The WBA Super World Light Middleweight Championship
Mayweather puts on defensive masterclass to take out Cotto
Floyd Mayweather Junior put in a performance of the highest
quality to extend his career record to 43 - 0 and end the stern
challenge of Miguel Cotto.
The judges scored it 117 - 111, 117 - 111, 118 - 110, rewarding
Mayweather for his supreme defensive display and crowning him the
new WBA Super Light Middleweight Champion of the World.
It was a pulsating fight throughout, with both men putting in a
massive work rate. For Mayweather, his focus was on counter
punching and evading Cotto's work, while Cotto spent a great amount
of his time unsuccessfully trying to land shots.
The only time the unbeaten Mayweather looked remotely
troubled was when Cotto backed him into the ropes, but even
then Mayweather managed to shake himself loose and get mobile once
again.
Cotto enjoyed only brief moments where he was able to break
Mayweather's dominance, but it seemed inevitable that the fight
would go to the scorecards as a breathtaking 12th round played
out.
Cotto and Mayweather make the weight
The stage at the MGM Grand Las Vegas is set for what's sure to
be an absolute super fight. Natural light middleweight Miguel Cotto
hit the scales and came in at 154lbs, while Mayweather, stepping
up, weighed in at 151lbs.
The two fighters squared up for over a minute as the tensions
grew ahead of one of the fights of the year!
Mayweather and Cotto in fight of the year contender
Miguel Cotto and Floyd "Money" Mayweather meet for one of the
most eagerly anticipated fights of the year, with Cotto's WBA Super
World Light Middleweight Championship on the line. BoxNationTV will
bring you the fight live and exclusive from the MGM Grand in Las
Vegas, Nevada, United States.
Miguel Cotto
Cotto, 31, has a 37 - 2 career record, which he will look
to extend during a third defence of his WBA crown. The Puerto Rican
won his WBA belt from Yuri Foreman in June 2010, and has since
defended it against Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio Margarito.
His win against the latter was screened live on BoxNationTV last
December, as an eye injury halted the challenger in the 10th and he
was forced to retire.
Cotto is known for his aggressive body-line punching and
combative, war-like style. The proud Puerto Rican, who was said to
have become a national hero after beating Margarito, will leave
nothing behind in the ring and will look to negate Mayweather's
fast footwork.
Floyd Mayweather Junior
Mayweather, 35, boasts a 42 - 0 record and steps up a weight
class once more to fight for yet another World Championship.
"Pretty Boy" Mayweather beat Oscar De La Hoya in 2007 to win the
WBC World Light Middleweight Championship, so he does have a
successful history in the 154lb category.
The Michigan-born fighter is currently rated by Ring Magazine as
the World's second best pound-for-pound fighter behind Manny
Pacquiao.
Renowned for his lightning pace and mobility around the ring,
Mayweather is nicknamed "Pretty Boy" thanks largely to his skilful
evasion of punches. The 35-year-old's father and former trainer,
Mayweather Senior, is credited with teaching his son many of the
defensive aptitudes that he will bring to the ring against Cotto in
their May 5th encounter.
