Take your pick, place your bets as the possible "fight of the year" has been confirmed. After months of negotiations, Cotto Vs Canelo is real.
Miguel Cotto will defend his WBC middleweight championship against former unified junior middleweight titleholder Saul "Canelo" Alvarez. However, the fight is on a catchweight of 155 lbs.
"I will give the fans the fight they want to see," said Cotto, who will be 35 years old on fight night. "As I have always said, during my whole career, I am here to fight the best names and the best fighters. This will be another chapter in my career and I will be ready for him. Fans will enjoy a real fight, another classic battle in the Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry."
ESPN described Cotto as "rejuvenated" since working with coach Freddie Roach as he scored three knockouts since last year. Roach already started the trash talk for his boxer at the press conference and Boxing News Online had the goods:
"He [Canelo] has been in there with everybody. I think his last fight, it wasn't a very high calibre opponent; and then someone told me, ours wasn't either. And I said, no, ours was; ours was a former two time world champion [Daniel Geale]," he declared. "I think this is a big step up for him and I think that Miguel will take him to school. I think we're just too smart."
Those are typical words when you have the older fighter, but Roach refuses to admit that Canelo is stronger just because he is young.
"I don't think he's stronger than us to be honest with you, and I don't think that's a factor in the fight. I think we're stronger than him. I think we're the better puncher, and we will show on fight night."
Meanwhile, early Vegas Insider odds have Canelo slightly favored at -240, with Cotto at +180.