Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto: 10 Bold Predictions for the Fight

Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto was a heavily anticipated match once upon a time in 2008. Mayweather retired and Cotto suffered his first loss to Antonio Margarito. The anticipation died.

Mayweather returned in 2009 and Cotto made a major comeback one weight division north of Mayweather by winning the junior middleweight (154 lbs.) world title in 2010.

Now Mayweather is set to move up from welterweight (147 lbs.) to the junior middleweight limit to face and defeat Cotto for the WBC world title he beat Oscar De La Hoya for five years prior.

The years that have passed and the distinctive Hall of Fame careers of both will play a unique role in the promotion of this fight as well as how this fight will play out.

Is Cotto ready for the defensive genius of Mayweather? Is Mayweather ready for the relentless body attack of Cotto? Here are 10 bold predictions about this long-awaited fight.

Mayweather Will Be Aggressive

Floyd Mayweather suffered one of the closest fights of his career in 2002 against Jose Luis Castillo. Many fans even believed Mayweather actually suffered his first loss, but was handed the decision.

Mayweather said he was fighting with one arm because of a broken hand. In the rematch, he was said to be fully healed from the injury and proceeded to beat Castillo more convincingly.

Castillo was bigger, more active and more aggressive. He effectively cut off the ring from Mayweather and didn't allow him to run or get away once things got tough.

Cotto is an expert in ring control and delivering blows to the body that can dent ribs and break insides. Mayweather's recent fights have shown a more in-your-face style of defense.

Mayweather has opted to stay in the face of his past two opponents, Shane Mosley and Victor Ortiz, while still maintaining a form of defense. With this style, he consistently confused and countered his foes.

In order to defeat Cotto, Mayweather will have to develop this style even further to back down Cotto and break his confidence. Cotto is known to back-pedal when he feels he can't hurt his ring foes.

Mayweather may not have the power to make Cotto back down, but if he defends well while returning a very effective offense, Cotto will have to move backwards, where Cotto will likely lose.

Cotto Will Hurt Mayweather

If a 38-year-old Shane Mosley can wobble Floyd Mayweather in the second round of their bout in 2010, why can't a 31-year-old Cotto wobble or knock down a 35-year-old Mayweather in 2012?

Cotto is more focused than ever before and has avenged one of his two losses. He's in a more comfortable weight division where Mayweather has only fought once in his career.

Mayweather will be uncomfortable and face not just a heavy puncher, but a smart puncher in Cotto. Whether Mayweather will be knocked out is impossible to predict, but he will certainly be hurt.

Mayweather vs. Merchant Part 2

Whether Mayweather wins or loses, he will still have to face HBO's Larry Merchant in a postfight inerview. Mayweather had some choice words for the journalist after his last fight with Victor Ortiz.

Merchant struck back with one of the best quotes of 2011 about how he'd kick Mayweather's ass if he was "50 years younger."

Expect Merchant to either smear a loss in Mayweather's face or Mayweather to bask in the glow of victory while Merchant begrudgingly interviews him, all the while inserting sly knocks on his performance.

Mayweather and Cotto Will out Locker Room Secrets About Each Other on 24/7

Floyd Mayweather has been accused of coming to the gym late and staying longer than his allotted time knowing Cotto is set to train after him, thereby disrupting his training schedule.

There has been a long rivalry between Mayweather and Cotto since their days as junior welterweights under the Top Rank promotional banner in 2004 and 2005.

Mayweather and Cotto haven't had the proper forum or reason to truly go at one another and HBO's 24/7 will give them every reason they need to finally air out the dirty laundry.

Who was really ducking who? Who was really the spoiled boxer? Who did what with who?

Bob Arum Will Be Heavily Dissed by Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto

Floyd Mayweather and Bob Arum have a horrible history together. Mayweather used to fight under Top Rank promotionas until Mayweather "divorced" Arum by buying his contract out.

Mayweather and Arum have traded numerous tales of each other's deceit and bad business tactics. Cotto, on the other hand, has criticized Arum for his allegiance with Margarito and Pacquiao in recent years.

