Las Vegas, Nev. (February 1)…It’s official. Boxing superstar Floyd “Money” Mayweather will return to the ring, step up in weight and challenge three-division World Champion Miguel Cotto for his WBA Super Welterweight World title in what will be a gargantuan showdown between two future Hall of Famers who bring excitement and fierce competition every time they step into the ring. Mayweather vs. Cotto will take place on Saturday, May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be televised live on pay-per-view.
Mayweather, a seven-time world champion in five weight classes, is excited to be facing the heavier, much-tested Cotto, who is the pride of Puerto Rico and has the experience, heart and determination to give pound for pound king Mayweather the toughest fight of his career.
“Miguel Cotto is a world class fighter who can never be taken for granted and continues to prove he is one of the best in boxing,” said Mayweather, whose only other fight at super welterweight came in a World Boxing Council (WBC) world title win over Oscar de la Hoya in May 2007. “It will be a challenge for me to compete with him at this weight, but this is the type of test I thrive on and gives me the motivation to train even harder. I have no doubt in my mind that my title belt collection will increase once again and Cotto’s reign as champion will come to an end on May 5.”
Cotto, coming off of the second defense of his title, a spectacular tenth-round technical knockout win over Antonio Margarito in December 2011, is ready to face Mayweather and believes he is Mayweather’s most competitive career challenge to date.
“I am here to fight the biggest names in boxing,” said Cotto who true to his warrior spirit that has distinguished his entire career has accepted this challenge to face the undefeated Mayweather. “I’ve never ducked anyone or any challenge in front of me. I have accepted everything to give the fans what they like…great and exciting fights. That is what the sport of boxing is all about; making the fights that the fans want and deserve to see. On May 5, stay tuned, because I will convincingly beat Floyd Mayweather.”
In addition to agreeing to the terms of the bout which will take place on Cinco de Mayo, one of boxing’s biggest weekends, both fighters have agreed to Olympic-style drug testing for the fight.
“Floyd always asks us to find the best available competition for him to fight and we have found that in Miguel Cotto,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO, Mayweather Promotions. “This is a very risky fight for Floyd as Miguel is a solid 154-pound champion who has already proven to have great boxing abilities and to be a very competent and strong puncher. This is a big test for Floyd, but as always I believe, he is the superior fighter with unmatched skills. This will make the difference and lead to another Mayweather victory the night of May 5.”
“What we have here are two champions of amazing caliber set to meet in the ring on May 5 and give boxing and sports fan one of the most compelling match-ups in the sport’s history,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO, Golden Boy Promotions. “Floyd Mayweather has already achieved worldwide recognition as one of the best fighters ever and Miguel Cotto is one of the greatest fighters of this era. I commend both fighters for agreeing to the fight each other on one of the biggest weekends for boxing and also commend them for agreeing to participate in Olympic style drug testing, a precedent set by Floyd, which continues to uphold the integrity of the sport.”
The undefeated Mayweather, (41-0, 25 KO’s), a seven-time world champion in five weight divisions, remains boxing’s biggest attraction, wowing crowds and generating record pay-per-view numbers each time he steps into the ring. During his extraordinary career, he has amassed wins over world champions such as Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Arturo Gatti, Zab Judah, Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley. His last fight against then WBC Welterweight World Champion Victor Ortiz on September 17, 2011 not only showed his boxing skills, as he took the younger Ortiz to school in the first three rounds before knocking him out in the fourth stanza. He is also no stranger to appearing on the classic Mexican celebratory weekends such as Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day as his fight with Cotto will mark the fifth fight of his career to land on one of those weekends. Mayweather returns to face Cotto in an attempt to capture his eighth world championship.
Cotto (36-2, 29 KO’s), from Caguas, Puerto Rico, has held a world title every year since 2004 while winning 16 of the 18 world championship bouts in which he has fought. Puerto Rico’s most exciting fighter and one of its greatest of all time, Cotto held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Junior Welterweight crown from 2004-2006, successfully defending it six times before vacating it to capture the WBA Welterweight title at the end of 2006, a title he held for nearly as long. After losing the WBA title to Margarito in July 2008, Cotto won his second welterweight belt in February 2009, knocking out Michael Jennings in the fifth round to become the WBO Welterweight champion. He lost the title in his second defense in November 2009, but captured the WBA Super Welterweight title in June of 2010 at Yankee Stadium in New York by stopping then-undefeated defending champion Yuri Foreman. Cotto successfully defended that title by stopping Two-Division World Champion Ricardo Mayorga in the 12th round in March of 2011 and, in his last fight, finally avenged his loss to Margarito, once again retaining his title and giving him true peace of mind.
