FNF: Miguel Cotto versus Zab Judah

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You can call this edition of Friday Night Fights the "if you had this opening the Barclays Center back in 2007, you woulda had people hanging from the rafters" edition. We figured since the brand new Barclays Center, in the heart of Brooklyn, is hosting the first professional boxing event in Brooklyn since 1931  this weekend why not feature two cats that share a bit of popularity in New York City as well as, undoubtedly, Brooklyn. Zab Judah is your definitive Brooklyn cat. Well at this point he was. The skill, power and speed he possessed were near enigmatic. But he was never able to put it all together, and keep it all together, to become an elite fighter. By all rights he could have been near the top of the sport, but he consistently let himself down. Whether not being able to make the step to the big stage, against Kostya Tszyu or Floyd Mayweather Jr, or his reaction to not being able to do it: going after the referee after a KO loss to Tsyzu or repeatedly low blowing Mayweather when he realized he was going to lose the fight Judah just never possessed the mental faculties to be one of the best. Even here, back in 2007, Jim Lampley discusses the fight being a chance for redemption for Judah. He's on that road still. Miguel Cotto on the other hand, has proven he is one of the best in the game. Not necessarily a P4P favorite, but he's a fan favorite. And that's more important when it comes to us trying to present interesting fights. On this night Cotto was still a star on the rise, a dude with everything in front of him. Little could he know he would run into the plastered fists of Antonio Margarito or the superhuman power of Manny Pacquiao. But he made it through both losses, avenging one to Margarito, and went on to nearly beat a seemingly unbeatable Mayweather. That's why he's a legend to Puerto Ricans both at home and in NYC. Cause they, like all good boxing fans, love a fighter. And these two came to fight.

Floyd Mayweather's Proving Ground

It’s hard to say if more fans watch Floyd Mayweather Jr. because they enjoy watching one of the greatest defensive fighters of all time, or because of a primal bloodlust to see one of the most abrasive personalities in the sports history lose. Wait, no it isn’t. People tune into Mayweather fights for the off chance he gets beaten or, better yet, knocked out. Floyd realizes this, it’s what has made him a millionaire. But this past Saturday, fans came closest to seeing “Money” lose as they have in over a decade and it just may have had the opposite effect of gaining him respect.

It’s no hidden secret the majority of boxing fans have always respected the warriors willing to go out and lay it all on the line to earn a victory. The sports working class fan base doesn’t make it very hard to understand why these types of boxers are championed. When you’re a blue collar guy it’s hard to support anyone who doesn’t give it their all. It’s even harder to support someone who has far more money than you could ever imagine and he rubs your face in it. What’s often forgotten and swept under the rug when it comes to those who have a hatred for Mayweather is the amount of hard work that goes into being as good as he is. One would be hard pressed to come across a fighter who puts in more work in the gym. But too often in the criticism of fighters, fans and journalists lose the perspective on just how much work goes into being one of the best.

No one knows more about the hard work and dedication necessary than those that make up Floyd Mayweather’s entourage. No one needs to preach to them or remind them how hard he works. But the general public got a bit of understanding about it on Saturday night, because Mayweather needed every bit he put into training to come to the forefront so he could survive against Miguel Cotto. In typical Mayweather fashion he’s tried to play it off as he was simply making the fight interesting for fans. Deep down you have to figure even Mayweather feels ridiculous making that statement. It was plain to see for the world that Mayweather wasn’t executing some grand scheme to have an interesting fight, he was fighting for his life and his undefeated record.

That natural urge for survival and the resulting performance could be what turn the tide in terms of public opinion for Mayweather. To see him face adversity in that manner and come out the other end victorious is exactly what fans needed to see. It made Floyd look human, like anyone else who sometimes has to struggle through hard times. It was a rare endearing time for a man whose often done everything he can to make himself appear just the opposite.

It also served as a reminder as to what exactly makes Mayweather a great boxer. His defensive ability has for a long time been the hallmark of his career, as it certainly always will be. But he showed a great chin on Saturday, taking some heavy shots for a big puncher. Cotto might not have one punch KO power but he certainly ain’t in the business of handing out love taps either. Mayweather also reminded everyone of his uncanny ability to change gameplans mid fight. Too often a fighter will have a corner able to change a gameplan faced with a fighter unable to execute it. No such problem with Floyd. In his toughest fight in a long while, he may have made the best case for being one of the best of all time.

Pacquaio, Mayweather and Khan All Announce Fights

The biggest question, unfortunately, in boxing was answered a little over two weeks ago when Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced a May 5thbout with Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This was followed by an announcement from the Top Rank camp that Manny Pacquaio would be meeting the man many figured was brought into the Top Rank fold to one day be an opponent for Pacquaio, Tim Bradley. Fight fans then got another big announcement when a May 19th rematch in Vegas was announced for Amir Khan and Lamont Peterson.

Manny Pacquiao: Who's Next?

Bob Arum arrives in the Philippines today with a big question for Manny Pacquiao: Who’s next? It’s obviously the question that comes up after every fight for any boxer. Except when you’re Manny Pacquaio the entire fanbase of the sport is asking that question. The fight everyone would look to see next is, of course, versus Mayweather. It’s beginning to look less and less likely that we will every see the fight. First it was out of the question because of “Money” getting a 90 day jail term. Hope was renewed when his date of incarceration was pushed back to June, allowing Mayweather to keep his commitment to a May 5th date at the MGM Grand.