ready for that fight. How does that even make sense?

[Verstyle]

Lightweight
Mayweather vs. Castillo I

In his first fight as a lightweight, Floyd Mayweather Jr. took on WBC Champion & The Ring No. 1 ranked Lightweight, José Luis Castillo. Despite both fighters weighting officially within the 135 Lb lightweight limit, Mayweather came to the ring weighting unofficially 138½ Lbs to Castillo's 147½ Lbs; giving Castillo a 9 Lb weight advantage over Mayweather. He defeated Castillo and won the WBC and vacant The Ring Lightweight titles with a 12-round unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena before a crowd of 6,920. With Mayweather's win, he became the first The Ring Lightweight Champion since Pernell Whitaker.[64] Judges Jerry Roth and John Keane scored it 115–111 and judge Anek Hongtongkam scored it 116–111, a decision that was loudly booed by the pro-Castillo crowd. The Associated Press had Mayweather winning 115–111.[65] Also, the New York Daily News scorecard had Mayweather winning, 116–112.[66]

Castillo (45–5–1, 41 KOs) could not touch the speedy Mayweather in the first round, with Castillo throwing twenty-seven punches and landed only three. Although, after round one, Larry Merchant pointed-out, "Mayweather made a comment in the corner about his left shoulder. We'll see if somethings wrong with it, he seems to be rotating it, trying to keep it loose." George Foreman noticed likewise, adding, "Massage my left shoulder, he [Mayweather] said, that's not a good sign."[67]

Within the first minute, of the second round, Castillo went down on a shot by Mayweather which was ruled by the referee as a slip. Later in the fight, Harold Lederman alluded to it, saying "... By the way, that knockdown in the second round [is] extremely questionable, I thought Floyd did throw a left hook and this guy [Castillo] went down at the end of the hook but what you going to do, it's a judgement call by the referee, so it doesn't go as a 10–8 round..."[67] Drakulich took a point away from Castillo for hitting on the break in the eighth round after several warnings throughout the fight. With Castillo continuously hitting on the break, this led undoubtedly to a large accumulation of his power-punches landing. Commentator, George Foreman agreed with the decision, saying, "That's what you want a referee to do," although his counterpart, Larry Merchant, had an alternative view, "I think this referee has been altogether too involved in the fight. Too officious."[68] Drakulich struck again in the ninth round, this time taking a point away from Mayweather for using his elbows. Mayweather won the fight by using his jab effectively and by staying away from Castillo (45–5–1) much of the fight.[69] Also Mayweather, who injured his left shoulder on the last day of training, changed to a southpaw stance on several occasions to throw more right hands.

At the end of the fight, Harold Lederman had Castillo winning 115–111. ESPN's Max Kellerman disputed Lederman's dubious scoring, writing in his boxing column, the following: "Harold Lederman, the (HBO) unofficial ringside television judge, gave the third round to Castillo, which I think demonstrates that Mayweather suffers from the same scoring syndrome that afflicted Pernell Whitaker. Mayweather is so seldom hit cleanly in his face, that when a clean shot is landed against him it registers all out of proportion in the observer's mind. Meanwhile, the three clean shots Mayweather just landed against his opponent do not make the same kind of impression."[70]

Compubox statistics indicated that Castillo landed more overall punches and significantly more power shots over the course of the fight, however these statistics did not accurately reflect the judging as rounds are scored in isolation. Also, Mayweather out-scored Castillo with jabs thrown and landed. Lederman's scoring for this fight can be seen as inconsistent, for instance, in both of the Bernard Hopkins vs. Jermain Taylor fights, Lederman had Taylor winning, 115–113, despite Hopkins landing more overall punches and significantly more power shots over the course of both fights.[71][72] Jermain Taylor did throw and land more jabs, however.

In the post-fight interview, Mayweather said, "My last training day, I hurt my rotator cuff in my left shoulder, so I couldn’t use my jab the way I want to. My left wasn’t as strong as I wanted it to be, but I didn’t want to have no excuses, you know, like other champions, you know, when they get hurt they won’t even show up to the fight. I get hurt I keep fighting, you know, I want to bring the fans a victory."
Mayweather vs. Castillo II

Due to the supposed closeness of their first bout, Mayweather accepted an immediate rematch with Castillo that took place on December 7, 2002. Before the rematch, Mayweather again reiterated that he had torn his left rotator cuff two days before the first fight and could not throw a jab or a left hook. He had surgery following the controversial decision over Castillo and he said his shoulder had completely healed now.[73]

The smaller Mayweather was again outweighed by Castillo on the night of the fight, as Castillo weighed 147 Lbs to Mayweather's 138.[74] In the rematch, Mayweather used his footwork, combinations and jab to earn another unanimous decision victory. There were no knockdowns or notable exchanges in the fight and the judgment was close, with Mayweather winning 115–113 on two scorecards and 116–113 on a third. The Associated Press had Mayweather winning 116–112.[74] Also, HBO unofficial scorer Harold Lederman and fellow analyst Larry Merchant both had scored it 115–113 for Mayweather.[75]
Other Fights at Lightweight

On April 19, 2003, Floyd Mayweather Jr. successfully defended his WBC Lightweight title with a lively unanimous decision over Dominican Victoriano Sosa. Mayweather (30–0) fought another tactically sound 12-round bout against an aggressive challenge from Sosa (35–3–2).

