Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Shane Mosley were on hand in Los Angeles for the final stop of the Mayweather-Cotto press tour. As the promotion gets stronger with an HBO 24/7 debuting in April, we should get past the pleasantries seen here and to some of the past history between Mayweather and Cotto. These two had talked about fighting as early as 2005 when both were 140 pounders under Top Rank. According to what Mayweather told me in 2009, it was Bob Arum who prevented the fight from happening. Then there’s the period when both were hot and undefeated in late 2007-mid 2008, when Mayweather claimed Cotto wasn’t a draw and subsequently took a two-year sabbatical/retirement. Does Cotto believe Mayweather ducked him and has waited until he’s gotten some wear and tear on him? Questions like that are what need to be promoted over the next few months.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER
At the age of 35, I am still going strong. I am still hungry and I still want to give the fans nothing but excitement.
May 5, please come out and support me and support Miguel Cotto because we are going for a toe to toe battle.
This is a strong champion from Puerto Rico. He’s WBA champion at this particular time. My goal is to go out there and take the belt away from Miguel Cotto.
To get to this level, it’s obvious that he [Cotto] does a lot of things good. I have to bite down, go to camp and stay focused.
What’s special about this fight is you have two strong champions that have been around the sport for a long time with a lot of experience. I have a little more experience than Miguel Cotto and I know what it takes when it’s a fight of this magnitude.
I feel like I have what it takes to win this fight. I feel that my hands are faster, I’m the better counter puncher. I’ve shown that I have a great chin. My thing is to be Floyd Mayweather and keep doing what I’ve been doing.
I feel like if a guy has hit the canvas before, it’s in his mind that it can happen again.
Come May 5, Cinco de Mayo, we want to give all boxing fans an unbelievable show.
I don’t have to go in the fight weighing 154. I’m a guy that’s blessed with the ability to go up and down and beat the best fighters they have in the sport of boxing.
MIGUEL COTTO
This will be one of the biggest fights you have ever seen.
On May 5, I am going to make Puerto Rico very proud.
I won’t stop until I find a tool to beat Mayweather on May 5.
As everyone knows I’m a quiet man of few words. I will only say that I will train harder than ever to defeat Mayweather on May 5.
Things happen for a right reason and at a set moment. There is a reason why Floyd and I are fighting now.
Floyd is not just any opponent.
I consider every fight another chapter in my career.
On drug testing:
Sport is about skills, condition and preparation. You have to be clean. If this sport can be cleaner, I’m a sportsman and I support making the sport cleaner.
On being the underdog:
I pay no attention to that. I get paid to bring a good show and a good fight.
SAUL ALVAREZ
I used to watch Shane Mosley’s fights. Now I am fighting him. It is like a dream. May 5 is going to be a great night. Don’t miss it.
I think this is going to be the hardest fight I have had yet.
I want to be one of the best fighters in history, but first, I need to beat Mosley.
May 5 is a great night for Mexicans. I need to do something very great for my Mexican fans.
On fighting Mayweather or Cotto
They are two of the best. I would want to fight either one.
SHANE MOSLEY
I fought both of the main event guys. I think it is going to be a tremendous fight and I am excited and honored to be on the undercard. I think Canelo and I could probably be a main event, but I am proud to be a part of this.
My motivation to continue fighting is that I love what I do and I’m going to be in boxing forever.
I’m fighting a good guy who is young and I care about his career, but I also care about my career. I’m at 100 percent and that’s unfortunate for Canelo.
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