Boxing ALERT: Mayweather Reveals May 5th Opponent
Mayweather's opponent was revealed: Miguel Cotto.
By DAMIAN CALHOUN THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
updated 2/1/2012 6:17:57 PM ET 2012-02-01T23:17:57
Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced to the world months ago that he was returning to the ring May 5.
The possible opponents ranged from everybody from Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, to Erik Morales, Robert Guerrero and of course Manny Pacquaio, but the negotiations for the "megafight" failed to materialize ... again.
Speaking at his licensing hearing before the Nevada State Athletic Commisssion, Mayweather (42-0, 25 KOs) confirmed that his next fight would be on Cinco de Mayo and that Cotto (37-2, 30 KOs), the current WBA super welterweight champion would be in the opposite corner.
The fight will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and will be for Cotto's WBA super welterweight title.
The commission granted Mayweather a license to fight May 5, but his must report to serve a 90-day jail sentennce, June 1. The commission voted 5-0.
Mayweather posted on his twitter account: "I'm fighting Miguel Cotto on May 5th because Miss Pac Man is ducking me."
Mayweather has fought just once at the 154-pound limit and that was against Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.
"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," Mayweather said. "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."
Mayweather is coming off of a fourth-round knockout of Victor Ortiz in September. Cotto defeated Antonio Margarito in December. Cotto suffered a 12-round TKO loss to Pacquaio in 2009.
"I am here to fight the biggest names in boxing," Cotto said. "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."
Cotto's fight with Margarito was the last on his contract with Top Rank, making him a free agent.
"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," Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer said. "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 other half of the "superfight" Manny Pacquaio appears likely headed to a fight with Timothy Bradley in June.
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