One of the most-hyped fights of 2015 ? the Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez vs. Miguel Cotto matchup that will determine middleweight supremacy ? will finally occur on pay-per-view from Las Vegas on Saturday, and though Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 knockouts) is a 3-1 favorite, there?s little doubt that Cotto(40-4, 33 KOs) has a solid chance to pull off what would be considered a minor upset.
Should Alvarez win, we know how and why it will happen, and if Cotto prevails, we know how that?ll occur as well. As for who will actually be the one to have his hand raised by referee Robert Byrd, that will be determined by Alvarez?s age vs. Cotto?s experience, who can take a punch the best, and if Cotto is finally ready to slow down at age 35 vs. whether Alvarez is ready to take over the role of boxing?s biggest star now that Floyd Mayweather is retired.
Miguel Cotto, second from left, and Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez, second from right, will face off Saturday night, and the majority of experts think Alvarez will win. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
We won?t know for sure until early Sunday morning. But until then, plenty of prognosticators have made their predictions. These are the people who should have solid educated guesses, and these are the people who know the two fighters? tendencies better than most anybody else. Here are their thoughts.
Paulie Malignaggi: The two-time world titlist knows all about Cotto ? Malignaggi lost a unanimous decision to him in 2006. But that doesn?t mean the 34-7 fighter who now primarily works as a color analyst for Showtime, CBS, and Fox Sports is picking his former conqueror. ?I think it?ll be Alvarez,? Malignaggi told Forbes earlier this month. ?He?s a naturally bigger fighter. I expect a good fight ? and they?re both good fighters ? but that size will be the difference.?
Manny Pacquiao: When Pacquiao and Cotto fought in 2009, the fight was a brutal one-sided beatdown in which Pacquiao pounded Cotto before stopping him in the 12th round. But Pacquiao still likes Cotto to win Saturday. And one big reason is because Cotto?s trainer is Freddie Roach, who also happens to be Pacquiao?s long-time coach. ?Canelo is a good fighter, but I see Cotto winning the fight by decision,? Pacquiao told ESPN Deportes, via Boxing Scene. ?Miguel Cotto has good boxing, has experience, is having a good moment [in his career], but above everything he has Freddie Roach who inspires anyone.?
