Mayweather vs Cotto: Why You Should Root for Cotto to Beat Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. brings his incredible 42-0 (26 TKO) mark to Vegas and the MGM Grand on Cinco de Mayo against Miguel Cotto.

Mayweather is the more recognizable of the two fighters due to being involved in HBO's 24/7 show, multiple run-ins with the law, a higher boxing pedigree and multiple appearances in the media outside of boxing (WWE, Dancing with the Stars, etc.).

For the sake of the sport of boxing though, there a couple of reasons it would not be a terrible development if Mayweather was upset by Miguel Cotto.

The Sport of Boxing Needs a Shot of Adrenaline

For years now boxing has been sliding into relative obscurity.  The rise of the UFC and MMA in general has a little something to do with it, but the boxers themselves are the primary reason for the slide in popularity.

Two of the best heavyweight boxers are brothers (the Klitschko brothers) and have yet to fight each other.  I'm not holding my breath on that one.  Pacquiao and Mayweather, easily the two biggest names in the sport, haven't met in the ring and, after much finger-pointing and aversion, it is doubtful we will ever get to witness that fight.

So if Mayweather were to actually lose to Cotto it would benefit the sport of boxing.  It would be an upset and get a lot of play in the sports media.  It would probably lead the Monday episode of PTI, be one of the first stories on SportsCenter, and would be written about repeatedly on the blogsophere.  These are all good things for boxing, which, until Mayweather and Pacquiao fight (if ever), is as good publicity as the sport is going to get.

Boxing Needs a New Face to the Sport

Unlike boxing in its heyday, the sport currently does not have a fighter that casual fans can rally behind.  The days of people getting wrapped up in the Buster Douglas story are long gone.  Again that is the fault of the boxers.

Mayweather may be a great fighter but he is not a great person and he has has a checkered history of domestic violence issues and arrogance that can make him difficult to root for.

The Klitschko brothers aren't the, uh, most marketable pair of brothers and they fight in a diluted heavyweight field.

Manny Pacquiao seems more interested in politics than boxing at this point and clearly believes his future is in the political realm.

If Cotto pulled off the upset then he would be at the top of the sport.  Whether or not the Puerto Rican is suited for the role has not been determined.  I'd like to find out though.