Floyd Mayweather: Miguel Cotto needs to be at his best to beat me

HBO has run a series of blog posts from Floyd Mayweather in advance of his upcoming fight with Miguel Cotto. In this post, which HBO has shared with The Times, Mayweather responds to the question: What is Cotto’s most dangerous attribute as a fighter and does he have a fighting chance against you on May 5?

As I’ve said before, in order to be the best you have to beat the best and that is what Miguel Cotto has to do on May 5. He has to beat me.

Cotto is always dangerous in the ring. He is relentless and has already proven his heart and will to win. He is definitely one of the top champions in boxing today. Miguel Cotto without a doubt is a great match-up for me. Any boxing fan knows that there is a long line of champions that hail from Puerto Rico and Cotto definitely ranks up there with the greats. That’s why I know the Puerto Rican fans will be watching on May 5, but they are going to be disappointed.

I never write-off any opponent until I meet them in the ring. I am aware that I will be moving up in weight for the first time since 2007, which not only poses as a challenge for me, but it does give Cotto a slight advantage because he will remain at his comfort weight of 154. While many may see this as Cotto’s chance and opportunity to end my undefeated record, I think that it’s also important to remember that I chose to move up in weight and give Cotto that advantage because I am confident that I can beat him at any weight.

I know Cotto will be a very hard fight. He is at a place in his career where he is confident and experienced and I know that because he is fighting me, this is the biggest fight he has ever had. Those factors always make a fighter dangerous and might be the most important part of what he is bringing to the ring that night. Cotto is an aggressive power-punching fighter in the ring, but I know that I have the skills to beat him. I am faster and his strength could be the thing to get in his way when he starts swinging and I start ducking. One thing that the success of my career has thrived on is the fact that I’m willing to challenge myself, understand what my opponent brings to the ring and take full advantage of it. I am too smart, experienced and determined to let anyone beat me.

I’m well aware of Cotto’s potential and the advantages that he possesses in the ring on any given night, but come May 5, those advantages aren’t going to do him any good. Fight fans get ready because I’m about to dethrone the current king of the 154-pound weight class.

The “24/7 MAYWEATHER/COTTO” finale debuts May 4 at 8 p.m. on HBO. “Ring Kings: Mayweather vs. Cotto,” and Canelo Alvarez vs. Sugar Shane Mosley will take place May 5 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

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Floyd Mayweather: Miguel Cotto needs to be at his best to beat me