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It seems that boxing fans are in for another disappointment once again as Mayweather just announced last Wednesday that he will fight Miguel Cotto on May 5 dashing hopes for a mega showdown with Pacquiao before November.
Mayweather will step up from the welterweight ranks and fight for Cotto’s WBA super welterweight crown in Las Vegas before he begins a 90-day jail sentence on June 1 after a domestic violence conviction. Fans have long sought a matchup between Mayweather and Filipino icon Pacquiao with Mayweather taking to Twitter to challenge for the Asian star to “Step Up, Punk”, but they could not work out a deal so Mayweather went to Cotto.
Mayweather had made a deal for a May 5 fight but Pacquiao had wanted a June date to maximize revenue for what figures to be the biggest-paying blockbuster in boxing history, if it happens, which now cannot happen until late this year but Pacquiao is still deciding who he will face in a fight to be staged in May or June.
Mayweather had shot the first volley of trash talking saying it will be a challenge for him to compete with Cotto at his weight, but that it is the type of test he thrives on, giving him the motivation to train even harder. He added that he has no doubt in mind that his title belt collection will increase once again and Cotto’s reign as champion will come to an end on May 5. Mayweather, who has won titles in seven weight classes, won his only other fight at super welterweight in 2007 with a split decision over Oscar de la Hoya for the World Boxing Council title. As for Cotto, he defended his crown last December by stopping Antonio Margarito in the 10th round.
Cotto and Mayweather have agreed to Olympic-style drug testing for the fight. Mayweather’s insistence on such methods helped scuttle prior talks for a Pacquiao fight. This may prove to be a very exciting match knowing that Cotto as a fighter is no pushover compared to the previous opponents Mayweather has faced.
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