Floyd Mayweather's Next 6 Opponents After He Beats Miguel Cotto

Floyd Mayweather has proven that he’s unbeatable. Forty-two fights say so. After Mayweather dispenses of Miguel Cotto on Saturday night, which he should in a sufficient, accurate, cutting manner, he will be 43-0 with an upcoming June 1st date with the Clark County Detention Center.

It’s the same facility that once housed rocker Vince Neil, fellow diva Paris Hilton and dethroned Miss Nevada Katie Rees. Now it will add “Money May” to its hallowed ledger of famous inmates.

Mayweather’s sentenced 90-day stay could run the limit, or it could be cut short on good behavior. Mayweather’s stay, however, could cut into his exit strategy of his stated five more fights before he finally retires at 37-years old.

After Mayweather beats Cotto Saturday night, the perfunctory, mandatory “boxing” question by the gnomes will be asked: “Who’s next?”

Here’s an educated guess as to who Mayweather’s next six opponents will likely be in descending order:

6. The Victor Ortiz-Andre Berto winner

This could make some sense. The last time he met Mayweather, the fight ended in disaster for Ortiz, when he tried buddying-up to Floyd and go kissy-kissy during their September 17, 2001 fight. Ortiz beat Berto in their first fight, and who’s to say he’ll have the same success in their June 23 rematch?

No one in the world today is a viable threat to Mayweather—not even Pacquiao—but Berto’s hand speed and tenacity could add some intrigue to a Mayweather fight.

One thing is for certain: Not many want to see an Ortiz-Mayweather rematch, regardless of how inconclusive—in “Vicious Victor’s” mind—the first fight was.

The Ortiz-Berto winner is a first-fight option out of prison.

5. The Lamont Peterson-Amir Khan winner

They’re junior welters, and a little smaller in weight than Mayweather, who can go anywhere from welterweight to middleweight and still be effective. But Peterson and Khan are also tall, rangy 140-pounders who can easily carry the added weight to go welterweight or even junior middleweight.

Peterson and Khan are both tall—Peterson is 5-foot-9, Khan is 5-10, while Mayweather is 5-8. They’re both young, and have fast hands. There is also a likelihood Khan comes out a winner in the rematch, since Peterson will be without the benefit of the homecooking that helped him in their first fight.

Are either likely to cause Mayweather trouble? No, but their height and reach could cause Money May a few seconds of worry.

The winner of Peterson-Khan makes a nice option for Mayweather’s first fight out of the joint. Mayweather is a calculating boxing genius. He knows the score. He knows these two are name opponents who would have to add weight to fight him, and he also knows they both lack the experience of the big-fight glare (Khan is more equipped to deal with it than Peterson).

Mayweather chops up either of them with ease.

4. Sergio Martinez

Martinez deserves a big payday against one of the big two, Mayweather or Pacquiao. He’s one of the best fighters in the world and merits it. But what is just in the real world has nothing to do with boxing. Martinez is the undisputed middleweight world champion, but he’s also a smallish 160-pounder and a fight with Mayweather would make some sense, since Pacquiao would be too small to mix with Martinez.

Mayweather talks about legacy and likes to thrust his name among the all-time greats like Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. Well, here’s his chance to capture a title once held by Robinson.

A match with Martinez should be Mayweather’s next big fight—after Mayweather’s comeback fight out of prison.

3. Manny Pacquiao

It’s the fight everyone wants to see and the fight no one will get to see. But it has to be mentioned here simply because of the marketing value and what it means to boxing. A Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is pushing the sell-by date, because this time next year, if the fight hasn’t been made by then, who’s really going to care?

Neither Mayweather nor Pacquiao need each other. Their legacies are already solidified. Actually, the only one whose legacy will be enhanced would be Pacquiao’s. He has everything to gain and little to lose. Mayweather would be the odds-on favorite in a fight that he’ll probably easily win. If they ever fight.

2. The prison tailor named Luigi and some pyromaniac named Unger

Ever see the original Longest Yard, with the slimy, unctuous character Unger always lurking? Who’s to say Mayweather won’t attract some nut like that in the Clark County Detention Center?

There’s always some sycophant looking to curry favor in the joint, and Mayweather will certainly be a marked man.

“Floyd, why don’t you like me,” Unger will ask in a whiny voice? Floyd’s reply: “I love ya!”

Just watch turning that cell light on.

1. A delinquent tax cheat named Bubba

Someone may want to prove a point that they’re more man than Money May. Say some 5-foot-10, 300-pound, glasses-wearing pencil pusher named “Bubba” that got caught cheating on his taxes.

Mayweather most probably won’t be provoked by anyone in the Clark County Detention Center. We’re not talking Graterford State Prison here, where Bernard Hopkins stayed sleeping with one eye open at night clutching a carved prison shank underneath his pillow.

No, Mayweather is going to a prison befitting him. A quasi-country club that will no doubt further add to his studio gangsta street cred. “Hey, I did time,” Mayweather can say. The only real concerns he’ll have is bunking with Bubba, the 300-pound tax evader—in fear Bubba slips and falls on him in the shower.

Imagine the ESPN news crawl some late-June day: “Floyd Mayweather breaks two ribs in prison shower squashed by falling fat man...”

Follow Joseph Santoliquito on Twitter @JSantoliquito