After the big announcement of their mega matchup, Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez hosted an international conference call for the media on Thursday.
First up on the call was Team Canelo, trainers, manager and the fighter himself. Canelo expressed the gratitude for this fight and what it means for him to be in the ring with someone like Miguel Cotto.
“What an honor” and “so incredibly blessed” were the terms heard over and over by the very humble 25 year old. Respect was given all around by the team for their new opponent, even saying at one point “Cotto has never looked better.”
Up next Team Cotto hopped on the call, with Roc Nation managers, Freddie Roach and Cotto himself. The vibe shifted from very respectful, to very dull. Dan Rafael of ESPN asked Cotto where he ranked this fight in importance to his career. “This is just another fight, Canelo is just another man, another name on my record,” said Cotto.
You could hear that Dan Rafael seemed a bit insulted by Cotto’s comment, as if he was personally part of Canelo’s team, telling Cotto that Canelo had said many respectful things about him.
“I’m not a big fan of boxing, I don’t follow it, unless I’m in the ring, but I know he’s a very good fighter,” said Cotto. One of Roach’s responses was just as casual in regards to Canelo.
“Canelo is young, yes, but he’s not faster, and not stronger than Miguel,” said the usually fiery trainer.
It was as if all the media members were in one giant room together and you could see the look on all their faces and maybe hear a few whispers of, “Did he really just say that?”
Cotto has earned the reputation of being a “diva” as he’s very adamant when it comes to the negotiation process. At one point in the call, a media member asked Canelo if any of that seemed to bother him when setting this fight up. Canelo’s answer was once again respectful.
“It didn’t bother me, none of all that really matters come fight time, I’m just happy the fight is actually happening,” said Canelo.
None of the details emerged as to what was all involved in the process of making the contract for this fight, but one important part has been left unsettled. The rematch clause was discussed, but not agreed upon between both parties. A week ago it was reported that the rematch argument was the reason for the hold up on finalizing the fight.
Oscar De La Hoya was confronted with this question during the call but brushed it off. “When we get to that point we will have to go back to Team Cotto and figure out what’s best,” said De La Hoya.
It’s only been a day since the fight was announced to the public and already an image has been painted for both fighters. Canelo, the young, hungry and respectful fighter is happy the fight is on mutual grounds in Las Vegas. Cotto, the demanding veteran would have hoped for the fight in New York, but says he’s happy to fight anywhere.
Canelo agreed to the catch weight that Cotto set forth. 155 pounds is comfortable for Cotto, the middleweight champ who has said time and time again that he is not a true Middleweight.
“I’m not a true middleweight, I’m more of a super welterweight,” said Cotto.
Such demands have always been the mental edge Cotto likes to have over his opponents, an edge that seemed to work well against Sergio Martinez, who was the champion.
When the bell rings the A-side and B-side differences fade away. As both men square up, they’re both equal and it doesn’t matter who walked out first and at what weight they came in at.
November 21, Canelo will become the new lineal and WBC Middleweight champion, or Cotto will remain the champion. Either way, fight fans hope the champion will face the winner of Gennady Golovkin and David Lemiuex.