Mayweather's next fight (on November 1, 2003) was in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He fought against the WBC's No. 1 ranked contender, Phillip Ndou, whose record was 31–1 with 30 KOs.

During the days leading up-to the fight, Nelson Mandela had invited Ndou to his office for a pre-fight pep talk before his departure for the States, advising him to "keep Mayweather on the outside with the jab, work the body and the head will become available." The President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, also dropped a note saying he had "full confidence" Ndou would put up a performance to make all South Africans proud and that he would return home with the coveted WBC belt. When told of his opponent's high level support, Mayweather responded by saying: "Nelson Mandela's a great man, he's big in America, but Mandela can't get in there and fight for him."[76]

Mayweather dominated N'dou before flooring him with a series of right hands in the seventh. N'dou got up on shaky legs, forcing a stoppage at 1:50. In the fifth, Mayweather connected on a series of straight rights and lefts and when Ndou would not go down, Mayweather gave a little smile and then continued the barrage. At times, Mayweather, clad in black trunks outlined with fur, toyed with Ndou.[77]

By the end of 2003, Mayweather was still The Ring Lightweight Champion and was The Ring No. 5 pound-for-pound best boxer in the world.[63]
Light Welterweight

Mayweather, 27, made his 140-pound debut as he clinically dissected former titlist DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley, knocking him down twice officially in rounds 8 & 10 and scoring a lopsided decision of 119–108 (twice) and 119–107. The fight was billed as a WBC elimination bout, with the winner earning a shot at 140-pound champ Arturo Gatti.[78]

"Mayweather can flat-out fight," Corley's trainer Don Turner said. "He's like magic. He makes you move into the punches."[78] Mayweather would, after this fight, shortly ascend to No. 1 on the USA TODAY's pound-for-pound rankings with Middleweight Champion Bernard Hopkins at #2.[79]

On January 22, 2005, Mayweather fought against Henry Bruseles in another WBC title eliminator bout. Mayweather easily outclassed Bruseles throughout the first seven rounds. In round 8, Mayweather knocked down Bruseles twice and the fight was stopped. The win over Bruseles made Mayweather the mandatory challenger for Arturo Gatti's WBC Light Welterweight Championship.
Mayweather vs. Gatti

The pay-per-view fight between Mayweather and The Ring No. 1 ranked contender, Arturo Gatti, occurred on June 25, 2005 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where the fans heavily supported Gatti. Before the fight, Mayweather was supremely confident. He described Gatti with terms such as "a C+ fighter," "a fake" and "a blown-up club fighter."[80] Near the end of round one, Mayweather pushed Gatti's head down in close, Gatti broke and left himself vulnerable while Mayweather continued to land punches. Gatti turned to the referee to complain and Mayweather capitalised, sending Gatti to the canvas with more shots for what was scored a knockdown.[81] Throughout the next five rounds, the much faster Mayweather landed with nearly every big shot against Gatti, who had no offense with which he could return fire. Gatti's corner stopped the fight after round 6, giving Mayweather his third world title.

In the post-fight interview, Mayweather praised Gatti and claimed that his pre-fight comments "were just to sell tickets." Among many boxing experts, Mayweather's one-sided dominance over Gatti solidified his position as one of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.[82] Compubox had Mayweather outlanding Gatti by a total of 168 to 41,[83] Gatti had landed only 10 power-punches (anything other that a jab).[84]

Mayweather's fight with Gatti would be his last in the light welterweight division. Mayweather would leave as The Ring No. 1 ranked contender, with Ricky Hatton as The Ring Light Welterweight Champion.

[Bushbaby]

Berto didn't have any more success than Hatton in trying to bully Collazo. I think where we're getting it is Hatton had the same qualities at 147 that he had at 140. Collazo was simply around or just a notch better than Ricky.

I think Collazo put it on both their a$$'s. It's a shame he got shafted cause I would have loved to see him & Floyd tangle. Collazo had skill!!

[Walt Liquor]

Berto didn't have any more success than Hatton in trying to bully Collazo. I think where we're getting it is Hatton had the same qualities at 147 that he had at 140. Collazo was simply around or just a notch better than Ricky.

he didn't though, per my last post.

There's A LOT of posters, floyd fans even (including Dazed in this thread) that think hatton's strengths didnt translate at 147. oh, yea, also the actual in ring results show that they didn't translate either.