Did Floyd dodge Cotto in 2007/2008?

[COACH WEBB]

These post were made in January 2008. NOTHING about Bob Arum.

Granted Arum didn't push the fight like he should have, but we're talking about Mayweather already saying in interviews that he wouldn't fight Cotto either way. The only thing I recall hearing from Mayweather is he needs a break from boxing.

I feel like this was sort of the public feeling at the time.

Floyd appeared on Friday Night Fights as a guest and he said that if (or when) Miguel Cotto becomes his own boss then they could fight. I'll have to try to see if it's out there on youtube, but I remember it. I think he had on a black shirt and if I'm not mistaken Brian Kenny was hosting. If I find it, I will edit this post.

[BoxingGenius27]

You already know that Mayweather gave him a chance for a fight, which Cotto turned down. That alone tells anyone with half a brain that Floyd didn't Miguel.

vs.

Cotto's claim to fame was a super razor thin win over Shane Mosley that IMO should have gone the other way. This was in November 2007. Floyd was fighting undefeated Ricky Hatton in December 2007.

In one breath you're saying Cotto didn't deserve to fight Mayweather in 2008 because he didn't beat anyone (razor thin victory over Mosley); but in the same breath you're admitting to Mayweather challenging Cotto in 2005/2006.

Interesting... Are you saying Cotto's resume was better in 2006, which is why Mayweather challenged him as oppose to Cotto's resume 2008?

[jreckoning]

Cotto ducked Mayweather for a long time.

Watch any HBO broadcast for Cotto's take on it all.

He got brave late, but he was never itching for that fight.

It was easy to tell.


Merchant asked him more than once and it was the old talk to my promoter song and dance.

[4Corners]

Funny how people forget Floyd calling out Cotto at 140 in 05' and at 147 in 06'. But, Top Rank said "Cotto isn't ready for Floyd", and Bob Arum himself said he's holding that fight in the bag so it can build up and get bigger. Only when Floyd announced he was done after Hatton did Top Rank and Cotto start claiming Floyd didn't want to fight. Now, Cotto leaves Top Rank, and what do you know......Mayweather-Cotto at 154 is made. It's no coincidence.

[BoxingGenius27]

Floyd appeared on Friday Night Fights as a guest and he said that if (or when) Miguel Cotto becomes his own boss then they could fight. I'll have to try to see if it's out there on youtube, but I remember it. I think he had on a black shirt and if I'm not mistaken Brian Kenny was hosting. If I find it, I will edit this post.

I know the video you're talking about.

I wouldn't have so much of a problem if that was Mayweather's sole stance on the Cotto fight.

The problem that greatly upset me at the time was the fact that Floyd had about 10 other reasons on top of that:

1. Cotto doesn't have a fan base.
2. He's transitioning to MMA.
3. Re-matching DLH.
4. Taking a vacation/needs a break.
5. Retiring.
6. There's no challenges in boxing right now.
7. Cotto isn't his own boss.

On down the line.

If Mayweather tried to negotiate with Arum and things didn't work out (like Mayweather vs Pac negotiations), that's one thing. But that's not what happen. Mayweather is his own boss so all he had to do is say the word, just like he's done with everyone else since separating.

The problem is he never even attempted to negotiate or hear negotiations from Team Cotto due to the 7 reasons listed above.

This is where I have a problem.

[BoxingGenius27]

Funny how people forget Floyd calling out Cotto at 140 in 05' and at 147 in 06'. But, Top Rank said "Cotto isn't ready for Floyd", and Bob Arum himself said he's holding that fight in the bag so it can build up and get bigger. Only when Floyd announced he was done after Hatton did Top Rank and Cotto start claiming Floyd didn't want to fight. Now, Cotto leaves Top Rank, and what do you know......Mayweather-Cotto at 154 is made. It's no coincidence.

This is why I couldn't believe I was hearing Floyd say "Cotto didn't have a strong enough fan base".

I'm thinking to myself, you were willing to fight the guy 2-3 years ago, now all of a sudden his fan base isn't big enough. I was like WTF?

[IronDanHamza]

Funny how Floyd fans have no problem justifying Margo's loss to Paul Williams, but stand firm on this...

Anyway, I really don't care. Really I don't! I just still find it hard to believe people still bring this stuff up...

For the record though (I think you and Glust have touch on it already), Margo and Floyd were in talks (no contract to fight, just talks) leading up to the Margo/Gomez fight...I think that was in 2006. Right around the Zab fight or whatever.

Glust, I agree with most of the stuff you say, but Floyd should have chose Margo instead of Zab (after his loss to Baldi). Doesn't matter now, but it did then.

And I'm a Mayweather fan. Possibly one of the biggest on this site.

But, I'm not biased, I tell it like it is.

Mayweather avoided Margarito and to be honest, I don't think he wanted any part of him.

I don't think he was scared, per se. But I think he knew he was a high threat low reward fight, and didn't want to even take the smallest risk in messing up the Oscar fight.

In all honesty, back then, I thought Margarito would give Mayweather problems. I wanted to see the fight of course but at the same time I was a little concerned that Mayweather could lose this one.

The first time in years I felt that way.

[jreckoning]

And I'm a Mayweather fan. Possibly one of the biggest on this site.

But, I'm not biased, I tell it like it is.

Mayweather avoided Margarito and to be honest, I don't think he wanted any part of him.

I don't think he was scared, per se. But I think he knew he was a high threat low reward fight, and didn't want to even take the smallest risk in messing up the Oscar fight.

In all honesty, back then, I thought Margarito would give Mayweather problems. I wanted to see the fight of course but at the same time I was a little concerned that Mayweather could lose this one.

The first time in years I felt that way.

You are honest. Good post, and refreshing in it's candor.

[BoxingGenius27]

Funny how people forget Floyd calling out Cotto at 140 in 05' and at 147 in 06'. But, Top Rank said "Cotto isn't ready for Floyd", and Bob Arum himself said he's holding that fight in the bag so it can build up and get bigger. Only when Floyd announced he was done after Hatton did Top Rank and Cotto start claiming Floyd didn't want to fight. Now, Cotto leaves Top Rank, and what do you know......Mayweather-Cotto at 154 is made. It's no coincidence.

But that's the thing.

Floyd said he was done several times within that time period. He said it after the Baldomir, DLH and Hatton fights. Keep in mind, I had a problem with him saying he was done because he was still negotiating a 2nd fight with DLH during this whole time of retirement. That's time that he could've been negotiating a first fight with Cotto. Instead he chose to potentially try MMA and negotiate a 2nd fight with DLH.

That's where I had the problem.

[4Corners]

And I'm a Mayweather fan. Possibly one of the biggest on this site.

But, I'm not biased, I tell it like it is.

Mayweather avoided Margarito and to be honest, I don't think he wanted any part of him.

I don't think he was scared, per se. But I think he knew he was a high threat low reward fight, and didn't want to even take the smallest risk in messing up the Oscar fight.

In all honesty, back then, I thought Margarito would give Mayweather problems. I wanted to see the fight of course but at the same time I was a little concerned that Mayweather could lose this one.

The first time in years I felt that way.

Agree with you man. I try to be as unbias as possible with Floyd, and I think I do a pretty good job with him and Manny. I've always said the fight people have a legit argument about not happening on Floyd's behalf was Margarito. I think it was a bit of a Bradley-Khan situation. I really think Bradley knew that once he got away from Shaw and got on to Top Rank, that he'd be in line to fight Pacquiao. I think it was the same thing that Floyd knew he'd be in line to fight Oscar at 154. Right or wrong, this s**t happens.