03.06.08 – by James Slater: Finally, the fight all of boxing fans want in Miguel Cotto-Floyd Mayweather, has been given a little attention by top promotional team Golden Boy. Acknowledging that the welterweight super fight is a bout all of boxing wants to see, Golden boy’s Richard Schaefer spoke recently to Setanta Sports about the prospective fight. But what Schaefer had to say wasn’t all the great – at least for those people who were hoping to see Cotto and Mayweather clash this year.
Schaefer said what he’d like to see after the also massively anticipated Cotto-Antonio Margarito showdown set for this coming July is over with, is a rematch between Cotto (should he win) and “Sugar” Shane Mosley, the man the Puerto Rican out-pointed last year.
“Cotto has a very tough fight ahead of him with Antonio Margarito and I hope after that he’ll give another opportunity to “Sugar” Shane Mosley,” The Golden Boy chief said. “[Last time] it was a very close fight. Many of the ring observers felt that Shane won that fight..”
Schaefer then moved on to Mayweather’s immediate schedule, pointing out that “Pretty Boy” has his upcoming rematch with his friend and business partner, Oscar De La Hoya.
“In the meantime Mayweather has his own hands full with “The Golden Boy,” Oscar De La Hoya,” Schaefer said. “It is certainly no easy fight, the first one was a split decision by one point. Since then, Floyd has answered some of his critics that said he didn’t bring up the power through the weights, with his knockout of Ricky Hatton. And Oscar answered some of his critics that said he could only fight for six rounds, and after that he gets tired, with his performance against Stevie Forbes where in the twelfth round he was as fresh as he was in the first.”
Schaefer went on to say how he feels talk of a Cotto-Mayweather fight is premature until both men take care of their upcoming fights.
“It sounds to me that [they] both have their hands full so I think it would be totally premature to discuss a Cotto-Mayweather fight. If both guys continue to perform and both guys continue to win I can see down the road there could be a Cotto-Mayweather fight.”
It’s unlikely too many fans will be all that happy with, or in agreement with, what Schaefer said. Firstly, who really feels Mosley actually beat Cotto back in November of last year? Not too many, certainly. Therefore who would like to see a rematch? Again, not too many. Schaefer also said that a Cotto-Mayweather fight COULD happen. Surely, he should have said WILL happen?
In the final analysis, the two best welterweights in the world should be meeting as soon as the Cotto-Margarito fight is done with – assuming Cotto wins, that is. Pointless and needless rematches Mayweather-De La Hoya II and Cotto-Mosley II are pleasing to no-one outside of Golden Boy promotions- a fact many fight fans have already made clear.