Mayorga’s verbal shots, antics don’t faze Cotto

There aren't many people who can outtalk Don King. And when it comes to boxers, that list shrinks to a select few.

Muhammad Ali comes to mind.

But even Ali would admire Ricardo Mayorga's ability to talk smack and self-promote.

The former world champion from Nicaragua has unleashed a torrent of barbs in Miguel Cotto's direction ever since their showdown for Cotto's WBA super welterweight title, set for Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden, was announced in January.

He has challenged Cotto's manhood, his sexual orientation, his ability to fight and his wisdom for getting in the ring with him. And as he stepped up the attacks this week, King only can smile and nod his head in agreement with what his fighter is saying.

"Viva Nicaragua!" King bellowed. "My man Mayorga is going to knock Cotto out. Then we want (Manny) Pacquiao!"

Mayorga takes it from there.

"I'm going to do one of two things in the first round," said the 38-year-old Mayorga (29-7-1, 23 knockouts), who is in the midst of a comeback after retiring from boxing in 2008. "I'm either going to knock him down or bust him up. I guarantee you that is what will happen.

"I sense he has a genuine fear of me."

More like indifference. The 30-year-old Cotto (35-2, 28 KOs) said he's too experienced to be fazed by Mayorga's antics, which included jumping up on the apron of the ring set up in the MGM's lobby Tuesday to taunt Cotto while Cotto was giving a television interview. Or when Mayorga jumped up on a table at the final news conference Wednesday and took off his shirt to show what kind of shape he's in.

"No, he doesn't bother me," Cotto said. "I'm just keeping calm and staying focused on my work."

That doesn't stop Mayorga from firing away. On Monday in Los Angeles, he said when he beats Cotto on Saturday, Cotto will become a member of Ricky Martin's band (Martin has admitted he is gay). On Wednesday at the MGM, he questioned Cotto's courage when he took a knee in the 11th round after Antonio Margarito pummeled him in their 2008 fight.

"That was a cowardly thing to do," Mayorga said. "In my fights against (Felix) Trinidad and (Oscar) De La Hoya, I went down swinging."

By his own admission, Mayorga hasn't always been at his best on fight night. He said he can count on one hand the number of times he seriously trained for a fight and this is one of them.

"My two fights with Andrew Lewis, my two fights with Vernon Forrest and this one," said Mayorga, who claimed he was weighing 155 pounds Wednesday and took off his shirt for the reporters and photographers to see. "I will win this fight, then I will beat Pacquiao."

Mayorga admits his lack of focus in prior training camps probably cost him millions of dollars. But while he was out drinking, smoking, chasing women and playing pool instead of training, he points the finger of blame at himself.

"I recognize that, but I'm not mad," he said. "I learned my lesson. I would be a hypocrite if I blamed God for abandoning me."

He also admits he screwed up when he took Furosemide, a banned diuretic, before he fought De La Hoya in 2006 at the MGM. He tested positive, and the Nevada Athletic Commission fined him $50,000 and suspended him for eight months.

"That was the most expensive drug I ever took," Mayorga said. "We can't change the past, but we can shape the future."

Mayorga said he always has had an engaging and outgoing personality. But he has no desire to seek public office, even though he was wearing a T-shirt in support of Nicaragua president Daniel Ortega. Nor does he want to be a stand-up comedian.

"What I have to say comes from here," he said, pointing to his heart.

And had Mayorga not gotten into boxing?

"I would have been a gangster," he said.

A gangster with a smart mouth.

■ NOTES -- Today's weigh-in at the Grand Garden is open to the public. The main event fighters are expected on the scales at 3 p.m. ... Cotto is a 10-1 betting favorite at the MGM properties' sports books. ... As of Thursday, 6,000 tickets have been sold; MGM officials expect a crowd of 10,000 Saturday.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.