This Saturday November 21st, 2015 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada one of the most anticipated bouts of the year will finally take place. Even with all of the drama of Andre Ward and Guillermo Rigondeaux being on the undercard, worrying if the winner will face Gennady Golovkin, the catch weight, the lack of tickets due to pricing, the drama between Floyd Mayweather and Adrien Broner, and the recent stripping of Cotto’s WBC title, ladies and gentlemen we still have a fight this weekend.
There has been a lack of buzz for this match up through out the passing weeks. Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya have really been the only promoters doing any actual promoting. Jay-Z and Roc Nation have been noticeably absent from promoting the bout. Besides having Tidal do some behind the scenes in Cotto’s training camp and Jay-Z staging a $100,000 wager with De La Hoya for charity it has been a lackluster effort from RocNation. The betting line for how much this PPV event will end up selling has gone down from when the bout was first announced. It seems that everyone is talking about everything but what will happen when the two men step into the ring against one another.
This bout will be another chapter in the Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry but it will also be a bout between two boxing mirages. Alvarez and Cotto both looked spectacular in their last respective bouts. Both men however faced competition that upon closer review may not have given fans an accurate assessment as to where both men currently stand.
Alvarez faced James Kirkland who had been coming off an 18-month layoff and had once again left his trainer Ann Wolfe. Alvarez took care of Kirkland in the third round with a right hand that twisted Kirkland around until he fell on the canvass. It was one of Alvarez’s most brutal knockouts.
Cotto faced former middleweight champion Daniel Geale. Geale who for most middleweights would be a serviceable opponent seemed mentally and physically drained by making a 157-pound catch weight. Cotto was able to outmaneuver, outbox and knockout Geale in the fourth round with a vaunted attack of left hooks to the body and the head. As to who’s opponent was better is up for debate.
Miguel Cotto has a chance at redemption in facing Alvarez. Cotto has faced criticism of winning vacant titles, losing all his big bouts, and facing fighters who were at a physical disadvantage. Now he faces a young Mexican fighter in his prime that may finally garner Cotto not only the respect but, the love from his native island of Puerto Rico. Cotto thus far has not been a replacement for the much beloved Felix Trinidad but more of a tolerated alternative. For Cotto he will finally have his Mexican foe that he defeated but as well a win over a fighter that most believe will be too much for him.
Alvarez has not gone without criticism in his career. Before 2013 he was long thought of as a pampered and protected fighter who was essentially handed his world title on a silver platter. Alvarez on his biggest nights against his toughest competition he has been less than impressive.
In his fight with Austin Trout in 2013 he was able to surprise many viewers by out boxing Trout in spots but he also fought many rounds for just 90 seconds. Floyd Mayweather brought out the boxing chalkboard and schooled Alvarez in a bout where Alvarez seemed to freeze under the lights. Alvarez escaped with a decision victory against Cuban Olympian Erislandy Lara in a bout where both men looked subpar.
In his bout with Cotto, Alvarez has the chance to show that he isn’t just a well-marketed fighter. A chance to prove that there is more to him than just the red hair. For Alvarez the fight with Cotto will establish him as not just the new face of Mexican boxing but, potentially the next great Mexican fighter.
With all the distractions and headlines about the bout swaying towards the negative end. What can be said is that as far as giving fans exciting fights Miguel Cotto hasn’t disappointed. His bouts with Antonio Margarito and Manny Pacquiao are some of the most exciting in PPV for the last 15 years. Cotto has shown that when it comes to the big stage he doesn’t disappoint in giving the fan’s their money’s worth. Canelo has shown that he is more than willing to engage with any of his opponents and will be ready if a war breaks out.
Within the annals of the Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry their have been amazing all-time classic bouts. Fights such as Felix Trinidad-Fernando Vargas, Salvador Sanchez-Wilfredo Gomez and Ivan Calderon-Giovanni Segura have elevated the sport. It’s possible that Miguel Cotto-Saul Alvarez may not live up to these expectations but this Saturday we will found out which mirage was real.
For all fans we hope for a fight that makes us forget about all the politics riddled in the sport and remind us why we love boxing.
– Hector Franco / @MrHector_Franco
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