SAN DIEGO, May 12, 2012 –  Boxer Floyd Mayweather and his team say “Skills pay the bills.” Mayweather put his skills on display on May 5 in Las Vegas in a pay-per-view bout against a tough, determined Miguel Cotto.

HBO will replay the fight on Saturday, May 12, at 10:15 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. Although the outcome of the 12-round unanimous decision in favor of Mayweather is known, it’s a crowd-pleasing fight well worth seeing whether for the first time or an encore.

HBO will also air the Mayweather vs. Cotto replay on Sunday, May 13 at 10 a.m., and Monday, May 14 at 11:30 p.m. It airs on HBO2 on Sunday, May 13 at 4:45 p.m., and Tuesday, May 15 at 12:05 a.m.

HBO Sports reports the fight sold 1.5 million pay-per-view buys and earned $94 million in pay-per-view revenue. This makes the bout the second highest-grossing non-heavyweight pay-per-view event of all time. In first place: the fight on May 5, 2007 between Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya with a reported 2.4 million buys. De La Hoya vs. Mayweather raked in $137 million at the box office.

Cotto made Floyd Mayweather work harder in the ring that he’s had to in recent years, but Mayweather was up to it.

Watch for the following keys to the fight:

Cotto’s team put a smart game plan together. Watch Cotto work Mayweather against the ropes and do some damage with smart body shots.

Cotto’s best rounds are the middle rounds from five through nine when he gains some momentum and his body shots start creating openings for some effective upper cuts against Mayweather.

Mayweather puts on a clinic of brilliant defensive skills. Watch how he rolls his shoulder back and he presents himself at an angle, a smaller target that makes him more difficult to hit squarely and effectively. Mayweather’s ability to present a poor target is second to none.

Be sure to watch through to the finish for a thrilling, action packed 12^th round. Mayweather staggers Cotto with a wicked left upper cut in the last minute of the fight. Cotto was fortunate it didn’t happen earlier in the fight. He manages to make it to the end although it briefly seemed in doubt.

Cotto fought well. But Mayweather fought better. Cotto should take pride in his effort, but no boxer accepts defeat. He either learns from it, or lets it steal his confidence. Mayweather played Cotto’s game a bit more than he should have. But he still prevailed.

You will also see the undercard fight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and “Sugar” Shane Mosley. The popular young Mexican star Alvarez wins a unanimous decision against the 40-year veteran Mosley. Mosley stood in well against Alvarez, who is 19 years younger, but he didn’t have the punching power to do any damage against Alvarez.

Alvarez showed excellent punch power and his trademark patient approach. He takes his time, he presses forward, and it works. Alvarez threw punishing body shots, and while they won’t produce a crowd-pleasing knockout, they are punches that get the job done.

Enjoy the fights and all the celebrity sightings, including the surprising addition of pop singer Justin Bieber to the Mayweather entourage as he helps carry the champion’s belts into the ring. Congratulate yourself for saving $60 on the pay-per-view fees. Your savings will cover the cost of providing the drinks while you watch tonight.

Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, is President/Owner of the Falcon Valley Group in San Diego, California. She is also a serious boxing fan covering the Sweet Science for Communities. Read more Ringside Seat in the Communities at The Washington Times. Follow Gayle on Facebook and on Twitter @PRProSanDiego.

 

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Copyright © 2012 by Falcon Valley Group

 

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