How I would prepare Cotto to fight Mayweather. (Technical thread)

First let me apologise, I won't be doing what Bogo does and posting Gifs to demonstrate each point, :bart Since I started working part time in my old Boxing gym, and teaching kids the fundamentals of Boxing; developing game plans has become a hobby of mine. Feedback is welcome, as are your own ideas and sentiments.:thumbsup

Fighting Mayweather is a challenge I wouldn't be confident in preparing any fighter for. I'd love to work with Cotto because there's so much there. We'd beat Canelo, easily.

Now for Floyd.

Starting in camp :

Cotto wouldn't be allowed to cut corners under me. We'd weigh in at about 152 with his upper body not being set down by un-needed amounts of muscle. Strong thighs, and quads to provide a powerful base to develop punching power. I'd switch the training focus from physical strength to explosiveness.

This is actually a dangerous time for Mayweather to fight Cotto, he just avenged his loss to Margarito and his confidence and general outlook of Boxing will be lifted as a result. When I work the mitts with Cotto, I'll talk to him. 'You are Miguel Cotto, you've been here before, you knocked out Judah, you beat Shane Mosley, this is your final step, this man thinks he's king, it's time for you to take the throne.' I'd build Cotto up, in his mind he'd be on top of the world, it's his ring. He is the master, and Mayweather is in his way.

In the same breath, Cotto needs to understand what's infront of him, and respect it. Mayweather is amazingly talented in almost every facet of Boxing. Cotto must find the line between respect for Mayweather, and confidence in Miguel's own abilitys.

Intensity. I wouldn't have Cotto punching the mitts or bags slowly, I'd be shouting at him SPEED SPEED SPEED. If you train fast then you'll fight fast. Also important is that I'd punch back, Cotto's offence must me linked to split second defense. Mayweather will counter and he will counter fast, so Cotto must develop a habbit of defending himself after punching. Joe Santiago had no business training Cotto, and Steward seemed too caught up in trying to perfect Cotto's technique. Intensity is key here, get him used to a fast pace, split seconds are vital in this fight.

Footwork. Mayweather takes short and effective steps, no wasted movement. I'd train Cotto to get up on his toes, he's a latin fighter and has shown that beautiful rythm in his steps, like a dance, a savage dance. I'd have him up on his toes, dipping, moving, changing the angle, moving his head, circling one way then the other, adding that crux of variety. He can't win this fight by plodding forward or backing away in straight lines.

Cotto will be the weaker of the two fighters in the ring, in terms of physical strength. I'd train him for explosive pushing, don't be gentle, get Floyd away, Big push, guard up. Protect yourself. Find the line between offensive tactician and defensive responsibility.

As for the fight :

Mayweather will be the aggressor, and that's good for Cotto. Circle! circle to the right. Mayweather has one big technical flaw that I can see, just one. He sometimes over reaches when he throws his right hand to a retreating (at an angle) opponent and becomes off balance. Use that footwork to lure Mayweather into over extending and throw a straight right over the top. pivot your back foot out to the right and then throw a left hook down to the body. Show Mayweather you can do things he hasn't seen before.

Jab. not one at a time. Double and tripple your jab. They don't even need to land, they need to occupy Mayweather, force him to think about your rythm. Use the jab to disguise changes in direction and tempo.

Feint. Quicker fighters still fall for feints. after you've spent time jabbing, feint with one and hook off of it. feint a jab and shoot a right to the body, just do things different, don't settle into a pattern. If Cotto settles into a pattern then he will end up being walked on to certain punches from Mayweather.

Land to Mayweathers hips. He's the superior athlete here so we're going to take that away from him. When Cotto is close to him, I'd advise him to push (which is illegal) and punch right away to Mayweathers hip. (Cotto must keep his right hand up to either block a left hook, or cross over to stop a right hand lead. Mayweather will punch back.) If you push and pause (Ala Khan) you will be reprimanded by the ref, but 9 times out of 10, if you push and punch close in sequence then it's forgotten about.

It's only basics above, but it's where I feel Cotto has the best chance to win this fight. What are your thoughts?

 

General doesn't talk enough real Boxing :-(

 

Where have you been?!

I'm good thanks pal, just spending too much time here :-( You?

He can't throw one jab at a time, twos and threes are what he needs.