Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is going to be a betting favorite against WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto on Nov. 21, but Cotto’s trainer Freddie Roach thinks Alvarez’s early success is due to haunt him.
“He trained at Wild Card West for quite a while and he didn’t show up every day and I got reports every day on when he showed up and when he didn’t and one time they couldn’t find him for a week. But you got a young kid who’s got the world by the balls. He’s going to do what he wants,” Roach said.
Miguel Cotto Is Reportedly Hurting His Sparring Partners
Cotto, a grizzled veteran of wars against name fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito, used to have a reputation for tiring out late in fights because of his aggressive style. Now, Roach is saying the same things of Alvarez, only he appears to be questioning Alvarez’s toughness and dedication in the process.
“I’m not sure how durable he is.I think he can be broken down. I think he fatigues in the middle rounds quite often in most of his fights. He’s very good early, and I think in the later rounds he fades a little bit.”
Canelo Has Never Faced Power Like Cotto's
If Roach is correct, Cotto may be a nightmarish matchup for Alvarez, who has looked excellent in two of his last three fights vs. stationary sluggers Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland. Both fighters are willing to stand and trade, so Alvarez was able to use his accuracy and power without expending energy cutting off the ring. Those two fights sandwiched a split decision win over Erislandy Lara, who is known for fighting very defensively.
Cotto is a classic boxer-puncher, and under Roach’s tutelage (for his last three fights) Cotto has utilized footwork more than ever to unleash left hooks to the body and then the head. Should Roach’s analysis prove correct, staying in front of Cotto and withstanding his body work may be too much to ask.
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