Mayweather vs Cotto PRESS TOUR QUOTES
Floyd Mayweather, Seven Time and Five Division World Champion
"I want to thank the fans and the media because without them, I wouldn't be where I am today.
"My Uncle Roger has done an unbelievable job with my career.
"The Puerto Rican boxing background is truly amazing. A lot of great champions have come from Puerto Rico and you have another great champion in Miguel Cotto.
"When we step into the ring it's one on one. The trainer can't fight for the fighters.
"There are no fans like New York fans [thunderous applause from fans in attendance].
"It was a dream of mine to come to the Apollo Theater and watch a performance. I never thought I would be on this stage.
"At the age of 35, I am still going strong. I am still hungry and I still want to give the fans nothing but excitement.
"May 5, please come out and support me and support Miguel Cotto because we are going for a toe to toe battle.
"This is a strong champion from Puerto Rico. He's WBA champion at this particular time. My goal is to go out there and take the belt away from Miguel Cotto.
"To get to this level, it's obvious that he [Cotto] does a lot of things good. I have to bite down, go to camp and stay focused.
"What's special about this fight is you have two strong champions that have been around the sport for a long time with a lot of experience. I have a little more experience than Miguel Cotto and I know what it takes when it's a fight of this magnitude.
"I feel like I have what it takes to win this fight. I feel that my hands are faster, I'm the better counter puncher. I've shown that I have a great chin. My thing is to be Floyd Mayweather and keep doing what I've been doing.
"I feel like if a guy has hit the canvas before, it's in his mind that it can happen again.
"Come May 5, Cinco de Mayo, we want to give all boxing fans an unbelievable show.
"I don't have to go in the fight weighing 154. I'm a guy that's blessed with the ability to go up and down and beat the best fighters they have in the sport of boxing."
Miguel Cotto, WBA Super Welterweight World Champion
"This will be one of the biggest fights you have ever seen.
"On May 5, I am going to make Puerto Rico very proud.
"I won't stop until I find a tool to beat Mayweather on May 5.
"As everyone knows I'm a quiet man of few words. I will only say that I will train harder than ever to defeat Mayweather on May 5.
"Things happen for a right reason and at a set moment. There is a reason why Floyd and I are fighting now.
"Floyd is not just any opponent.
"I consider every fight another chapter in my career.
On drug testing:
"Sport is about skills, condition and preparation. You have to be clean. If this sport can be cleaner, I'm a sportsman and I support making the sport cleaner.
On being the underdog:
"I pay no attention to that. I get paid to bring a good show and a good fight.
Canelo Alvarez, WBC Super Welterweight World Champion
"I used to watch Shane Mosley's fights. Now I am fighting him. It is like a dream. May 5 is going to be a great night. Don't miss it.
"I think this is going to be the hardest fight I have had yet.
"I want to be one of the best fighters in history, but first, I need to beat Mosley.
"May 5 is a great night for Mexicans. I need to do something very great for my Mexican fans."
On fighting Mayweather or Cotto
"They are two of the best. I would want to fight either one."
Shane Mosley, Six-Time World Champion and Three Division World Champion
"I fought both of the main event guys. I think it is going to be a tremendous fight and I am excited and honored to be on the undercard. I think Canelo and I could probably be a main event, but I am proud to be a part of this.
"My motivation to continue fighting is that I love what I do and I'm going to be in boxing forever.
"I'm fighting a good guy who is young and I care about his career, but I also care about my career. I'm at 100 percent and that's unfortunate for Canelo."
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions
"It will be a historic fight on May 5. I have no doubt about that.
"Without the fans, none of this would be possible. Come May 5, fans are in for a great, great fight.
"They call him Money Mayweather for a reason. Over the last year, he has become the highest paid athlete in all of sports.
"Floyd is the best fighter in the sport, the pay-per-view king, the best fighter by far of this era and when it is all said and done, he could be known as the best ever to do it."
Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions
"Boxing is here and here to stay. With Floyd Mayweather, with Miguel Cotto, with Canelo Alvarez and Sugar Shane Mosley, this is a big, big event and we are very excited to be a part of it."
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
"May 5 will be our Super Bowl. Traditionally, May 5 is the single biggest pay-per-view date of the year.
"Floyd Mayweather is the undisputed pound-for-pound pay-per-view king moving up in weight to fight the undisputed king of Puerto Rico and 154 champion Miguel Cotto.
"Since 2007, Golden Boy Promotions has worked with Floyd Mayweather. Together, we have broken every record. The first 24/7 was a brain child of Floyd Mayweahter. Mr. Mayweather brought boxing back to the movie theaters as well."
"This is the first time Golden Boy Promotions is working with Miguel Cotto. It is an honor to work with such a legend. He is a champion inside the ring and outside of the ring and he is one of the biggest names in the sport of boxing. He has been a champion since 2004 and is the best fighter at 154 pounds. He has shown that and he has proven that.
"I've been told that when Floyd Mayweather is on '24/7,' the ratings are traditionally 30 percent higher than anyone else.
"Many kings of entertainment have performed here [at Harlem's World Famous Apollo Theater]. Most recently, President Obama sang Al Green's 'Let's Stay Together.' Many famous Latino entertainers have performed here as well.
"I am proud to say that we have put together an extraordinary night on May 5 that will leave fans saying 'Long live boxing.'
"Four of the best fighters in the world are standing right here [at Grauman's Chinese Theatre].
"May 5 will be a royal night of boxing. With Mayweather Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions, Canelo Promotions and Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions, you really have a fight card put together by the fighters for the fight fans.
"A legend like [Mosley] is never done. They said the same thing about him when he fought Antonio Margarito. You can never count someone like Shane Mosley out."
Hector Soto, Team Cotto
"This is a fight which will make history.
"May 5 will be big for Puerto Rico. Miguel Cotto will step into the ring as world champion and will leave the ring as the pound-for-pound king and champion."
Pedro Diaz, Cotto's Trainer
"Inside the ring, the fists do the talking. It's preparation and tactics that speak in the ring.
"There is no invincible man.
"The victory will be for Puerto Rico.
"May 5 is going to be a great night for boxing. May 5, two kings of the rings will be facing each other.
"We know we are going to be fighting a great champion."
