Mayweather vs Cotto: What Money Must Do to Ensure Easy Victory

Don't let the long odds against Miguel Cotto fool you. He is a dangerous fighter, and he can certainly pull off the upset if he can get Floyd Mayweather out of his comfort zone. 

That said, if Floyd executes his game plan, this fight will never be in doubt. He is athletically superior and a more gifted fighter. 

Here is what he needs to do to make sure that shows in this May 5th bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

Stay Guarded Against Left Hook

A key to success in any fight is realizing your opponent's best path to victory and eliminate it. In this case, it will be Cotto's left hook. 

Cotto has a solid left hook. He will look to land these blows as a counter to Money's potent right jab. This will circle him out of harm's way and allow him to stun Floyd with the left, which will set him up for a potential knockout with the right. 

Realizing this will allow Floyd to make avoiding the left a focus of his amazing defense. As long as he is aware that left hooks are likely to follow his jab, he will be prepared to avoid them. 

Force His Style

Cotto is a straight-ahead brawler. He wants this fight to turn into a slugfest. That is not Money's style. 

He cannot allow this fight to take place on the inside. He must keep Cotto at a distance. There he can attack Cotto with planned strikes and surgical precision.

Eventually, Cotto will get desperate and frustrated. He will take bigger chances, and this is when Money can use his amazing counterpunching to do some damage.  

Don't Get Rattled 

Before Victor Ortiz became set on hugging away his headbutts with Mayweather, there were moments when he had Money rattled, and the fight got interesting. 

A big part of the reason he was rattled was because Ortiz kept headbutting him. This is not Cotto's style, but you better believe he noticed how Ortiz was able to get Money to look vulnerable. 

Cotto will identify something that he can do to get on Money's nerves in the hopes of drawing him out of his game plan. 

Floyd cannot let this happen. He needs to stick to his game plan and fight his fight, and if he does that he will not lose.