"Floyd is already playing psychological games with him by asking for smaller gloves. Floyd feels he will beat Cotto with any size gloves. Floyd isn't a puncher; he's extremely accurate. Cotto is the bigger man and should want the smaller gloves, so if he doesn't choose them, he's showing that he doesn't believe he's the bigger puncher with Floyd. The psychological warfare begins the second the fight is made. That's only the first thing. More will follow," stated world-class trainer Jeff Mayweather, who shared his thoughts on Cotto's chances against his nephew, Floyd Mayweather. Check out what else he had to say about the fight, Pacquiao vs. Bradley, and much more!
SS: After a very impessive win for Celestino in his last bout in Japan, are there irons in the fire at the moment for his next bout?
JM: Well, not anything just yet; potentially a fight with the winner of Jhonny Gonzales vs. Elio Rojas in a unification. The WBC said they would love for him to fight for their belt, but also there has been talk of fighting the winner of Lopez-Salido, so either way, looks like a unification bout is in the works.
SS: Obviously now that the press tour is over, it is down to the serious business. We have seen Floyd dispose of all styles and plans relatively easily up to now. Do you feel that Cotto possesses anything that could really trouble Floyd, and what are you expecting Cotto's game plan to be?
JM: Well, Cotto onlly has one advantage and that is he's physically bigger than Floyd. That's where the advantages stop. Floyd is faster, better defensive, better counter puncher, smarter; I see Floyd either stopping Cotto late or a lopsided decision. At best, Cotto has a puncher's chance.
SS: Much has been made in certain areas of the press that Cotto is a shot fighter, often pointing to the Manny Pacquiao defeat in a bout Cotto claimed he was drained. Do you feel the weight had anything to do with that fight, and do you feel that Cotto is a more well-rounded fighter under Pedro Diaz than he was back then?
JM: I don't think Cotto is shot. I think he's just never been better than Floyd, and Cotto, even before the losses, wouldn't beat Floyd. I think Cotto is just Cotto. Is he any better? No, I don't think so; maybe his confidence is back after avenging the Margarito loss. He's got good boxing skills and he's a good counter puncher; only problem in this fight is that he will be facing the best counter puncher in the game.
SS: Floyd was questioned about passing the torch in an interview at his press conference. What are your thoughts on the best equipped guys to take over from Floyd when he retires and be the main pay-per-view attraction?
JM: Pay-per-view would be maybe Adrien Broner, Brandon Rios, and maybe Andre Ward; Julio Chavez Jr. because of the work his father did before him.
SS: We have seen Floyd request 8-ounce gloves for this fight. He was not happy with the gloves he had to wear against De La Hoya. Do you see this request being granted? Personally, I think Cotto might think he can try and gain a mental edge by refusing to accept the proposal for the smaller gloves. What are your thoughts?
JM: Floyd is already playing psychological games with him by asking for smaller gloves. Floyd feels he will beat Cotto with any size gloves. Floyd isn't a puncher; he's extremely accurate. Cotto is the bigger man and should want the smaller gloves, so if he doesn't choose them, he's showing that he doesn't believe he's the bigger puncher with Floyd. The psychological warfare begins the second the fight is made. That's only the first thing. More will follow.
SS: Manny Pacquiao is stepping into the ring with Timothy Bradley. What are your thoughts of Bradley's chances in that fight, and do you feel he is a worthy opponent or just a money-making scheme from Top Rank?
JM: I think it's a solid fight and Bradley is a good, solid fighter, but his lack of punching power and lack of fanfare, meaning he don't do nothing for pay-per-view buys, will make his chances of winning small. He will have to thoroughly beat Manny to get a decision. As long as the fight with Floyd is still on the table, beating Manny will be a very hard thing to do.
SS: We recently saw Roger's fighter, Lanell Bellows, pro debut victory over Armando Gonzalez. What do you make of his potential?
JM: Lanell is a bomber, good puncher, hard worker, who should have turned pro at least a year or two ago, but he's a good fighter that will have problems with a pure boxer. But anyone willing to slug it out with him will be in for a tough night. Very nice guy, I wish him nothing but the best.
SS: We got the likes of Andre Ward and Adrien Broner, who have really shot to stardom over the last 6 months, and we got Gamboa and Rios set to square off, and Britain's Kell Brook emerging as a potential star. Who do you see big things for in the next 12 months in particular?
JM: Broner because he has a love-hate relationship with the fans. Rios because he's a smaller version of Arreola, thug appeal and free spirit, and sixty thrills a minute in the ring. Ward definitely because he's our new Ray Leonard, great image and can fight, well-spoken not brash, but has a aura of confidence about him, plus he's a proven winner.
SS: Amir Khan has finally got his rematch with Lamont Peterson. We have seen Floyd Sr. come out and say that the work Freddie is doing with him is limited. Do you feel that Peterson has Khan's number or will Khan, who has been rumored as a future Floyd Mayweather opponent, be able to prove to the world he has got more than just a 1-plan routine and take his titles back?
JM: Well, I think that Amir Khan is a good fighter, but certainly not a special fighter, and I feel that he still fights like an amateur. I think Peterson will beat him again depending on where the fight takes place, and at the end of the day, who doesn't want to fight Floyd? He's the Money.
SS: I've received a lot of emails regarding the WBC and the bending of the rules for certain fighters. For instance, we have seen them order a fight between Chavez Jr. and Martinez, only to overlook it when Chavez Jr. went for another option and is seeming to do so again. And then in Texas, the commission did not carry out the mandatory drug test with Chavez Jr. following his recent victory, citing the reason as "we forgot". Do you feel there needs to be a revamp of the system in boxing or maybe just finer attention to detail with stricter rules?
JM: Well, in boxing, there is always room for improvement, and I think that any guy that gets caught using any PED's should be tested mandatory, but the best way to do it is to test any fighter that fights for a World Title because then that makes the organization accountable for who their champion may be. That way, it's fair for everyone.
SS: What does the immediate future hold for Jeff Mayweather in regards to upcoming fights and possible fighters you are working with, with a lot of interest in your services from fighters in MMA and Boxing?
JM: I have Dewey 'Black Kobra' Cooper making his return back to boxing with me as his trainer once again March 31st in North Dakota, May 4th or 5th, Deandre Latimore either on Shobox again or pay-per-view on Floyd vs. Cotto undercard, and May 7th, undefeated welterweight Chase Corbin, 6-0 with 5 KOs. Yeah, I'm slowing joining forces with MMA. I'm working with King Mo, worked with Vito Belfort for a minute, spoke to Rashaud Evans as well, but right now, only have Mo and he's my main man when it comes to MMA. Lots of the bigger names in the sport have been mentioned, but nothing has come of it.