Philippines, 31 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Not just one great victor out there


PhilBoxing.com




CAN one truly compelling world boxing championship bout produce more than just one winner?

It?s easy looking for the true victor, although there was more than one winner at the end of the main event that saw triumphant Canelo Alvarez paying tribute to vanquished Miguel Cotto at center ring in the Las Vegas Mandalay Resort and Casino. Alvarez pressed his handsome face against Cotto?s bruised forehead at the final bell, short of kissing his opponent as though he was a long-lost brother.

Alvarez, who would shed tears of joy, took Cotto?s world middleweight crown and next dropped by the neighboring dug-out to cry, ?I admire you!.?

It was the greatest win in Alvarez?s brilliant career that pushed him up, up as the sport?s man of the hour, the Crown Prince of Pugilism.

**

Canelo was not alone at the coronation.

His promoter, Oscar de la Hoya, was right. Alvarez needed that big win in order to restore respect and faith in boxing, which had been damned by the oversold mega-dud between Floyd Mayweather jr. and Manny Pacquiao last May.

So count in two big victors, now that Canelo has made prizefighting look great again.

**

It was one of the finest, fiercest ring combats in recent memory.
It was also close, contrary to what the scores of the three judges at ringside would indicate.

Their official scorecards showed Alvarez winning by margins ranging from six to ten points.

**

There were no knockdowns, the usual fare in monumental championships.

Cotto, 35, started strong and agile, a young, light-footed hunter slipping in and out , jabbing hard, sniffing for a great chance to throw a killer spear.

Alvarez, 25, was slow, dignified, deliberate, almost flatfooted in his armored stance. He was a calm ruler, refusing to be confused while defending his turf, landing short, crisp blows to both head and body.

**

It was a testimony to trainer Freddie Roach?s genius how, as promised, he visibly roused the great boxer in Cotto, who refused to slug it out early by doing the preparatory dance to a possible kill.

It did not take long before the bout appeared what it really was: A clash between a big, young, strong talented fighter and a great, poweful, seasoned, battle-scarred but smaller warrior.
Cotto would be hit and hurt several times in the closing round stand-offs.

In the end, the contest would be decided not on sheer number of punches landed, but more on the stunning caliber and impact of shots delivered to the target.

**

Canilo did win it clear, but it would not be fair to say Cotto had been battered and beaten, as the scorecards tended to indicate.

The great warrior from Caguas, Puerto Rico survived heroically, and thus brought honor to his proud nation.

Now it?s time for Canelo to confirm his reign and there?s the unbeaten executioner Gennady Golovkin waiting to try the hulking, handsome crown prince for size.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • “It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2026
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: WCM Nika Juris Nicolas is Ready to Fight
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
    , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • Cabrera-Zapata Kicks Off All Star Boxing's 2026 Season
    , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: Cash prizes, FIDE rating at stakes this Sunday
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • IBP Fun Run & Family Day on February 15
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 29 Jan 2026
  • TEOFIMO LOPEZ AND SHAKUR STEVENSON FACE-OFF AT KNICKS GAME AS COUNTDOWN TO ‘THE RING 6’ ON SATURDAY BEGINS
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Davao to sponsor P500K in IRONMAN 70.3
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • JOSH KELLY SOUNDS WARNING TO WORLD TITLE RIVAL BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV AS HE TARGETS HISTORIC NORTH EAST HOMECOMING
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Gallegos and Alvarez Shine Bright with Knockout Wins at Fontainebleau Las Vegas
    , Wed, 28 Jan 2026
  • Pedro Carrasco Remembered in Spain 25 Years After His Passing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 28 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.