Floyd Mayweather Jr. will enter the ring on Saturday night for his 43rd professional fight looking to ensure that he maintains his unbeaten record against Miguel Cotto.


Cotto is a big underdog going into the contest, with very few realistically expecting him to cause an upset against Mayweather. However, Cotto refuses to listen to doubters and has said in the run up to the fight: "I don't need anyone else giving me a chance. If I can trust in myself, I don't need anyone else believing in me."


Mayweather is a massive 6-1 favorite for the fight, but must respect the danger that Cotto potentially brings to the ring. Cotto has been up against it before; he previously took a horrid beating from Antonio Margarito that left him devastated. However, he rose from the ashes of that defeat to stop Margarito in their rematch last December, and now believes he has what it takes to do what no other professional boxer has done - defeat Mayweather.


''Nobody is invincible in life. I know that because I pass through this point in my life,'' Cotto said. ''I'm ready for anything Floyd brings me. The question is, is Floyd ready for anything Miguel can bring to him?''


The fight will be Mayweather's last before he goes to jail for a domestic abuse conviction. It is expected he will remain in prison for just two months.


Mayweather continues to be criticized in many quarters for seemingly dodging a fight with the one person all boxing fans want to see him step in the ring with - Manny Pacquiao.


Mayweather has alleged that he believes Pacquiao uses steroids and wouldn't want to risk his health against such a drug-taker. He wants to force the popular boxer to take extra drug tests to step in the ring with him. Pacquiao for obvious reasons does not feel the need to bow to degrading demands from his peer. Many critics say Mayweather is using the steroid story as an excuse and prefers to dodge Pacquiao so he can retire as an undefeated champion, and keep his legacy intact.

However, Mayweather recently slammed critics that suggest he is scared of his main rival.

''Writers are saying, 'Floyd is scared,''' he said. ''No, Floyd cares about his family. Floyd is smart. At the end of the day, Floyd is smart. My health is important. My health is more important than money. They can take all the money and my health is more important. If they say, Floyd, you can live a healthy life like you is right now, or you got to walk with a limp, and walk all bent over, but you can have a lot of money for the rest of your life, I'd say, 'Take it all back.'''


Certainly money-wise Mayweather doesn't need to step into the ring with Pacquiao, but one gets the feeling if the fighters do not eventually get it on it will be one of the biggest disappointments in the history of boxing, and could be a distinct mark on Mayweather's claim to greatness as one of the best boxers of all time.

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