LAS VEGAS – The most anticipated boxing match since Mayweather vs. Pacquiao gets underway in the City of Sin tonight when Puerto Rican puncher Miguel Cotto takes on Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez at the Mandalay Bay Arena in Las Vegas.
Cotto (40-4) has dominated most Mexican fighters he has faced over the course of his prolific career with the exception of Antonio Margarito who beat him by technical knockout in controversial fashion. Cotto won the rematch over Margarito, bringing his overall record to 8-1 against Mexican fighters.
Canelo Alvarez is not your average Mexican fighter however. The red-headed punisher is 45-1-1 in his career and is fresh off a third-round knockout against James Kirkland earlier this year. Cotto has also reinvigorated his career under new trainer Freddie Roach and knocked out his last opponent as well, albeit in the fourth round.
Many boxing experts are calling the fight the first great fight in the post Mayweather and Pacquiao era. Coincidentally, Mayweather defeated both of these fighters with ease, and Pacquiao defeated Cotto in convincing fashion and has not yet fought Canelo.
In a strange twist of fate, the WBC middleweight championship belt that was held by Cotto was vacated earlier this week because he did not pay over $300,000 in fees necessary to retain the title.
Despite the hype surrounding this fight, we don't believe that this fight will live up to the hype. That's not to say it won't be entertaining, and that if Cotto looks every bit the new fighter he has become under Roach, that he could indeed upset the Mexican favorite.
Cotto doesn't mind being the underdog and strongly believes he will come out on top. He could upset Canelo, but the odds of knocking him out, are very slim. Cotto could be knocked out however, as he has never faced an opponent with the punching power of Canelo. Not Mayweather, not Pacquiao.
We expect Canelo to outlast the Puerto Rican in the ring and win by a unanimous decision. For all you Mexican fans out there, be proud of your countryman tonight as he should become the new middleweight champion.
Prediction: Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision.
Betting Odds: Canelo Alvarez -265 Miguel Cotto +205
The fight will air live on HBO pay-per-view at 11:30PM EST from the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The undercard fights start at 9:00PM EST. The fight can be purchased in HD for $69.95 and for $59.95 in standard definition. If you want to try and live stream the fight, it will be difficult, but you can give it a shot here or here.
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