IN case you hadn?t noticed, Miguel Cotto is a popular fighter. After an illustrious career campaigned at three weight classes consisting of 38 wins and four losses, culminating in four world titles and one of the biggest followings in boxing today, he causes a frenzy whenever he steps in a boxing ring.
If you weren?t aware of his popularity, you may still have heard something about his explosive return to form on Saturday night (October 5). Cotto headlined a show aptly named ?Reloaded? against two-time world challenger Delvin Rodriguez. It took the Puerto Rican just under three rounds to dispatch of his opponent, with his iconic left hook to the body making a much-relished return to his arsenal.
With a new trainer in his corner, five-time Trainer of the Year and Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, and an apparent rediscovered ferocity, Cotto?s name is once again involved when discussing the biggest fights available in the sport.
Cotto?s performance and popularity have culminated in an online meltdown with regards to who he should fight next, with big names in and around the light-middleweight division being blurted out left, right and centre. With that in mind, I?m going to take a closer look at these potential opponents and weigh up the options.
Opponent: Saul ?Canelo? Alvarez
Weight: 154lbs
Title: None
THESE two were scheduled to face-off after Cotto?s defeat to Floyd Mayweather Jnr, however Austin Trout?s impressive points victory over Cotto scuppered these plans and landed him a showdown with the red-haired Mexican. Cotto-Alvarez seems to be a popular fight amongst fans given the aggressive styles of both fighters and, indeed, the hordes of fans they both draw. The fight would be a memorable one, if not for the event alone. Canelo?s fight with Trout drew 40, 000 to the Alamodome, whilst Cotto is one of the most marketable names in the sport, with his win over Rodriguez only building on that.
A hurdle for this fight that may spring to mind is a familiar one; the ?cold war? between promoters Golden Boy and Top Rank. Cotto?s fight with Rodriguez saw him team up with Top Rank once again, after dealing with Golden Boy in recent years. Canelo is, of course, under contract with Golden Boy. Thus, all talks for this fight could seemingly be over before they?ve begun. However, the good news is that Cotto is in fact a free agent with no current promotional ties, meaning he could freely work with Golden Boy to secure a fight with Alvarez.
However, it?s highly unlikely Golden Boy will be willing to put Alvarez in the ring with Cotto directly after his loss to Mayweather last month. Although losing to the best fighter on the planet is nothing to be ashamed of, especially when you?re still only 23 years old, Richard Schaefer and the rest of Golden Boy may not want to risk Alvarez suffering two consecutive defeats.
Opponent: Austin Trout
Weight: 154lbs
Title: None
When Cotto signed to fight Trout in 2012, he took an unprecedented risk. Having just come off of a loss to Mayweather, Cotto challenged a younger, undefeated world champion in a fight that nearly ended his career. Trout outpointed a lacklustre Cotto over 12 rounds and talk amongst fans and experts alike moved towards retirement for the Puerto Rican. Whilst Cotto?s stock has risen thanks to his demolition job of Rodriguez, Trout?s has lowered after losing his title WBA title to Alvarez in a close decision back in March and having not fought since.
Despite no title being on the line, the fight would certainly be of interest to both fighters. Trout has expressed he would take a rematch with Cotto, perhaps in a bid to confirm his place on the world stage, whilst Cotto would relish the chance to avenge the defeat he suffered.
However, there doesn?t seem to be much clamour for this fight amongst fans with more marketable names being thrown around alongside Cotto?s name.
Opponent: Winner of Vanes Martirosyan vs Demetrius Andrade
Weight: 154lbs
Title: WBO world light middleweight
IF Austin Trout?s name arguably isn?t marketable enough for Cotto?s next fight, then neither Martirosyan nor Andrade are in with a chance of meeting Cotto next. However, the vacant world title they are fighting for in November just might be.
The winner of this November showdown will come out an undefeated world champion in a weight class Cotto now looks settled in and wouldn?t be wrong in thinking themselves a viable option for his next opponent.
Unfortunately for Martirosyan and Andrade, the recurring issue of marketability would likely stifle their chances at a showdown with Cotto. Neither of them is considered amongst boxing?s ?elite? and at this stage of Cotto?s career he will only be looking at fighters in that upper echelon.
Opponent: Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Weight: 154lbs
Title: WBC world light middleweight/WBA Super world light middleweight
THEIR first fight generated obscene amounts of money and Cotto gave Mayweather one of the toughest fights of his career, causing the pound-for-pound king to bring his father back into his team in order to hone his defensive skills further.
Again, for Cotto this fight offers a chance at redemption, not to mention the mammoth payday he would receive. Indeed, there?s no question Cotto would grab this fight with both hands if the offer was made, and Roach, his trainer, also highlighted a rematch with Mayweather as Cotto?s goal. After the Rodriguez fight, Roach said, “Miguel is ready to go against Mayweather. He is in the best shape of his career. He returned to the style that he needed to go back to, and as Miguel said last week, if I had been in his corner for his fight against Mayweather, he would have won.”
Given Cotto?s popularity the fight would make good business sense, something Mayweather famously puts first when choosing opponents, Cotto would have earned the fight off the back of just under three rounds of boxing. Mayweather may well want to see more from Cotto before going over old ground, especially when considering he only has four fights left of his lucrative deal with broadcasters Showtime.
Opponent: Sergio Martinez
Weight: 158lbs
Title: WBC World middleweight
RODRIGUEZ had not got up from the Cotto left hook that ended their fight before a Cotto-Martinez fight was suggested and all signs point to this fight being Cotto?s next. Whether or not Martinez watched Saturday night?s fight, it quickly came out via Martinez?s advisor?s Twitter (@SampsonBoxing) that ?Maravilla? would be willing to defend his WBC middleweight title against Cotto at a catchweight of 158lbs.
Along with Alvarez, Martinez is a frontrunner with fans in terms of who Cotto should fight next. Although Cotto would need to fight at the highest weight of his career to date, it would give him the chance to win a title in a fourth weight class and become the first Puerto Rican fighter to do so. For Martinez, this fight would provide a large payday towards the end of his career and, more importantly, present an opportunity to secure his legacy.
Roach also recently spoke to Boxing News about this fight and was very much for it.
So with early reports that both sides are interested in the fight and with no obvious promotional differences potentially getting in the way, Miguel Cotto vs Sergio Martinez looks to be the pick of the bunch.
