But Cotto lives too far away?

[Larry the boss]

By Rick Reeno

Floyd Mayweather Jr. lashed out at the suggestion that he ducked a fight with Miguel Cotto in 2005, when both of them were rising junior welterweights under Top Rank's promotional banner. According to Mayweather, he requested a fight with Cotto in 2005, and then Top Rank responded by matching him with a "test opponent" to get a better idea on how a Cotto fight would potentially play out in the ring. The opponent, Henry Bruseles, was dominated and stopped in eight rounds.

"We asked for the fight. They said we'll use Bruseles [as a test]. Go back and look, he had the same identical style, came from the same stable. They said 'this is a tester, let us see how the fight would play out.' They did [the Bruseles fight] and said 'no that's not going to happen' [to a Cotto fight]," Mayweather said.

Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, chimed in, claiming Top Rank President Todd duBoef was always against the fight. - "[Cotto] was always Todd's own personal pet project. Coming up through the ranks, they would never, never put Cotto anywhere near Floyd."

[Larry the boss]

Did Cotto duck Mayweather?
March 9th, 2010
By Alexander Fugate

People first became interested in a Maywether-Cotto match-up around 2005 when both fought at 140 pounds. However, most thought Cotto still needed some more experience before stepping up to someone as good as Mayweather. This was pointed out by Chris Ackerman of Doghouseboxing.com on October 16, 2005 when he reported, ***8220;***8230;no one in the Cotto camp is foolish enough to look for it (a fight with Mayweather) anytime soon. They know, as do most analysts, that Cotto has a lot of things to work on before he is ready for the likes of Floyd Mayweather.***8221;

At the time Kosta Tszyu, Ricky Hatton, Floyd Mayeather, and Arturo Gatti were all in the 140 pound division; Hatton retired Tszyu and Mayweather dismantled Gatti. Cotto never fought any of these fighters who sat atop the division he fought in.

A Mayweather-Cotto bout seemed inevitable in 2007 or 2008. At the end of 2006 Mayweather had unified the WBC, IBF, IBO, IBA, and Ring magazine championships and was the lineal champ. Despite all these titles, no offer came from Cotto.

Then after Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton in 2007, he was considered the number one pound for pound fighter by every credible source and one of the biggest draws in boxing history. For Cotto a fight with Mayweather would have wielded him his biggest payday and with a win, recognition as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, if not the best. However, Cotto never made any offer to Mayweather and instead, in January 2008, agreed to fight Alfonzo Gomez. Gomez was a journeyman who had appeared on The Contender television show, with amazingly few known opponents. This bout was scheduled on the undercard of Margarito-Cintron II. This was done to built up hype for a Cotto-Margarito showdown. Michael Swann of CBSsports.com reported, ***8220;No one expected Gomez to beat Cotto or even provide much of a challenge.***8221; Mr. Swann went on, ***8220;Cotto needed a tune-up bout***8230; in preparation for his July 26 meeting with the Kermit Cintron-Antonio Margarito winner.***8221; So a month after Mayweather knocked out Ricky Hatton, Cotto had his next two bouts already planned, with neither of the opponents being named Floyd Mayweather Jr. This is an interesting move if Cotto really had any desire to face Mayweather. If Cotto was so intent on facing Mayweather why did he schedule his next two fights without attempting to get Mayweather in the ring with him first?

And as we all know, Margarito gave Cotto a gruesome beating; a beating many suspect Margarito accomplished through wrapping his hands with a plaster-like substance. Regardless of if Margarito cheated against Cotto or not, after that fight Cotto was in no condition to fight Mayweather. After beating Michael Jennings, Cotto won a controversial decision over Joshua Clottey that left most analysts with the believe that Cotto was damaged goods at best and shot at worst.

After Clottey, Cotto was quick to sign to fight Manny Pacquiao. This fight made him plenty of money, but Cotto was forced to weigh-in at 145 pounds, lighter than his normal weight. Cotto agreed to this catch-weight despite his well known history of severely struggling earlier in his career to make 140 pounds. Also, Cotto was only offered a 35% cut of the purse. Despite the big payday, Cotto suffered another beating and severely damaged his marketability.

Throughout his entire career, Miguel Cotto never made one offer to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. At 140 pounds, no one realistically thought Cotto was experienced enough for Mayweather and Cotto never fought any of the top four fighters at that weight. When Mayweather won numerous belts at 147, no offer was forthcoming from the Cotto camp. When Mayweather received a $15 million guarantee against Hatton, where was the $10-$20 million offer from Cotto? No where, instead he scheduled Gomez, and the winner of Margarito-Cintron II. If one actually looks at the facts, there is no argument to be made that Mayweather ever ducked Cotto. However, there can be a strong argument made that Cotto ducked Mayweather despite Floyd possessing numerous titles and a potential record payday for Cotto.

[.:: JSFD26 ::.]

Why do people always bring up this quote when discussing why Money "avoided" Cotto in his prime?

I've literally never heard of Floyd or anyone from his team stating something like that before. Not in 2007, not in 2008...never.

Where does it come from? Is it just coming from ******ed biased fans?

He said it live on ESPN, dude. Welcome to boxing. Did you get tired of UFC?

