Mayweather speed can help on way to unanimous Cotto decision

Unbeaten fighter Floyd Mayweather gives up a size and power advantage to Miguel Cotto this weekend, though the 35-year-old still looks superb value at 6/5 to win by unanimous decision.

Whilst the majority of Mayweather’s 42 professional victories have come via the knockout route, he has achieved successes in this manner only twice in his past seven fights.

These bouts date back to 2006, and one of those stoppage triumphs came in highly controversial fashion against Victor Ortiz back in September 2011.

With his opponent’s last knockout defeat coming more than two years ago too, Cotto looks good to go the distance in what will be his biggest fight since that stoppage loss to Manny Pacquaio.

That said, Mayweather’s vast superiority in the speed department will stand him in good stead to get well ahead on the judges’ scorecards.

Consistent flurries of punches will likely result in Mayweather landing far more successful blows than his opponent, and despite the power of his shots not matching Cotto’s, the volume of them should be enough to set him apart from the Puerto Rican.

Cotto will attempt to trap Mayweather for periods of the fight, and force exchanges to counter the American’s short, sharp punches, though whilst this will negate the possibility of a knockout ending, it is likely to only slow down Mayweather’s offense to some extent.

Each fighter’s stamina also makes it seem likely this contest will go the distance, with Mayweather’s conditioning unquestionable, and Cotto proving an ability to remain in fights after sustaining multiple shots against the likes of Zab Judah and Shane Mosley in the past.

He is sure to suffer multiple blows in this bout too, and whilst he can be expected to last the full 12 rounds in Las Vegas, Mayweather looks good to win via unanimous decision at 6/5.