Mayweather vs. Cotto: Why Money Will Decimate Junito in May 5 Clash

Although most boxing fans were hoping for a battle between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on May 5, they will receive a nice consolation prize instead. Since Mayweather couldn't goad Pacquiao into a fight on short notice, he will instead face Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Cotto may not have the same drawing power as Pacquiao, but he has an impressive track record in his own right despite being just 31 years of age. This fight is big for both sides as Mayweather needs it to keep a possibly future bout with Pacquiao alive, while handing Mayweather his first loss could launch Cotto's career to new heights.

Even though Cotto has the considerable advantage in terms of having less wear and tear, Mayweather is a good bet to dispose of him. Here are three reasons why.

1. Nothing to Lose

It may seem like Mayweather has a lot to lose in this fight as he has an undefeated record to uphold and a possible future bout with Pacquiao to keep alive, but ultimately he should enter the fight loose.

Mayweather's 90-day jail sentence for domestic violence was postponed so he could partake in this fight, but on June 1 he'll have to report, so this fight is really his last hurrah before he has to spend the next three months of his life behind bars.

While a jail sentence looming may seem like it would weigh heavily on Mayweather, I believe it will have the opposite effect. Knowing what is awaiting him following the fight, Mayweather has likely been even more focused than usual in the lead up to his bout with Cotto.

Many are likely to write him off either way when the fight comes to a conclusion due to his impending jail sentence, so Mayweather can play the underdog card, even if he isn't truly an underdog.

2. Too Much Speed

One of Cotto's biggest assets is his speed, but there may be no faster fighter in all of boxing than Mayweather. His fast hands allow him to put combinations together in the blink of an eye, while his lightning-quick reflexes make him almost impossible to hit at times.

Cotto has only faced one fighter with that type of speed in his career and that was Pacquiao. Although Cotto lasted all 12 rounds before getting knocked out, it was quite evident that Pacquiao's speed and quickness made him extremely uncomfortable.

Since that fight, Cotto has faced more deliberate boxers such as Ricardo Mayorga and Antonio Margarito. Because of that, he likely isn't well prepared when it comes to fighting somebody like Mayweather. At the same time, though, it's incredibly difficult to prepare for Mayweather no matter who you fight or spar with, so there isn't much Cotto can do.  

Cotto is fast in his own right, but Mayweather is at a different level and that will be apparent on May 5.

3. Pressure Firmly on Cotto

On the surface it would seem as though Mayweather has a lot of pressure on him heading into this fight as the prevailing thought is that he has to win in order for a fight with Pacquiao to remain a possibility. While that is true to some degree, this fight is infinitely bigger for Cotto.

If Mayweather loses then perhaps it does kill any chance of a Pacquiao fight, but Mayweather will still have accomplished an incredible amount in his career and can still say that he's one of the best ever.

While Cotto has that type of potential, he's still searching for a signature win. He has some nice wins against the likes of Shane Mosley and Joshua Clottey, but he has yet to beat an elite fighter. He had a chance to do so a few fights ago against Pacquiao, but Pac-Man proved to be too much.

If Cotto loses to Mayweather then he will have lost to the top two guys in the sport during his prime, and that will prevent him from ever being mentioned as one of the greats.