Floyd Mayweather gives the public what they want. Not during fights, when they want him to lose, or be a bit more exciting. But before and after. Whenever there’s a camera around, or a microphone. Miguel Cotto may be his next opponent but as usual, the target of his insults is Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather vs Pacquiao won’t be happening this May 5. Maybe won’t be happening at all. But it’s a prospect of a rivalry that keeps injecting fuel into this troubled sport, trying to return to its glory days, wanting mega fights to happen so theycan bring back the interest from MMA and, well, everything else.

But money is king, and so is ego. It’s not even that much up to the fighters anymore these days.Promotion companies have just the same power, maybe even more. Bob Arum, Oscar De La Hoya, ‘nough said. Mayweather is pretty much in control of his own destiny, but he didn’t make it easy for Pacquiao to get a deal done with him. Whether he actually wanted to make the fight happen is a matter of opinion.

Pac-Man fans think, and with good reason from what we’ve seen in recent years, that it was Mayweather who stopped the fight from happening by putting up impossible terms. Mayweather fans think Pacquiao is just afraid. Or listening too much to Bob Arum. Same same.

Mayweather’s current step? Claiming Pacquiao takes on easy fights to improve his record (54-3-2). Fighters that Mayweather has fought himself (and beaten). There’s some truth to that, but it goes the other way around as well. Pacquiao, like Mayweather, is in a position where he doesn’t see too many challenges left except for that one big fight, but is also in a position to comfortably pick from the whole field.

Usually, the PPV projections are the most important thing when you close a big deal. Which fighter will help bring in the best numbers. Timothy Bradley is definitely not a household name or a boxer who can bring in hundreds of thousands on his own. He’s not a seller. But he’s a good, dangerous fighter. Pacquiao didn’t go for Marquez (for a fourth time) or Miguel Cotto (second time) which would have been a better deal financially. As to the risk of losing? Bradley is fighting at Welterweight for the first time. You never know.

Mayweather isn’t impressed.

We wanted the Pacquiao fight for May 5 but it didn’t happen, so there’s nothing I could do. You know, as I said before I’m always looking to give the fans what they want to see. I’m pretty sure Pacquiao has a tough task on his hands with the young fighter – I don’t really know his name – but I’ve had a chance to watch him and he can box a little bit, so it’s not going to be an easy task for him.

Cotto? Mayweahter has respect for him, but predicts the outcome won’t be any different than in his previous 42 fights, all wins.

I never write off any opponent until I meet him in the ring. I am aware that I will be moving up in weight for the first time since 2007, which not only poses a challenge for me, but it does give Cotto a slight advantage because he will remain at his comfort weight of 154. 

While many may see this as Cotto’s chance and opportunity to end my undefeated record, I think that it’s also important to remember that I chose to move up in weight and give Cotto that advantage because I am confident that I can beat him at any weight. 

I’m well aware of Cotto’s potential and the advantages that he possesses in the ring on any given night, but come May 5, those advantages aren’t going to do him any good. Fight fans, get ready, because I’m about to dethrone the current king of the 154-pound weight class.

Miguel Cotto took quite a beating from Manny Pacquiao in late 2009, one of his two career losses. He has since gotten back on track at Light Middleweight, and gotten revenge. To underestimate him would be foolish, and Mayweather, despite all the distractions he creates, prepares wonderfully for fights, physically and tactically. He might be less comfortable at 154, but Cotto has never faces anyone like Floyd. The only time he met someone close to the class, Pacquiao, it was in a lower weight class, and he got pummeled.

Sportige