With the May 5, Ring Kings pay-per-view fast-approaching, the event promises to answer some important questions about many of the featured fighters.
Here's a look at five points of interest for this Saturday's card:
The 35-year-old Mayweather
It's no secret that the Floyd Mayweather of today is nowhere near as quick and elusive as the 2005 version that dominated the sport. Mayweather claims that he has slowed down in deference to fans who want action. Others would argue that a natural slide in athleticism is more responsible for the less mobile Mayweather. Against Cotto, Mayweather will be faced with a fighter known for relentless pursuit and an ability to hunt down elusive foes. If Floyd has slowed down at all, it will show against the offense-minded Puerto Rican.
Cotto and the Body Attack
It would be safe to say that Mayweather has never faced a fighter who could dig so effectively to the body. Cotto, if he's well-prepared, will be digging rights and lefts to the body while Mayweather employs his trademark shoulder roll. By the middle to late rounds, fans should see the result of a dedicated body attack from Cotto and Mayweather may be forced into a very risky firefight.
Professor Mayweather's Boxing Clinic
Floyd Mayweather is more than an athletically gifted boxing stylist. The five-division champ is a master of in-ring misdirection, trickery, and sleight-of-hand. Using odd angles and off-beat timing, Mayweather draws his opponents off balance and then potshots them into oblivion. A Miguel Cotto who comes in with all violence and no science will be picked apart by the elusive boxer. If the Boricua bomber is to have a chance, he needs to play it cool and not bite on Mayweather's efforts to throw him off-rhythm. If we see Cotto not falling for Mayweather's trickery, the fight will have to be fought on even terms and that makes a betting mismatch into a true 50-50 fight.
"Canelo's" Chin
We've seen Saul Alvarez wobbled by bloated lightweight, Jose Cotto. So, some doubt about the 21-year-old's chin is reasonable. Shane Mosley may be 40-years-old and without a win since 2009, but he still carries legitimate one-punch power in both hands. If Mosley could hit and hurt Floyd Mayweather, he could definitely rattle "El Canelo."
Jessie Vargas' Maturity
21-year-old prospect, Jessie Vargas, was originally scheduled to face the aggressive Alfonso Gomez, but an injury to Gomez made way for late replacement, 35-year-old Steve Forbes. The former world titlist is at the tail-end of a long career and has definitely seen better days, but he can show Vargas some things that the young fighter has never encountered before. It will take some skill and nuance, rather than raw power, to put the veteran away.
Paul Magno was a licensed official in the state of Michoacan, Mexico and a close follower of the sport for more than thirty years. He is also a contributor to Fox Sports. In the past, Paul has done work for Inside Fights, The Queensberry Rules and Eastside Boxing.
Source:
The Boxing Tribune, Boxing News and Analysis
