Fight Night: Mayweather vs. Cotto
The two “Ring Kings” will battle May 5.
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Ready to Rumble - On Feb. 28, inside the hallowed halls of the Apollo Theater in Harlem, two of boxing’s biggest stars promised fans would see the fight of their lives. For the first time, Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. and reigning WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Miguel Cotto will go head-to-head on May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Click through for the story — and major hype — behind what may be this year’s biggest fight night. —Britt Middleton
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Packed House - In a standing-room-only press conference, hundreds of fans gathered at the historic Apollo to watch Mayweather and Cotto announce their title fight at Harlem’s famous theater. The fight will be broadcast live on HBO. Also on the bill that night is a WBC Super Welterweight title fight between champion Canelo Alvarez and bona fide superstar Sugar Shane Mosley. (Photo: AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Grand Entrance - “I’ve never ducked anyone or any challenge in front of me,” Miguel Cotto said. “I have accepted everything to give the fans what they like — great and exciting fights.” The 31-year-old fighter, who hails 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. (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
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Sizing Up the Competition - Mayweather, 35, is a seven-time world champion in five weight divisions with a record of 42-0 and 26 knockouts, and is looking to unseat Cotto (37-2, 30 KO’s) for his WBA Super Welterweight World title. Mayweather is also currently the WBC Welterweight Champion. Both fighters weigh in at 154 pounds and stand 5’8” tall. (Photo: AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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Return to the Ring - The May 5 bout marks Mayweather’s return to fighting after the boxer was sentenced to 90 days in jail last December after pleading guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend while his two children watched in September 2010. A judge later postponed the start of the fighter’s sentence until June 1 so he could train for the much-anticipated matchup. Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, the undefeated Mayweather’s lightning-quick speed and impenetrable defensive skills have earned him the ranking as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world by many professional boxing outlets. (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
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Ringside Demeanor - There may be a lot on the line for both fighters, but apparently, there’s no bad blood — yet. At their press conference, Mayweather had nothing but love for his opponent: “The Puerto Rican boxing background is truly amazing. A lot of great champions come from Puerto Rico. You guys got another great champion in Miguel Cotto.” (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
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Old Beef, Revisited - Mayweather did, however, take a dig at longtime rival Manny Pacquiao, who Mayweather has accused of illegal drug use. (Pacquiao has never failed a drug test and is suing Mayweather for defamation.) “[Pacquiao] is an amazing fighter, but all I got to say is if you don’t have nothing to hide, then take the test,” Mayweather said in reference to Pacquiao’s past refusals to submit to Olympic-style drug testing. Fans have long-awaited a fight between the two boxers, but they have yet to set a date. (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
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Famous Friends - Rapper 50 Cent was on hand to support his BFF Mayweather. Last year, the two announced plans to start a film production company together and recently tweeted photos together flaunting their stacks of dough (perhaps solidifying Mayweather’s nickname, “Money”) and heckling Manny Pacquiao. (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
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Choice Words - Perhaps referencing his current legal woes, Mayweather told a raucous crowd at the Apollo that strength and determination keep him pressing forward: “You go through ups, you go through downs. But only the strong can survive.” Some of those notable downs started in the boxer’s early life, as his mother struggled with substance abuse and his father and legendary trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. served five years in a federal prison for a drug trafficking conviction in 1993. (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
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One for the History Books - Cotto has become a national hero in his native Puerto Rico. “I guarantee you, this is going to be one of the greatest fights you have ever seen, and I am going to make every Puerto Rican proud,” he said Tuesday. Cotto is known for his strong defensive skills and short, accurate punches to the body. Cotto recently defended his WBA Super Welterweight World title against rival Antonio Magarito after a spectacular 10-round bout in December 2011. (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
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A Good, Clean Fight - Both Mayweather and Cotto have agreed to Olympic-style drug testing, a precedent set by Mayweather. It involves random blood and urine testing before and after the fight, compared to standard Nevada State Athletic Commission testing, which tests only urine for illegal substances just before and immediately after the fight. (Photo: Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
