Photo edit by Lorin Elise
Saturday, November 21, 2015, Puerto Rican legend Miguel Cotto puts his lineal and WBC Middleweight titles on the line against the young Mexican star, Canelo Alvarez.
The MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada will place host to the scheduled 12-round bout with HBO Pay-Per-View broadcasting the event live.
November 21 is a night many boxing fans will be looking to provide the Fight of the Year for 2015. Finally, it is Cotto versus Canelo.
It’s Mexico versus Puerto Rico on the highest level and an elite matchup boxing fans have awaited for several years.
Before the two combatants step into the ring, RBRBoxing’s Lou Catalano and Tony Calcara go head to head and break down two keys to victory for each fighter.
Read on for the keys to victory and let us know who you think will win this highly-anticipated battle, which promises to add another memorable chapter to the legendary Puerto Rico versus Mexico rivalry.
Key #1 for Miguel Cotto
Use the Left to the Body
Photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
By Lou Catalano
Miguel Cotto exploded onto the scene as a hammering, body-punching machine who ripped out men’s insides with a gorgeous left hook. Some of his early work is astounding, like when he brutalized poor Carlos Quintana. He nearly broke him in half with the body work.
But eventually, Cotto stopped using his most effective punch. He got away from what put the boxing world on notice. Once he hooked up with Freddie Roach, the trainer who helped Manny Pacquiao destroy him a few years ago, Cotto got back to it.
He looks like a goddamn wrecking ball, and that left to the liver has made a triumphant return. For Cotto to beat the younger, bigger and presumably stronger Canelo Alvarez, he has to slow him down.
Nothing slows a guy down like having his liver used as a snare drum for several rounds. And Canelo will be there, right in front of Cotto, all night long. If the Puerto Rican star can soften Alvarez up to the body, he can then go upstairs with the left hook to the head.
Key #1 for Canelo Alvarez
Start Fast
Photo by Ed Mulholland/Golden Boy Promotions
By Tony Calcara
For Canelo Alvarez to beat an elite, experienced, 35-year-old fighter like Miguel Cotto–and he certainly has the skills, heart and desire to do so–he needs to get off to a fast start and cannot let up. It would be wise to reflect on boxing history and look at fights like Evander Holyfield versus George Foreman or Manny Pacquiao versus Oscar De La Hoya.
There are lessons to be learned here in terms of starting fast, taking control early and using your youth and speed to be the boss.
Cotto is a determined, experienced warrior and is–in all fairness–a youthful looking 35. As the younger man, Canelo must fight his fight and write the book on ring generalship. He cannot fall behind early or he risks making mistakes later that Cotto will surely capitalize on.
Key #2 for Miguel Cotto
Make Canelo Find Him
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
By Lou Catalano
Canelo Alvarez enjoys a fight. In fact, he prefers it. He doesn’t like all that cutting off the ring stuff. He wants to go to war with a guy willing to stand and trade. James Kirkland tried that. Kirkland would stand in front of a diesel combine if he thought it was disrespecting him. Canelo teed off on him, landing one of the best knockout punches of the year when they fought back in May. Cotto doesn’t want to do that. Cotto needs to make Canelo come to him, so he can land counter punches and jab him incessantly.
If it becomes a war early on, I don’t think Cotto has the stamina to make it out of the ring as the victor. Cotto must box. That way, Canelo can get all pissed off at having to move around, become frustrated and make stupid mistakes. But… This will be easier written than implemented. Cotto has garnered the reputation as a guy who wilts as the fight wears on.
In short, he fades. He faded against Antonio Margarito. Faded horribly against Manny Pacquiao. Faded against Floyd Mayweather. I don’t see Miguel Cotto suddenly looking all spry and lively in the 11th round. He needs to have done enough by that point to have either stopped Canelo, or made him all doughy-soft like Stay Puft. Eating bombs won’t do that. Delivering them will. He needs to move, get his man out of position and put the hurting on him.
If Cotto can implement these keys, he should emerge as the winner Saturday night. Then he will talk in the third person and make a weird face when Max Kellerman asks him about Gennady Golovkin.
Key #2 for Canelo Alvarez
Make Cotto Work
Photo by Peter Morgan/AP
By Tony Calcara
Canelo Alvarez must make Miguel Cotto fight every minute of every round. Cotto likes to pick his spots, lead, counter, move, box and blast away with his left hook. Alvarez must take away Cotto’s best weapon, that left hook, and leave him worrying about the incoming assault from Alvarez.
Cotto has concrete in his jaw. It would be unwise to come out and head hunt early. Yes, Alvarez destroyed Kirkland, however, Cotto is no James Kirkland. Canelo should look to use the entire ring, make Cotto work hard and at a fast pace, and sustain a deliberate and ferocious attack to the body.
Forcing the action–behind your jab while banging to the body–will pay dividends later in the fight where you can look to unleash combinations. It will provide Alvarez with the opportunity to be on offense while making Cotto worry about defending what’s coming at him.
