Mayweather-Cotto 24/7 Episode 2 Recap

Boxing isn't regarded as team sport, for good reason, because in the ring, you and you alone are all that stands between a win, and having your block knocked off. But that doesn't mean it is a solitary sport, we learned in the second installment of HBO's Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto 24/7, which ran on Saturday night.

We opened with a shot of the Las Vegas strip, and Floyd in the passenger seat of a car in motion. Floyd sends a text, which he says is to Miguel Cotto. “Don't be late for your funeral come May 5,” he writes to Cotto. He then accuses the driver of farting, which prompts a Floypiphany: why is the Easter bunny a symbol of Easter, he shares, since rabbits don't lay eggs?

Yep, a rich, dramatic opening.

Floyd is on the hunt for an El Pollo Loco. He gets his fill of chicken, wings, which he complains are cold. “I should knock his ass out,” he says, but thankfully does not return to light up the unsuspecting fast food worker, who, open further reflection reflection might have welcomed the chance at a windfall lawsuit to deliver him from $8.25 an hour hell.

Floyd engages in some pickup hoops, and then hits another joint, for chicken and fries. Next, he heads over to meet up with Miss Jackson. She declares their bond is unbreakable, and can't and won't be touched. Her dimples are arresting…though I admit to being slightly cynical about her pronouncement of the couple's longevity. Hopefully they prove my cynicism unfounded…

Floyd talks about a visit to the gym from his pop, who asked where his “daughter in law,” fiancee Miss Jackson, was. Floyd says dad does want the 24/7 buzz, that he's OK with that,  and that he and dad do beef but they are OK now. Next week, they'll beef, he said.

In Orlando, Florida, Team Cotto heads to a workout. Trainer Pedro Diaz shows his passion for his craft. He met Cotto when he was heading the Cuban amateur team, when Cotto was on the rise. Pal Bryan Perez says Diaz pushes Cotto, which the boxer wasn't used to. Cotto doesn't like how loud Diaz is, but he accepts it. The trainer keeps extensive notes on the workouts, and Cotto likes the science behind the man's methods. The boxer says he's pretty sure he will stick with Diaz to the end of the road.

Back in Vegas, Floyd says he's glad Diaz has a doctorate. “So when I open his ass up, he can close him up,” Floyd says. Trainer Roger Mayweather says it doesn't matter who trains Cotto. “He can't fight for him,” he said. Floyd says Roger is a great person. Roger says he doesn't tell Floyd what to do, he asks him. He wants the best for Floyd, he says, even if Floyd and Senior don't always get along.

We see Rafael Garcia, Floyd's 82 year old cutman, put tape over Cotto's face on a poster and the posse hoots. “He loves the Mexican people,” Garcia declares.

Floyd then talks on the phone while he does the speedbag, showing his dexterity.

Team Cotto then hit the mini-car track, for some road racing. Mrs. Cotto is happy she hit the track. Melissa Cotto says she does worry what will happen in the ring May 5. Hubby says the boxing opens up opportunities for the family and they get that.

Mayweather shows off some of his cars, and then talks about his best friend, 50 Cent. They've been close for almost ten years. Floyd got 50, a self described homebody, out of the house, the rapper says. 50 appreciates that Floyd doesn't want anything from him, and he likes to get away, to camps, to decompress.

Floyd shuts down an indoor amusement and his crew has fun, while Floyd shoots hoops and bets 50 on the outcome.

We see Cotto and Perez wake up next to each other, in bed. Cotto explains that in 2009, at camp, there was a lack of beds. He asked Perez to sleep with him and since then, Perez doesn't want to move. “Nothing weird. Sharing the bed with Miguel is like sleeping with your brother,” Perez explains. The boxer says he has two brothers, but he spends more time with Perez than his brothers. They met in 2003, and Perez was hired in 2007. Cotto's dad, we hear, convinced almost 500 pound Perez, who heads Cotto's promotional company,  to lose weight. He got gastric bypass surgery and has lost 214 pounds in less than a year.

Both men see each other as brothers. “Trust and loyalty are the most important words in our team,” Perez says. Floyd says Cotto changes trainer all the time, and spits on the loyalty label. “Stand By Me” plays as the boxers interact with their crew.
Floyd says he needs 50, Roger and his dad in his crew. Liev Schrieber hammers home that boxing isn't an individual sport, that friends, family and staff bring much to the table. “If I'm with you, I'm with you to the end, that's what I truly believe in. If I got that unconditional love for you, I die for you,” says Mayweather, to close.

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