Mayweather vs. Cotto: Money Must Retire After Bout If Pacquiao Will Not Face Him

Floyd Mayweather won a unanimous decision over Miguel Cotto in one of the toughest fights of his life on Saturday night. Now he should look to go out on top if Manny Pacquiao will not step into the ring against him.

Money Mayweather is 43-0 during his illustrious career and quickly approaching the twilight of his prime. At 35 years old, the brawler has nothing left to accomplish in the sport unless a battle against Manny can be arranged while both are still relatively young and healthy.

The undefeated boxer even acknowledged as much after Saturday night’s bout.

According to Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times, Mayweather said:

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"If it was my last fight, I gave them a bang. There’s really no one for me to fight anymore. I don’t have to fight if I don’t want to. They say to save the best for last, and if this was my last fight, it was a hell of a fight."

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Dan Rafael of ESPN.com found that the star acknowledged Cotto as one of the greats, telling his opponent:

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You're a helluva champion. You're the toughest guy I ever fought.

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There is no point for Money to hang around the sport and eventually lose to an upcoming fighter when he is too old to truly compete. He’s made enough earnings in his career to live off of for the rest of his life and beaten anyone who has dared to challenge him.

The only way that Mayweather can improve his legacy and be remembered as one of the elite fighters in history is to take on and beat Pacquiao.

Obviously, there are plenty of hoops to jump through, but Mayweather maintains that “it's not my fault” that the two sides cannot get something organized.

If they cannot reach an agreement, Money should retire undefeated after a great bout with Cotto. Fighting anyone else but Pacquiao could only hurt him.