Mayweather - Cotto Predictions

     I am quite happy that Floyd is fighting a quality opponent again. I am pretty disappointed that he fought Victor Ortiz in the past. I knew it was a horrible match-up. I could compare it to the upcoming Pacquiao - Bradley fight. I consider Ortiz and Bradley on the same level. It makes me want to just rip both fights and just watch an Ortiz - Bradley match-up, and by there we can create bigger fights, which was not the case. Miguel Cotto is not in the level of Ortiz or even Bradley. Cotto is a well defined boxing legend as his future is already destined for the Hall of Fame. Mayweather is definitely going into a tremendous fight here, from since he fought Mosley. Cotto did beat Mosley in the past. You would wonder how this match-up will turn out eventually.

Advantage Points:

Miguel Cotto - a tremendous puncher. His most lethal weapon is his devastating left hook which have knocked most of his opponents out with this one punch. He could throw that left hook on the body or head. He has good fundamental boxing skills. He is a recognized boxer-puncher and he does not rush things all the time. He is paced and is ready to trade punch if given the opportunity. Cotto has boxing's famous puncher's chance. A solid and stiff left jab that has been known to knock opponents down with it.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. - a masterful tactician. A pure boxer who is very patient and looks attentively for his shots. His tremendous hand speed allows him to do whatever he likes whether landing crisp accurate combo's or to simply pot shot his opponents through boxing. Floyd Mayweather Jr. has the best boxing defense I have ever seen compared to all fighter's whether in the past or present. Right hand is his money punch as well as his blinding fast whipping left jabs.

Weakness Points:

Miguel Cotto - has good hand speed but slower compared to Floyd's hand speed. If they decide to trade shots, its either Cotto will get a good hard one or two, or Mayweather rag dolls Cotto with blinding speed. His chin is a suspect which can be seen in his fights against Pacquiao, Margarito, and even through someone in the past like Demarcus Corley. Does not have a good defense, it may be solid, but openings are all over the Cotto defense which could be easily penetrated. He is known to have only the left hand, his right hand means nothing.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. - Chin is a bit of a suspect as he once have been knocked down by Zab Judah and hurt badly by Sugar Shane Mosley. Tends to be more defensive at times, which will give opportunities to fighter's to just bomb away regardless of his slick defense. Cannot fight guys on the inside that well, his best bet is to keep leaning back and establish the distance. On the inside he is vulnerable. Throws lesser volume of punches and only make up with accuracy, which loses his punches landed against his opponent.

The Fight:

     Based on the given data above, we can clearly see that Miguel Cotto must jump on Mayweather early when an opportunity arises and pound him on the ropes. He must utilize his strength when Mayweather is trapped. I know Cotto is not much of a volume puncher, but he must punch a lot tonight if he decides to get this victory. When an inside fight is given, Cotto must be cautious but accurately land one or two and not more, or he'll get rag dolled with Floyd's speed. He can volume punch when the Mayweather is on the ropes. Floyd's anatomical positioning in his philly shell defense allows him to block the left punch of Cotto easily, therefore, he must use that right hand of his.

     Preparation for the right hand of Cotto is essential for this fight. Floyd must utilize his brilliant boxing in the center of the ring and not be bullied into the ropes. Special preparation in footwork for Floyd is essential to easily evade a rush-in by Cotto. I predict that a Mayweather jab will work brilliantly in this fight. Cotto has openings despite his defense; a Mayweather jab will easily land through, especially considering the type of speed Floyd possess. Cotto's jab is also lethally effective in this match. It could stun Floyd or even knock him down. It's a battle of the Jab's.


Prediction: Floyd Mayweather Jr. by Unanimous Decision.


     A knock down is possible for both sides. We could see a knock down in any round of the fight. It's just a matter of time. I also predict, that if Cotto will find a way to land a tremendously effective punch that hurts Mayweather and knocks him down, there is a possibility that Cotto will win by Technical Knockout. Still, these are just opinions. In all honesty, I just love doing this sort of things. It amuses me. As a boxing analyst, it brings me great interest to practice my analytical skills in testing my knowledge on things, specifically in boxing. All in all, this is a boxing match, anything can happen. Just like the analogy of Larry Merchant, that boxing is like a box of chocolates when you open them up, you don't know what you're going to get.