Cotto faced Pacquiao with his 147-pound title on the line, yet Cotto was made to drop down to a 145-pound catchweight.

Cotto was later made to face Margarito in a rematch of their 2008 battle when Cotto was determined not to let Margarito benefit financially ever again off his name. Cotto objected, yet fought Margarito anyway.

Since the Cotto-Margarito II battle, Cotto has been a free agent. When it came time for Arum to offer a rematch with Pacquiao, the fight was offered at 147 after Cotto had fought at 154 the past two years.

Cotto immediately rejected and said he would not sacrifice his body again for Pacquiao. That will definitely lead to some disparaging comments about his former promoter.

Someone Will Be Knocked out

Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto are not known for their sturdy chins, but they are known for being accurate, smart punchers. Mayweather chooses his punches carefully. Cotto bangs well to the body.

Either Mayweather will zero in on Cotto and batter him in increasingly greater fashion as Cotto tires and fades in the later rounds, or Cotto will corner and bang Mayweather's ribcage until he drops.

Regardless of what happens, somebody's not seeing the final bell.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto PPV Sales Will Top 1.5 Million

Floyd Mayweather has finally regained some points in the PR war that is the never-ending negotiations between himself and Manny Pacquiao.

From Pacquiao's poor performance against Juan Manuel Marquez (who Mayweather outclassed) to his various excuses not to face Mayweather such as a cut in need of healing, Pacquiao's image is hurting.

Sure, Mayweather asked for more than the 50/50 split many believed they would agree on, but Mayweather didn't turn down that fight for a soft touch.

Mayweather moved up to face Miguel Cotto at junior middleweight, something Pacquiao has never done. (Pacquiao once fought at a catchweight of 150 lbs.)

Since then, Pacquiao has yet to return north of welterweight and even tried to bring junior middleweight world champion Miguel Cotto down to 147 for a rematch.

Cotto said no and Mayweather said go. That alone gives Mayweather props in the eyes of many. Cotto is four years Mayweather's junior and at a comfortable weight, all the more reason many anticipate a good fight.

Mayweather-Cotto was once the biggest possible matchup out there during the spring/summer of '08. Mayweather retired and Cotto was destroyed by Antonio Margarito.

Now that the two have returned to form with multiple victories under each man's belt, this match is sure to sell like hotcakes. Both men sizzle under the 24/7 format with instantly quotable lines.

This pay-per-view has no choice but to be a major seller, one of the biggest ever.

Joe Cortez Will Be Banned from Refereeing This Fight

Joe Cortez is a legend in the business, but his competence has come under question far too many times for him to referee such an important battle.

Mayweather vs. Cotto is a fight to settle many wagers made five and six years ago. If anything, expect the still sane and always dependable Kenny Bayless to referee this one.

Mayweather-Cotto Will Be the Best 24/7 Ever

The fight itself will be one for the ages, but HBO's 24/7 fight-hype documentary between Mayweather and Cotto will undoubtedly be the best the series has to offer.

Pacquiao is a great guy, but his persona doesn't make 24/7 ascend to the heights the way Cotto's defiance and Mayweather's boasts can do. Both fighters are excellent in the ring and on camera.

Cotto's determination to expose Margarito as a cheat every chance he could on camera made for great television. Add in the always witty and highly opinionated Mayweather, you have television gold.

Miguel Cotto Will Box Smarter Than Most Think

A lot of noise has been made about Floyd Mayweather's speed advantage and technical brilliance in the buildup, but not much is being said about Miguel Cotto's own ring smarts.

Cotto is a technician as well. Though his tools of choice may be more hammer than scalpel, Cotto can get the job done. He won't rush into the counters many believe he will.

Mayweather may be fast, but Cotto isn't a slowpoke with potatoes for brains. The man outboxed Shane Mosley, rather than slug it out. He hammered the eye of Antonio Margarito rather than go to war.

If there's one thing the Mayweather camp can do that will surely seal their fate, it's underestimate the underrated ring genius of Miguel Cotto.