[bigjavi973]

Floyd ducks Cotto. Past prime cotto gave him a great fight. Prime cotto might have juan.

[bigjavi973]

Funny thing is Cotto himself said he never pursued a Mayweather fight before they fought

Cotto never really pursues/calls out fighters. Not his thing.

[bigjavi973]

Cotto's team turned the fight down at 140

Floyd Mayweather JR on Cotto (140 lbs):

“Cotto needs a couple more tune-ups. Right now he’s a little too green,” Mayweather said.

[bigjavi973]

Did Cotto duck Mayweather?
March 9th, 2010
By Alexander Fugate

People first became interested in a Maywether-Cotto match-up around 2005 when both fought at 140 pounds. However, most thought Cotto still needed some more experience before stepping up to someone as good as Mayweather. This was pointed out by Chris Ackerman of Doghouseboxing.com on October 16, 2005 when he reported, ***8220;***8230;no one in the Cotto camp is foolish enough to look for it (a fight with Mayweather) anytime soon. They know, as do most analysts, that Cotto has a lot of things to work on before he is ready for the likes of Floyd Mayweather.***8221;

At the time Kosta Tszyu, Ricky Hatton, Floyd Mayeather, and Arturo Gatti were all in the 140 pound division; Hatton retired Tszyu and Mayweather dismantled Gatti. Cotto never fought any of these fighters who sat atop the division he fought in.

A Mayweather-Cotto bout seemed inevitable in 2007 or 2008. At the end of 2006 Mayweather had unified the WBC, IBF, IBO, IBA, and Ring magazine championships and was the lineal champ. Despite all these titles, no offer came from Cotto.

Then after Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton in 2007, he was considered the number one pound for pound fighter by every credible source and one of the biggest draws in boxing history. For Cotto a fight with Mayweather would have wielded him his biggest payday and with a win, recognition as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world, if not the best. However, Cotto never made any offer to Mayweather and instead, in January 2008, agreed to fight Alfonzo Gomez. Gomez was a journeyman who had appeared on The Contender television show, with amazingly few known opponents. This bout was scheduled on the undercard of Margarito-Cintron II. This was done to built up hype for a Cotto-Margarito showdown. Michael Swann of CBSsports.com reported, ***8220;No one expected Gomez to beat Cotto or even provide much of a challenge.***8221; Mr. Swann went on, ***8220;Cotto needed a tune-up bout***8230; in preparation for his July 26 meeting with the Kermit Cintron-Antonio Margarito winner.***8221; So a month after Mayweather knocked out Ricky Hatton, Cotto had his next two bouts already planned, with neither of the opponents being named Floyd Mayweather Jr. This is an interesting move if Cotto really had any desire to face Mayweather. If Cotto was so intent on facing Mayweather why did he schedule his next two fights without attempting to get Mayweather in the ring with him first?

And as we all know, Margarito gave Cotto a gruesome beating; a beating many suspect Margarito accomplished through wrapping his hands with a plaster-like substance. Regardless of if Margarito cheated against Cotto or not, after that fight Cotto was in no condition to fight Mayweather. After beating Michael Jennings, Cotto won a controversial decision over Joshua Clottey that left most analysts with the believe that Cotto was damaged goods at best and shot at worst.

After Clottey, Cotto was quick to sign to fight Manny Pacquiao. This fight made him plenty of money, but Cotto was forced to weigh-in at 145 pounds, lighter than his normal weight. Cotto agreed to this catch-weight despite his well known history of severely struggling earlier in his career to make 140 pounds. Also, Cotto was only offered a 35% cut of the purse. Despite the big payday, Cotto suffered another beating and severely damaged his marketability.

Throughout his entire career, Miguel Cotto never made one offer to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. At 140 pounds, no one realistically thought Cotto was experienced enough for Mayweather and Cotto never fought any of the top four fighters at that weight. When Mayweather won numerous belts at 147, no offer was forthcoming from the Cotto camp. When Mayweather received a $15 million guarantee against Hatton, where was the $10-$20 million offer from Cotto? No where, instead he scheduled Gomez, and the winner of Margarito-Cintron II. If one actually looks at the facts, there is no argument to be made that Mayweather ever ducked Cotto. However, there can be a strong argument made that Cotto ducked Mayweather despite Floyd possessing numerous titles and a potential record payday for Cotto.

No offer from Cotto after the hatton fight?

"Ima retire from boxing, boxing isn't gonna retire me"

So floyd decided to retire right then & there? after his hatton win?

[TBear]

In 2003 Cotto fought Joel Perez on the undercard of Mayweather's title defense against Victoriano Sosa. At the post fight press conference the fighters had words with each other and Mayweather's camp suggested a fight between them. Cotto's camp pointed out that Cotto only had 14 pro fights and would rather wait until he had more experience. About two years later Cotto now the WBO light welterweight champ called out Mayweather and Mayweather said no because Cotto was not a big enough star.

So fans of either fighter might have a argument here.

[Bull24]

So like Pacquiao, Mayweather waited until Cotto got knocked out to sign.

[Larry the boss]

At the end of the day it does not even matter,they fought and both today are still not only world champions but Lineal champions