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Home » De La Hoya addresses Cotto v Canelo negotiations, catchweight / title status

De La Hoya addresses Cotto v Canelo negotiations, catchweight / title status

The pair of former Floyd Mayweather challengers clash at the Mandalay Bay after several months of delays and painstaking discussions eventually bared fruit and the Golden Boy President is licking his lips at the prospect of the pay-per-view encounter.

“This is the ‘Fight of the Year’ that true boxing fans have been waiting for between two of the biggest stars in the sport today, Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez,” said De La Hoya.

“Cotto vs. Canelo will be an epic showdown, full of non-stop action from the moment the first bell rings. This fight is an example of exactly what Golden Boy Promotions does; puts on the best fights between top fighters in the primes of their careers.

“This fight, both Cotto and Canelo want it, and the fans have been asking for. We are pleased to be working with Roc Nation to make this fight a reality for the fans. It will have everything that the fans want to see in boxing, and that’s action and intensity.

“For some reason it didn’t happen the first time around (in May), but both times were fairly easy. When you have a partner like ROC Nation who understand the importance of this mega event, it takes time. It takes patience. It takes a lot of hard work.

“But I would have to say it was fairly easy working with ROC Nation in putting this fight together. It was a long process, and like I said, it didn’t happen for a reason the first time around. But we’re extremely happy and proud that it is taking place November 21.”

On the controversial fact that Cotto v Canelo will be fought for the 160 pound title at a catchweight of 155, De La Hoya added:

“Well, this is a fight that’s going to be for the middleweight title that Miguel Cotto holds. I mean, both Canelo and Cotto are obviously going to sell this fight alone. Whether it’s for no title or for a title, this fight is going to be a guaranteed sell with the fans because the fans know that this is going to be an exciting fight.

“Let’s talk a little bit about the rivalry. I mean, it doesn’t get any better than this. Puerto Rico versus México, boxing’s best rivalry, without a doubt, this fight will be the most exciting, the most action packed and the most intense in recent years. You go back to the Julio César Chávez days and you go back to Salvador Sánchez and you go back to Benítez, Gomez, the list goes on and on and on.

“And now Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez will write their own history, one that people will remember for a very long time as being one of the best fights in the history of the sport. Both fighters are willing, are hungry, are ready, and we cannot wait for this action packed fight that’s guaranteed because of the style.”

De La Hoya, who has nurtured Canelo to become one of the biggest stars in his native Mexico and a huge name in boxing, says his fighter is ready for the challenge of facing a ring legend in Cotto, who is a multi-weight world champion in his own right.

“Coming off the fight against James Kirkland in front of 31,000 screaming fans at Minute Maid Park in Houston where Canelo had an incredible, incredible impressive knockout in the third round over James Kirkland, and they say, this could be the ‘Knockout of The Year,’ he stressed.

“So for this fight against Miguel Cotto, Canelo has already started training camp. He is training hard and he will be ready for this war; and a war it will be on November 21. Mark my words, Cotto versus Canelo will be without a doubt the fight of the year. Boxing is alive and well in 2015.

“The undercard will be announced, the great, exciting cards that we will be putting together. We cannot wait.

“Both fighters will be in tremendous shape and this fight will be guaranteed fireworks come November 21,” confirmed De La Hoya.