Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) stakes his WBC middleweight championship against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KO´s), adding another exciting chapter of rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico.
In his last bout, Saul “ Canelo” Alvarez, defeated James “ The Mandingo Warrior” Kirkland with an impressive KO in the third stanza. While Miguel Cotto, also notched a wonderful performance defending his WBC crown defeating Daniel Geale with a TKO in the 4th round.
After this great bout was officially announced, both fighters gave their impression via a media conference. This is what these boxers told Doug Fischer from The Ring magazine.
“I began thinking about fighting Cotto about three years ago,” Alvarez said through Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Robert Diaz. “My group, me and my team have all been thinking about this fight for a few years, and moving closer to it with every bout. And then fans started clamoring for it, so it’s been utmost in our minds. Even three years ago, I knew I could win. I knew I was ready.
“I’m also happy and honored to be fighting a great fighter…Cotto. I always watched him fight growing up, and I like his style as well as his boxing ability.
“These are the type of fights I’ve always wanted. Fights against fighters who have had illustrious careers, like Cotto. This is a guaranteed fight.
“That’s why I’ve been craving this. It’s a fight with a lot of responsibility because I know it can go down in history as one of the great fights between Mexico and Puerto Rico.”
Cotto was somewhat more subdued regarding his next opponnet, probably beacuse the fighter from Caguas, Puerto Ricas, has faced Mayweather, Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Sergio Martinez, Antonio Margarito and Zab Judah.
“This fight is just another big fight,” Cotto laconically said in English. “I’m going to go to L.A. (for training camp) and do my best as always to be ready for Vegas and to beat Canelo on Nov. 21.
“The fights with Mayweather, Martinez, Pacquiao, everybody I faced in my era, were all big fights. Canelo is just another big name. That’s how I see it.”
“Every fight is different,” Cotto said. “Canelo is a better boxer than Margarito was. I know it’s going to be a great fight, a huge fight for all the fans and I’m going to do my best. Everybody knows what a fight between a Mexican and a Puerto Rican means to fans, and people can expect the same…plus from us.”
Cotto’s trainer, Freddie Roach stressed: “He’s a good young fighter, he’s got some skill and a good punch. He’s been in there with a lot of guys, but this is a big step up for him,” Roach insists: “Miguel will be too smart for him. We’re gonna be at our best for this one because this is a big, big fight for us.
Oscar De La Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions said:
“It will have everything that fans want to see in boxing and that is action and intensity, Mark my words, this will be fight of the year. Boxing is alive and well in 2015.”
