Mayweather vs. Cotto: Why Fight Will Live Up to Lofty Expectations

Miguel Cotto may be outmatched against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in their upcoming bout on Saturday at the MGM Grand, but he has one thing going for him: a warrior's mentality.

Even if Cotto doesn't possess the same speed and power that Mayweather does, he fights until the end, and that's why Saturday's bout will live up to its high expectations.

We forget that Cotto battled Manny Pacquiao for nearly 12 rounds in November 2009 and that he scored TKOs in the later rounds of his next three fights after that.

He's never backed down from anyone, which is why Mayweather vs. Cotto will be worth the price of admission.

Cotto is obviously not on Mayweather's level. Mayweather is, in my opinion, the best boxer in the world right now. But, that doesn't mean Cotto can't put up a good fight, like he always has.

He knows how to take a punch, he's been in countless back-and-forth battles, and let's not forget, he does have a pretty good record, at 37-2. He's not just some amateur out there.

I could see this bout going the full 12 rounds. Even if Mayweather predictably wins, it should still be a good fight.

Matching a scrapper like Cotto up against a premier boxer like Mayweather figures to be an interesting fight. I don't think Cotto's going to make it easy on Mayweather at all.

You also have to take into account that Cotto has become a better boxer throughout the years. That will prove critical against Mayweather, whose counter-punching style of boxing has confused world-class opponents.

I think Cotto will approach this fight with a good game plan and work to keep Mayweather on his toes. It's only natural for a warrior like Cotto to do everything in his power to make things interesting.

Given Mayweather's lofty status, there are some who believe he will overwhelm Cotto on Saturday.

That's easier said than done against a warrior. 

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