Floyd Names Price for Comeback vs. Cotto

July 26th, 2008

By Scoop Malinowski

“If I did want to come back…You know what? Don’t call my phone unless you’ve got $100,000,000,” Floyd Mayweather recently said in his “retirement” press release. It’s simple to understand what this means. Everyone in boxing is hoping to see Mayweather vs. Cotto (or Margarito if he wins) but Floyd is smartly avoiding this match with two clever sidestep tactics – first, by deceiving everyone by saying that he’s retired when we all know it’s just a temporary refuge, and second, he’s bidding himself out of the Cotto showdown by naming an absurdly exorbitant figure.

Once the dust settles from the massive excitement from the Cotto vs. Margarito showdown, Floyd will eventually sneak back onto the boxing scene and will handpick a safe opponent, most likely Manny Pacquiao in 2009, a Ricky Hatton rematch or a Zab Judah rematch. Or, even worse, a tune-up against an even safer opponent.

Bob Arum insists that Mayweather was frightened into retirement by the mounting public pressure expecting him to face Cotto, who Arum strongly believes “would run Mayweather out of the ring.” Arum also firmly believes Mayweather will never ever find the courage to face Cotto – “The fight will never ever happen”. Emanuel Steward, an HBO commentator privy to insider information, also has said on the record, even before Mayweather’s phony retirement, the fight will never happen. Another HBO source said he heard Mayweather say, “Why should I fight Cotto? Why should I fight a tough fight like that?”

Another option for Floyd’s imminent comeback is to make good on his word and promise to Antonio Margarito. When Margarito confronted him in Las Vegas at a press conference in 2006 about a possible fight, an uncomfortable Mayweather said the fight didn’t make sense at the time but “You’ll get your shot. You’ll get your shot.” Mayweather then shook Margarito’s hand, as if a deal had been struck, that the two would eventually fight somewhere down the road.

If Margarito defeats Cotto on July 26, we’ll see if Mayweather decides to keep that promise. Or was it just another bald-faced lie among so very many from Mayweather?

Contact Scoop: mrbiofile@aol.com