Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KO), the WBC middleweight champion, is set to face Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on Nov. 21, and most believe he will be at a disadvantage because Alvarez is nine years his junior. Alvarez is considered the fresher and stronger fighter, but don’t tell that to Cotto’s sparring partners.
“We have five weeks left and we have been working with fighters 10 years younger than Miguel,” Gavin McMillan, Cotto’s strength coach, told Boxing Scene. “They’ve all felt his hands, and they all leave very sore. We are already at a stage where we are using different sparring partners.”
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Cotto went through a rough stretch in 2012 when he dropped back-to-back fights to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Austin Trout and appeared finished as a top fighter. Then, he linked up with trainer Freddie Roach, and has won his last three fights by knockout. His last two fights have been at middleweight (160 pounds), where he’s defeated two former champions. His upcoming fight vs. Alvarez will be for the WBC title, but will be contested at a 155-pound catch weight.
Cotto has been criticized for fighting Martinez, who appeared injured during their fight, and Daniel Geale, who had to drop to 157 pounds to fight him. McMillan countered that both fighters are naturally much larger than Cotto, who at one time campaigned at 140 pounds.
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“I think it’s ridiculous that people think Miguel is not at a high level, or that his past opponents were not quality,” McMillan said. “Miguel is naturally 154 pounds, not 160. He destroyed two opponents with a difference of nearly 20 pounds. Martinez was a great fighter and a champion. Geale unified titles. But unfortunately, you can’t make the whole world happy.”
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