Cotto vs Canelo

So it appears November 21st we will potentially see Puerto Rico VS Mexico at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. This is not a cherry picked fight we are used to seeing as of recently (A la Thurman vs Collazo, Garcia vs Malignaggi, Chavez Jr vs Reyes). No ladies and gentlemen, we are going to see the WBC middleweight champ of the world, Miguel Cotto take on Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.

This is a real fight between two champions that will for sure give boxing a boost. We have Miguel Cotto, who self admittedly stated he is not a "true" middleweight, square off against ex-champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. Although Cotto is no stranger at taking risks, this is a very dangerous fight he is taking. He has faced the best throughout his career from the junior welterweight division all the way to the middleweight division. He has fought world champions like Antonio Margarito (twice), Shane Mosley, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Joshua Clottey, Zab Judah, and the list goes on and on. Canelo has also fought the best with a sole defeat to pound for pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Canelo is a full fledged junior middleweight. As hall of famer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini put it, "He is built like a linebacker." Let's just say Canelo has not exactly had "soft touches" in his last few fights. He has beaten Cotto conqueror and ex champion Austin Trout along with one of the most feared boxers in the sport today Erislandy Lara. Canelo has also recently demolished Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland with one of the most vicious knockouts of the year. All of these fighters are or were the best in the 154 pound division. Canelo has beaten them all.

In the last two fights Cotto has had, his opponents were not exactly at their best. Cotto beat a decrepit Sergio Martinez, who was at the time the recognized middleweight champion of the world. Cotto also went on to beat Daniel Geale, who was previously knocked out in three rounds by some who say is the current true middleweight champion of the world, Gennady Golovkin. I take nothing away from Cotto. He looked spectacular in those fights under the tutelage of Freddie Roach. Cotto had spring in his step and a left hook to the body that looked like the Cotto of old.

Miguel Cotto has his work cut out for him this time around. Canelo hits like a truck and paralyzes his opponents with his left hook and right hand. Cotto has power but not for a man who is bigger, stronger, and exceptionally skilled. Cotto will use his foot work to evade those powerful punches Canelo will be shooting at him. Cotto will slip, counter, and move. But in the later rounds, Canelo will catch him...and drop him. I hope that Roach can devise a plan that can keep Cotto a float in the championship rounds. Although I have to say, Canelo will catch him and beat him in the 9th.

Even though I believe Cotto will lose, I am giving him all the credit in the world for taking this fight. As the great Teddy Atlas put it, "He's behaving like a fighter." Cotto is not only behaving like a fighter, the man is behaving like a champion.