Pacquiao - Marquez III Fight Card: Boxing has stayed on it's Feet

The past few months in the sport of boxing were filled with disappointments and controversy. It started with the Mayweather - Ortiz clash with an after apology knock-out. Then came the Hopkins - Dawson debacle, when Dawson threw the 46 year old champion into the canvass, after a clinch. It also continued with the Donaire - Narvaez fight, showing a too defensive Narvaez, and Donaire, unable to knock him out. These fights almost left a scar in the sport of boxing, and made me think, UFC is on the rise. Something like magic, the wounds of these mishaps have healed. Boxing has stayed on its feet. Although, one can never decide whether the sport is really dead if it is compared to an entire year of jeers, but somehow, boxing has now recovered from an almost dying state. I, as an analyst, fan, and fighter, can feel it. Experts usually say that the key for a good boxing event  are good under cards. We saw that yesterday, and the Pacquiao - Marquez III is a match of historic proportions. Every fight that night, was that of Legends. Those good events we saw in the 80's, 90's, 2000's, and 2010's were blown away with the combination of match-ups in yesterdays event. The under card was more than what fans, like myself, have wanted. The Drama that boxing have been missing over the past few years, like determination, fighting heart, excitement, bad blood, and etc., has now been resurrected. I mean, sure we got recent fights with some of the drama, but what I am referring to, is the combination of it all, or the total package. For me, the Pacquiao - Marquez III Event was a total package. Forget about skills, all top fighters have that, but the attitude is more of a spectacle to me. I just hope for these kinds of events to keep happening. In all honesty, boxing was dying, but yesterday's event made an immense jolt in its rise. It wasn't a half step, or a full step, it was a great leap, and Boxing is far from dying now.

Mayweather - Ortiz : Thoughts

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The Fight Card:
Another great fight card has just been completed. As we saw another great, dynamic, and controversial match-ups. Mixed emotions, Mixed races, and Mixed outcomes. Earlier in the fights, we saw a competitive match-up between Jessie Vargas and Josesito Lopez. A stunning TKO victory of the now four division world champ, Erik "El Terrible" Morales. A sensational knockout of Saul Alvarez over Wilfredo Gomez. Who would ever forget the main event, where all the main drama took place? Floyd Mayweather Jr., knocking out Victor Ortiz on four. Some of the best fights I would ever want to see was right here. It made every boxing fan's day punctuated with a bang!

Vargas - Lopez Thoughts:
A very competitive match-up. The aggressor was Lopez and the boxer was Vargas. Lopez had his best round in the third, when he hurt Vargas with shots on the inside. Those effective punches by Lopez didn't sustain itself as Vargas continued to box and continued to swarm Lopez with punches as he comes on the inside. They had close rounds all through out the fight. Jessie Vargas wins a split decision against Josesito Lopez.

Morales - Cano Thoughts:
Another great match-up as the legend continues with Erik "El Terrible" Morales against Pablo Cesar Cano. Cano was a young and undefeated fighter, but Morales just got too much experience, skills, and intelligence inside the ring that he just tagged Cano everytime. Cano had a cut that was caused by Morales' punches. As the dominance took over, Cano's corner called it quits in round ten. Erik Morales wins by Technical Knockout.

Alvarez - Gomez Thoughts:
A sensational KO of Saul Alvarez against Alfredo Gomez. Trying to feel each other out in the early rounds, until Alvarez just unleashed a barrage of quick and deadly punches to finish Gomez in six. A sensational victory of Saul Alvarez winning it for him by Knockout.

Mayweather - Ortiz Thoughts:
Very intriguing match-up, as I had predicted a Unanimous Decision or a late round Technical Knockout for Floyd. As expected, Ortiz was rushing in like a bull on Mayweather. To Floyd's credit, his shoulder roll made a hard night for Victor as he goes ineffective and has seemingly placed his combinations into hibernation. His shots just won't land enough. Mayweather was sharpshooting Ortiz with pinpoint accuracy and using his handspeed to his advantage as he continuously hurts him in each round. In round four, Ortiz throws a flurry on Mayweather but ineffective. Seemingly frustrated, Ortiz gave Mayweather an intentional headbutt. (Although, corrected himself that it was an accident, as he was just pushing Floyd to the ropes.) Referee Joe Cortez gave a deduction on Victor Ortiz. As Ortiz gave an apologetic hug to Floyd, he immediately cracked Ortiz with a left hook-right hand combination. Victor Ortiz, unable to get up, gets himself counted out by Joe Cortez. Floyd Mayweather Jr. wins by Knockout.

Final Thoughts:
This is one of the best fight cards I have ever seen in a while. This is the drama that the sport of boxing has lost for a decade or so. This helps a lot in the sport of boxing. As for the Mayweather Knockout, I got no bad thoughts about it. I mean, Mayweather is just doing his job. It's a fighter's obligation to protect himself at all times. You can't look anywhere else other than the man who is in front of you. That same person who is beating the heck out of you, and have no other thoughts than to just destroy you. So never turn your back on him or look in another way, because that would just be a short-stop ticket for you getting knocked out. Never trust any fighter you come up against.

