Mayweather vs. Cotto: What Junito Must Do to Pull off Improbable Victory

Miguel Cotto's chances to defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr. are slim—but in boxing, there is always a chance.

When the two superstars clash on May 5th, Cotto will be the slower fighter. Mayweather also has the edge in instincts, defense and accuracy. But, there is always a chance.

Mayweather has more foot speed, and recently, he has shown surprising strength during the clinch and when engaged in in-fighting. But still, there is always a chance.

Both fighters will carry outstanding professional records into the ring: Mayweather is undefeated at 42-0 with 26 KOs, while Cotto is 37-2 with 30 KOs.

Cotto must show more lateral movement than he has in the past. Generally, Cotto is either moving ahead or backwards; Floyd is an excellent judge of space and tremendously accurate.

If Cotto allows Mayweather to measure him as he approaches and retreats, he will tag him repeatedly with his patented straight right-hand lead.

Cotto must also stay low. He is a tad shorter than Floyd at 5'7", and he must use this to his advantage.

If he gets beneath Mayweather's punches to get inside his chest he will have a better chance at making the fight ugly—which is what he needs.

The crisper the fight, the more clean the exchanges are, the more Mayweather will have the space to use all of his advantages.

Staying low could force Mayweather to pull his punches back because of a lack of space to throw and land. 

Lastly, Cotto must come out looking for the big shot early. The longer the fight goes, the more Mayweather will adjust, and he has traditionally been a better conditioned fighter than Cotto.

Mayweather is the best in the sport at making adjustments mid-fight. Cotto can not afford him that luxury.

If Cotto has a chance to defeat Floyd, it'll have to come early.

All of these things are not impossible, but they are highly unlikely. There are simply too many factors that need to go in Cotto's favor for me to pick him. 

I stick by my prediction of Mayweather by 10th round TKO, but if Cotto pulls the upset, he'll have to accomplish at least two of these things.

It's the truth, drink it straight.

Follow @BrianMazique.