Mayweather vs. Cotto, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBA Super Welterweight World title, is presented by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions. More information on Mayweather vs. Cotto, including ticket prices, pay- per- view information as well as press tour dates and cities, will be announced shortly.
***************
PRESS TOUR WRAP-UP
Fans Pack Venues In San Juan, New York City And Los Angeles
As Pay-Per-View King Floyd Mayweather &
King Of The 154 Pound Weight Division Miguel Cotto
Announce May 5 Mega-Fight
Los Angeles (March 1) – Seven-Time and Five Division World Champion Floyd Mayweather and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Miguel Cotto took their thrones from coast to coast as they announced their May 5 mega-fight which is taking place at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®. The three-city press tour culminated as boxing excellence came together in Los Angeles where Canelo Alvarez and Sugar Shane Mosley joined Mayweather and Cotto to announce their co-featured May 5 world championship bout, completing the “Ring Kings: Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto” royal court.
From left to right) WBC Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez, Seven-Time and Five-Division World Champion Floyd Mayweather, WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Miguel Cotto and Six-Time and Three-Division World Champion Sugar Shane Mosley pose on March 1, 2012 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California at a press conference to officially announce their May 5, 2012 world championship fights at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada where Mayweather will face Cotto for the WBA Super Welterweight Championship and Alvarez will defend his WBC Super Welterweight World Championship against Mosley, both of which will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.
Teams Mayweather and Cotto then jetted to the Big Apple for the first-ever boxing press conference at Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater. Fans and media members packed the historic venue to see the two champions take the same stage as some of the greatest entertainers of all time. The event kicked off with the sound of a trumpet to introducing these two pugilistic kings. Boos and cheers could be heard from all sides of the packed house as Mayweather and Cotto took their royal thrones on stage.
The press tour ended in the City of Angels at another historic entertainment venue, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Mayweather and Cotto were joined by Alvarez and Mosley as they announced their May 5 co-featured championship bout. The backdrop of the iconic theater was the perfect setting for the champions to meet as the press conference commenced in royal fashion with all four fighters’ camps on stage together. It was a majestic end to a whirlwind tour gearing media and fans up for a tremendous fight on May 5.
PHOTOS:
To download a photo gallery from the Puerto Rico and New York “Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto” Press Tour stops, please click HERE.
To download photos from today’s Los Angeles press conference, please click HERE.
**Photo credit for all photos: Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
PRESS TOUR VIDEOS:
To view videos from The “Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto” Press Tour please see below.
Puerto Rico
New York City
PRESS TOUR QUOTES:
Floyd Mayweather, Seven Time and Five Division World Champion
“I want to thank the fans and the media because without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“My Uncle Roger has done an unbelievable job with my career.
“The Puerto Rican boxing background is truly amazing. A lot of great champions have come from Puerto Rico and you have another great champion in Miguel Cotto.
“When we step into the ring it’s one on one. The trainer can’t fight for the fighters.
“There are no fans like New York fans [thunderous applause from fans in attendance].
“It was a dream of mine to come to the Apollo Theater and watch a performance. I never thought I would be on this stage.
“At the age of 35, I am still going strong. I am still hungry and I still want to give the fans nothing but excitement.
“May 5, please come out and support me and support Miguel Cotto because we are going for a toe to toe battle.
“This is a strong champion from Puerto Rico. He’s WBA champion at this particular time. My goal is to go out there and take the belt away from Miguel Cotto.
“To get to this level, it’s obvious that he [Cotto] does a lot of things good. I have to bite down, go to camp and stay focused.
“What’s special about this fight is you have two strong champions that have been around the sport for a long time with a lot of experience. I have a little more experience than Miguel Cotto and I know what it takes when it’s a fight of this magnitude.
“I feel like I have what it takes to win this fight. I feel that my hands are faster, I’m the better counter puncher. I’ve shown that I have a great chin. My thing is to be Floyd Mayweather and keep doing what I’ve been doing.
“I feel like if a guy has hit the canvas before, it’s in his mind that it can happen again.
“Come May 5, Cinco de Mayo, we want to give all boxing fans an unbelievable show.
“I don’t have to go in the fight weighing 154. I’m a guy that’s blessed with the ability to go up and down and beat the best fighters they have in the sport of boxing.”
Miguel Cotto, WBA Super Welterweight World Champion
“This will be one of the biggest fights you have ever seen.
“On May 5, I am going to make Puerto Rico very proud.
“I won’t stop until I find a tool to beat Mayweather on May 5.
“As everyone knows I’m a quiet man of few words. I will only say that I will train harder than ever to defeat Mayweather on May 5.
“Things happen for a right reason and at a set moment. There is a reason why Floyd and I are fighting now.
“Floyd is not just any opponent.
“I consider every fight another chapter in my career.