As far as I'm concerned, the dirtier fighter to me, was Ortiz. Stop headbutting, that's not part of boxing. You are not supposed to hug inside a boxing ring. Because of this inexperience by Ortiz, my prediction was cut short. Pacquiao should better stop hugging like he did with Mosley. Boxing is a badass sport, everyone should learn that. I would bet the Pacquiao - Mayweather Fight to happen after Pacquiao - Marquez III, if not, the entire world will be very disappointed to, not only of the fighters, but to boxing in general. So I hope the fight of the century must happen soon.

Picture: Floyd Mayweather Jr. knocking out Victor Ortiz after all the apologies. Referee Joe Cortez looking to count the fallen Victor Ortiz.

Mayweather - Ortiz Prediction

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Just a days from now, another super-fight in the great world of boxing will be taking place once again. A fight that determines whether pound for pound is a mere title or a self-proof that greatness, he remains supreme. Floyd Mayweather Jr., the long time pound for pound king, will be facing the up and coming prospect from Garden City, Kansas. Victor "Vicious" Ortiz, known for his relentless style and his boxing prowess. He is a fighter to look up for in the welterweight division. Floyd Mayweather Jr., on the other hand, has already proven himself to be one of the best fighters in the world, if not, the best fighter in the world. His defensive skills had made him invincible in every challenge he faced, including fights with, Arturo Gatti, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, and the list goes on. Ortiz's recent fights include Unanimous decisions from Andre Berto, his draw to Lamont Peterson, and his loss against Marcos Maidana. This is a fight that that the world looks to see. The Mayweather - Ortiz showdown will be held on September 17th 2011.

Prediction:
As a boxing analyst, I will try to weigh down on the ideas and come up with a prediction towards this match. I have seen both fighter's fight. I just have the picture in my mind that this upcoming fight will have the similarities of a Mayweather - Baldomir Fight. Carlos Baldomir does have similarities with Victor Ortiz. I can see Mayweather continuously jabbing Ortiz, as he gets frustrated and makes mistakes that Floyd will capitalize on with his patented right handed counters. Although, Victor Ortiz may seem like a faster and more boxing-smart version of Baldomir, I just feel that he will be chasing Mayweather with no avail, like a bull that charges through a matador. Ortiz's lack of hand and foot speed will greatly put him to a great disadvantage against the pound for pound star.

Early Rounds:
I can see Victor Ortiz favoring well with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the early rounds. Although, Ortiz has stepped into the aggressive fighting style, he will get hit with jabs and countering shots from the Pretty Boy. Victor Ortiz will land glancing right hand shots and a series of combinations to the body and head. Ortiz will get frustrated early, which will make him fatigued as round six approaches.

Middle Rounds:
Floyd Mayweather Jr. will step into his right straight and duck groove, and Ortiz will hit nothing but air, in rounds six and up. Although Ortiz will be aggressive, he will land only two out of six punches thrown This rounds will be reminiscent of the Mayweather - Marquez Fight.

Late Rounds:
Victor Ortiz will look winded and hurt, as Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be landing harder and crisper shots. Going in for the victory, Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be playing it safe and try to win the fight by points. There is a relative chance in these late rounds that Money will be knocking down and finishing Victor.

Conclusion:
I predict Floyd Mayweather Jr. to win by Unanimous Decision on twelve rounds or by Technical knock-out in the late rounds.

Note:
Again, these are only predictions, and anything can happen in a boxing match. Forgive me if I look down on this match and almost giving the fight away to Floyd, because I just can't see Victor Ortiz winning this fight. I mean, from the moment I learned this match will be taking place, I knew it was a mismatch. Victor Ortiz is a big underdog in this match, and  he must do a heck of a miracle to win this. He must prove to skeptics like myself that he can do it, and by then, I will welcome any outcome. This is boxing, and one thing I've learned in this sport, is that everyone has a chance. As long as you believe in yourself, you know you can do it, regardless of any trials that you may stumble across to.

Importance:
I look to this fight as a tune-up fight for Floyd, in order for him to face Manny Pacquiao next year. Floyd, again, if you're reading this, take the fight and make it happen. It's what the world wants to see. I believe you, Floyd and Manny should have an obligation to the sport, in giving us the the fight that the world wants. Don't call it quits just like that. The Pacquiao - Mayweather fight must happen!