In the
sport of Boxing it can at times be cliché to hear the phrase “One of the most
anticipated fights” in the build up to an event that has all the makings of a “Big
Fight.” Sometimes such anticipation can lead to fans feeling let down when the
actual fight does not live up to the build up that preceded it.
Such was
the case earlier this year when the long-awaited battle between a future Hall
of Famer’s Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally took place after nearly
a decade of anticipation. Unfortunately for Boxing fans, the actual fight
failed to live up to the anticipation of what was billed as “The Fight Of The
Century.”
In many
ways, the battle ended up being a quintessential Boxing exhibition by Floyd
Mayweather who scored a lopsided twelve round unanimous decision over Pacquiao
in a bout that lacked the drama and moments normally associated with a “Big” or
“Super” fight as bouts of that magnitude are at times billed.
A common question
that will be asked following such a fight regardless of what happens in the
ring is when will there be another fight that is considered a “Big” or “Super”
fight. The answer to that question will be this weekend as multi-division world
champion Miguel Cotto makes the second defense of his WBC Middleweight world
championship against former WBC Jr. Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo”
Alvarez at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV.
Stylistically,
this is a fight that has action written all over it. Both fighters are
offensive minded and have the ability to get an opponent out of there with one
punch. Each however, also possess Boxing ability and when it comes to a battle
between two boxer/punchers it will be interesting to see how the fight is
fought. Will it be a tactical battle between two world-class boxers who may be
equal in terms of punching power or will it be a toe to toe war?
In one
corner will stand defending champion Miguel Cotto. Cotto, who won the WBC
Middleweight world championship in June of last year with a dominating tenth
round stoppage of two-division world champion Sergio Martinez has seen a
resurgence in his career since the addition of legendary trainer Freddie Roach
prior to his fight against Delvin Rodriguez in October 2013.
In three
fights with Roach in his corner including his title defense earlier this year
against former two-time Middleweight world champion Daniel Geale, Cotto has
scored three straight knockouts. A key component that has been present in each
of those fights has been Cotto’s ability to make his left hook the focal point
of his offense in landing it to the body and head of his opponent.
Cotto has
also been effective in executing lateral movement in order to put himself in
positions to land the left hook as well. Rodriguez, Martinez, and Geale had no
answer to counteract Cotto’s left hook or his hand speed. As this fight
approaches this observer feels that Cotto’s left hook will again be a focal
point of his offense against Saul Alvarez.
Standing
across the ring from Cotto on Saturday night will be former WBC Jr.
Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Alvarez emerged as a rising
star in the sport with a one punch knockout over former WBC Welterweight world champion
Carlos Baldomir in September 2010.
The
twenty-five year old Alvarez has scored victories in forty-five of his
forty-seven professional fights and made six successful defenses of the WBC Jr.
Middleweight world championship including victories over the likes of Alfonso
Gomez, Kermit Cintron, Shane Mosley, and Austin Trout. Alvarez’ lone defeat
came in a unification bout against Floyd Mayweather in September 2013.
Although a
valid argument could be made that Alvarez has yet to score a victory against a
fighter who is considered a current superstar in the sport, Alvarez has become
a legitimate star since his victory over Baldomir including drawing massive
crowds for his fight with Austin Trout at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX
where over 39,000 people attended and for his last fight earlier this year
against James Kirkland in Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX that drew over 31,000
spectators.
In
covering Alvarez’ fight against Floyd Mayweather in 2013, this observer stated
that in a tactical Boxing match sometimes it is a simple as who has the quicker
hands. Despite losing that fight, Alvarez was not disgraced and did give a good
account of himself against a fighter widely considered to be the best pound for
pound fighter in the world.
In
thinking of how this fight might be fought, I believe a key might be who is
able to establish the pace of the fight. After all, Cotto and Alvarez are two
offensive minded fighters who look to put pressure on their opponents. It will
be interesting to see who will be able to take the initiative and dictate how
the fight is fought.
It is
logical to assume that there might be a feeling out process early on due to
both fighters knowing what the other can do and having a healthy respect for
their opponent’s punching power. Although Alvarez was simply outpointed in his
fight against Mayweather, he was unable to cut the ring off and to trap
Mayweather consistently throughout the fight.
Even
though Miguel Cotto is a different fighter stylistically than Mayweather, he
has shown in his last three fights the ability to use lateral movement to not
only put himself in positions where he can land his left hook and land
combinations, but perhaps more importantly his tactics have made it very
difficult for opponents to build any significant momentum. It is important that
Alvarez find a way to execute his offense more frequently than he was able to
against Mayweather.
In his
last fight in May of this year, Alvarez scored a thrilling third round knockout
over a very “Game” James Kirkland. The fight between Alvarez and Kirkland was
as this observer described it a “Shootout.”
Kirkland
was able to momentarily get Alvarez on the ropes and land punches with both
hands in the first round. Although Kirkland was very aggressive in that fight
in the early going it was Alvarez who was able to use Kirkland’s aggression
against him and found a home for his right hand. Alvarez’ well-balanced attack
to the body and head eventually broke Kirkland down, scoring a total of three
knockdowns and ending the fight in thrilling fashion in round three dropping
Kirkland with a flush right hand to the chin.
It will be
interesting to see whether Cotto saw anything in that fight that could work to
his advantage against Alvarez. Both fighters are similar in style and it will
also be interesting to see if one elects to take the role of counter puncher in
this fight.
The bout
between Cotto and Alvarez will be the latest chapter in the storied rivalry
between Mexico and Puerto Rico in the sport. There is no doubt that the crowd
inside the Mandalay Bay Events Center will be white-hot as fans of both
fighters will converge to show their support.
If the
fight does turn out to resemble the potential fight of the year candidate that
it appears to be on paper, Saturday, November 21, 2015 will likely go down in
history as a memorable night in the sport of Boxing. This observer is looking
forward to it.
“And That’s
The Boxing Truth.”
Cotto vs.
Alvarez takes place on Saturday, November 21st at the Mandalay Bay Events
Center in Las Vegas, NV. In the United States and Canada the fight will be
televised by HBO Pay-Per-View for $69.95. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the
fight can be seen on BoxNation. Check your local listings internationally.
The Boxing
Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.
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