Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Mayweather vs. Cotto: 5 Perfect Training Songs for Miguel Cotto's IPod - Bleacher Report

Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto are currently training for their big clash on May 5 in Las Vegas. With so much on the line in their Hall of Fame careers, that brings up one very important question:

What are they listening to on their iPods?

As far as what's on Cotto's iPod, I might have an idea.

Here are five songs (plus one guilty pleasure) Cotto could be jamming out to as he trains for an upset victory against Mayweather.

"Payback" by James Brown


James Brown's "Payback"

Cotto may have avenged his first loss to Antonio Margarito, but he still needs to pay back Mayweather for his insults as well as Manny Pacquiao for handing him the last loss of his career.

Mayweather has continually expressed how he'll stop or knockout Cotto.

If Cotto aims to shut him up, this track will help inspire him.

If he plans on avenging his second loss to Pacquiao, he'll need to finish Mayweather in definitive fashion to remain on course to do so before he retires.

Regardless of how you see it, beating Mayweather leads to the big payback.

"El Watusi" by Ray Barretto


Ray Barretto's "El Watusi"

Just like Ray Barretto's "El Watusi" became the first Latin song to enter the Billboard charts in 1963, Cotto aims to be the first professional fighter to enter the ring and hand Mayweather a loss.

"Power" by Ray Barretto


Ray Barret's "Power"

Ray Barretto may have made history with the hit "El Watusi," but "Power" is the jam Cotto will have on repeat.

From the overall cool vibe of the track that restrains itself from being excessive to the skillful conga solo of Barretto that doesn't feel the need to be indulgent, the one word this song brings to mind is "control."

In boxing, power doesn't necessarily come from physical strength, but control.

Can Cotto control the tempo of the bout? Can Cotto break his opponent's will? Can Cotto bully his opponent around the ring? These are the questions Cotto will ask of himself.

Control equals power, and Cotto plans to be powerful against Mayweather.

"Redemption Song" by Bob Marley


Bob Marley's "Redemption Song"

Whenever Cotto takes a breather during training, he'll have time to reflect.

"Redemption Song" is the perfect track to reflect on the struggles he's went through to be the fighter he is today.

Cotto won his redemption this past December when he defeated Antonio Margarito, the man who gave him his first loss.

Now Cotto must move forward with confidence that he can face whatever comes next.

Guilty Pleasure: "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani


Gwen Stefani performing "Hollaback Girl" on David Letterman

Though Cotto may never admit it, he secretly could relate to this song.

He's a quiet guy who doesn't "hollaback," as Stefani says in the hook.

"Mi Gente" by Hector Lavoe and the Fania All Stars


Hector Lavoe sings "Mi Gente" with the Fania All Stars in 1974.

Hector Lavoe is a Puerto Rican salsa legend.

His songs are the stuff that every fellow Puerto Rican can be proud of, so why wouldn't Cotto have at least one of his songs on his iPod?

If there's one that has a lot of significance for Cotto, it's "Mi Gente."

This song is about the singer being able to relate to his own people and laugh when they laugh and cry when they cry.

Cotto has had some ups and downs, but his people have his back. His people are fans, family and Puerto Rican countrymen. They will pay to see him win and won't turn their back should they see him lose.

These are the people who Lavoe spoke to when he performed the song in 1974 in the African country of Zaire during the buildup to the "Rumble in the Jungle" between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman.

And on May 5, Cotto will let his fists, strength, skills and determination speak to not just his people, but the entire globe as he puts on the performance of a lifetime.

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