Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao was a fight that touched the casual fan, got them interested in boxing, and then disappointed them. Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez won't reach the fever pitch of "The Fight of the Century" but it's hard to envision the action inside the ring being dull.
Cotto has earned criticism since winning the WBC middleweight title in June 2014 for not fighting for a full calendar year, and then facing Daniel Geale instead of mandatory challenger Gennady "GGG" Golovkin. Cotto's still not fighting Golovkin, but if he faces Alvarez there won't be complaints.
According to reports, the fighters have heard the fans' cries and talks are moving along to make it happen. "There is a lot of movement in every way," Cotto's manager Gaby Penagaricano told ESPN Deportes. "Where will the fight be? It's something that we have not determined. On November 21, it is a possibility. But neither is entirely definite.
"The date will be linked to the place. As I said before New York and Las Vegas are viable. This is a big business. We should not dismiss Dallas. We have to see what they have. The announcement could be in July."
Las Vegas is the most neutral venue for this fight, which arguably has two A-sides. Cotto is wildly popular in New York, while Alvarez will have an advantage in Texas thanks to his rabid Mexican fan base.
Both fighters are coming into the fight on hot streaks. Alvarez has won three straight fights since a 2013 loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. He knocked out Alfredo Angulo, won a highly controversial split decision vs. Erislandy Lara, then won the potential Fight of the Year vs. James Kirkland with a sensational knockout.
Cotto has also won his last three fights, although they've been more spread out. He has won all three by knockout, and been utterly dominant each time. His run has coincided with his hiring trainer Freddie Roach, giving the impression that the Alvarez fight will be a 50-50 proposition.
[ESPN]
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