Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez: Final Predictions, Live Stream and TV Schedule
On Saturday night from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, one of the last big fights of the year will take place in the sport of boxing. Miguel "Junito" Cotto (40-4, 33 KO) will take on Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KO).
The now-vacant WBC middleweight title will be on the line for Alvarez. Even with the title on the line for only Alvarez, there's still plenty at stake. Namely, this is yet another chapter in the Puerto Rican-Mexican boxing rivalry.
Cotto is the only Puerto Rican fighter to win world titles in four different weight classes. Alvarez is without question the biggest active Mexican star in the sport. From a 2015 standpoint, this is the biggest fight that could be made under the rivalry's parameters.
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When: Saturday, November 21, at 9 p.m. ET
Where: Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas
TV: HBO pay-per-view
Live Stream: BoxNation
Cotto was previously the WBC champion, but he was stripped of the title earlier in the week when he refused to pay $1.1 million in sanctioning fees to the WBC. If Cotto wins, the belt would either remain vacant, or interim champion, and current WBA and IBF kingpin, Gennady Golovkin could be elevated to official title holder.
Don't bet on that scenario taking place. Canelo will win.
This is essentially a junior middleweight bout as it is being contested at a 155-pound catchweight. Neither man has ever fought at the 160-pound weight limit for the division.
That said, Canelo will not be taken out of his comfort zone for this fight the way he was when he had to make 152 pounds to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013. This should be the easiest weight cut he's had in his career.
At 5'9", Canelo will enjoy a two-inch height advantage and a three-inch edge in reach. Cotto stands 5'7" with a 67" reach compared to Canelo's 70" measurement from armpit to fist.
Canelo is traditionally a slow starter. Expect Cotto to try to come out fast and perhaps get Canelo hurt, or at least down on the scorecards early. Alvarez's jab will be key in stemming the tide.
He should be able to keep Cotto away from his midsection, which has become a major focus of the Puerto Rican's attack since bringing in Freddie Roach as a trainer. Behind the jab, opportunities to land power shots should open up.
By the late rounds, Canelo should be the fresher fighter, and he should be able to parlay that into a unanimous-decision victory and his first world title in the middleweight division.
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