Mayweather vs Cotto Highlights: What We Learned from Miguel Cotto's Strategy

We already knew that Floyd Mayweather was one of, if not the finest pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He proved that once again by beating Miguel Cotto on Saturday night.

But what did we learn from that fight? What insights, if any, did Cotto provide for future opponents of Money May?

Let's find out.

Back Mayweather into a corner—literally.

The best strategy for controlling a fight against Mayweather remains backing him into the corner or against the ropes and unleashing strong but controlled flurries.

It takes a great amount of stamina—the strategy is moot if a boxer can't consistently maintain a heavy pace—but it's the best way to stay in Mayweather's face and pressure him out of a pure boxing exhibition, where Mayweather is basically unbeatable.

Shane Mosley used it to hurt Mayweather in the second round when they fought two years ago, and Cotto used it with some success as well. But neither did it well enough to win the fight, and that brings us to point No. 2.

Matching Mayweather's quickness is vital.

Money May has an imposing defense, and a large part of that is his speed. He dips, he ducks, and he probably could have slid away from the ropes far more than he did against Cotto, choosing to trade punches instead.

And because his hands are also quick as lightning, he was able to do just that for most of the fight. It's funny that in a fight many folks said was his biggest test in quite some time, he still came out a 117-111, 117-11 and 118-110 winner with the judges.

To beat Mayweather, you have to match his speed and quickness, or at least come close enough to mitigate them. You can pressure like Cotto all you want—if you aren't quick enough to keep Mayweather reeled in and unable to escape or fight through the pressure, the strategy means little.

Adjust, adjust, adjust.

Nobody in boxing can adjust on the fly and alter his strategy faster or more effectively than Mayweather does. When it looked like Cotto might steal the bout after Round 8, Mayweather promptly changed up his game and controlled the rest of the match.

Sticking with only one strategy against Mayweather might be safe, but it won't beat him. Nope, it will take a fighter that can counter Mayweather's strategical adjustments with his own to beat him.

So to refresh: You've got to contain him on the ropes and pound away every chance you get, you have to have the power and quickness for that strategy to be effective in the first place and you have to be able to adjust because Mayweather most certainly will.

There's one fighter I can think of that could employ that strategy. I think you can guess who that is.

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