Mayweather vs. Cotto: Why a Loss for Miguel Cotto Will Ruin His Career

Miguel Cotto's career is at its final crossroads. If he wins, he will be an immortal name in boxing lore. He will also set himself up for some massive future paydays. 

If he loses, he will be a footnote in boxing history, and will quickly slide to the pile of washed-up boxers desperately trying piece together decent performances and paydays. 

Cotto has been a fantastic boxer, and he has had a great career. He is 37-2 and a four-time world champion in three different weight divisions. 

It is an impressive resume, but one that also has been on the outside looking in on the kind of elite status that his upcoming opponent in a May 5th bout, Floyd Mayweather, enjoys.

Around 2007, Cotto was considered by my many to be the top pound-for-pound fighter not named Mayweather or Pacquiao. 

He ran his record to 32-0. Then he had his controversial loss to Antonio Margarito. That was an absolutely brutal loss, and Cotto has not really been the same fighter since. 

He won his two fights following that, but was dominated by Manny Pacquiao in his next. At that point, Cotto was firmly stuck in that pile of fighters with decent drawing potential, but he was not a real threat. 

Since that Pacquiao fight, Cotto is 3-0—including a decisive win over Margarito. And he is essentially back to the same spot he was in before his loss to Pacquiao. 

He can prove he is a truly elite fighter, or that he is just another decent draw. The difference this time is that he will not have another shot to grab that elite status if he loses. 

Cotto is 31, and he has taken a ton of punches in his career. His window for being a peak performer is quickly closing. That is, if it hasn't closed already. 

It is do-or-die time for Cotto.