On drug testing:
“Sport is about skills, condition and preparation. You have to be clean. If this sport can be cleaner, I’m a sportsman and I support making the sport cleaner.
On being the underdog:
“I pay no attention to that. I get paid to bring a good show and a good fight.
Canelo Alvarez, WBC Super Welterweight World Champion
“I used to watch Shane Mosley’s fights. Now I am fighting him. It is like a dream. May 5 is going to be a great night. Don’t miss it.
“I think this is going to be the hardest fight I have had yet.
“I want to be one of the best fighters in history, but first, I need to beat Mosley.
“May 5 is a great night for Mexicans. I need to do something very great for my Mexican fans.”
On fighting Mayweather or Cotto
“They are two of the best. I would want to fight either one.”
Shane Mosley, Six-Time World Champion and Three Division World Champion
“I fought both of the main event guys. I think it is going to be a tremendous fight and I am excited and honored to be on the undercard. I think Canelo and I could probably be a main event, but I am proud to be a part of this.
“My motivation to continue fighting is that I love what I do and I’m going to be in boxing forever.
“I’m fighting a good guy who is young and I care about his career, but I also care about my career. I’m at 100 percent and that’s unfortunate for Canelo.”
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
“It will be a historic fight on May 5. I have no doubt about that.
“Without the fans, none of this would be possible. Come May 5, fans are in for a great, great fight.
“They call him Money Mayweather for a reason. Over the last year, he has become the highest paid athlete in all of sports.
“Floyd is the best fighter in the sport, the pay-per-view king, the best fighter by far of this era and when it is all said and done, he could be known as the best ever to do it.”
Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions
“Boxing is here and here to stay. With Floyd Mayweather, with Miguel Cotto, with Canelo Alvarez and Sugar Shane Mosley, this is a big, big event and we are very excited to be a part of it.”
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“May 5 will be our Super Bowl. Traditionally, May 5 is the single biggest pay-per-view date of the year.
“Floyd Mayweather is the undisputed pound-for-pound pay-per-view king moving up in weight to fight the undisputed king of Puerto Rico and 154 champion Miguel Cotto.
“Since 2007, Golden Boy Promotions has worked with Floyd Mayweather. Together, we have broken every record. The first 24/7 was a brain child of Floyd Mayweahter. Mr. Mayweather brought boxing back to the movie theaters as well.”
“This is the first time Golden Boy Promotions is working with Miguel Cotto. It is an honor to work with such a legend. He is a champion inside the ring and outside of the ring and he is one of the biggest names in the sport of boxing. He has been a champion since 2004 and is the best fighter at 154 pounds. He has shown that and he has proven that.
“I’ve been told that when Floyd Mayweather is on ’24/7,’ the ratings are traditionally 30 percent higher than anyone else.
“Many kings of entertainment have performed here [at Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater]. Most recently, President Obama sang Al Green’s ‘Let’s Stay Together.’ Many famous Latino entertainers have performed here as well.
“I am proud to say that we have put together an extraordinary night on May 5 that will leave fans saying ‘Long live boxing.’
“Four of the best fighters in the world are standing right here [at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre].
“May 5 will be a royal night of boxing. With Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions, Canelo Promotions and Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions, you really have a fight card put together by the fighters for the fight fans.
“A legend like [Mosley] is never done. They said the same thing about him when he fought Antonio Margarito. You can never count someone like Shane Mosley out.”
Hector Soto, Team Cotto
“This is a fight which will make history.
“May 5 will be big for Puerto Rico. Miguel Cotto will step into the ring as world champion and will leave the ring as the pound-for-pound king and champion.”
Pedro Diaz, Cotto’s Trainer
“Inside the ring, the fists do the talking. It’s preparation and tactics that speak in the ring.
“There is no invincible man.
“The victory will be for Puerto Rico.
“May 5 is going to be a great night for boxing. May 5, two kings of the rings will be facing each other.
“We know we are going to be fighting a great champion.”
# # #
“Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto” is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions. The 12-round WBA Super Welterweight World Championship fight will take place Saturday, May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-Viewbeginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. Canelo vs. Mosley is presented in association with Canelo Promotions and Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions.
Tickets for “Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto” are priced at $1,500, $1,250, $600, $300 and $200, not including applicable service charges, with a total ticket limit of twelve (12) per person. Ticket sales are limited to ten (10) per person at the $1,500, $1,250, $600 and $300 price levels with a ticket limit of two (2) per person at the $200 price level. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
HBO’s Emmy®-Award-winning all-access series “24/7” premieres an all-new edition when “24/7 Mayweather/Cotto” debuts Saturday, April 14 at 9:45 p.m. ET/6:45 p.m. PT. The four-part series will air for three consecutive Saturday nights before the finale airs the night before the super welterweight championship showdown in Las Vegas.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
