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Home » Roach: Big step-up for Canelo, Cotto will take him to school

Roach: Big step-up for Canelo, Cotto will take him to school

Cotto puts his WBC middleweight belt up for grabs against Mexican superstar Canelo and Roach is adamant that the four-weight world champion can out-muscle the former 154lb title holder when the pair collide at the Mandalay Bay.

“We have a big game plan for Miguel and we are going to work on that together. He’ll be in great shape of course,” said the five-time Trainer of the Year.

“I don’t think he’s stronger than us to be honest with you, and I don’t think that’s a factor in the fight. I think we’re stronger than him. I think we’re the better puncher, and we will show on fight night.

“But we will come up with a big game plan like we did in the last three fights. Miguel is a really hard worker and he’s very dedicated. Me and him, we do work very well together and I expect this to be one of the greatest fights of all time.”

On what he makes of Canelo’s recent progress, Roach added: “He’s a good fighter. He’s a young guy. He’s a good puncher. He’s been in there with everybody.

“I think his last fight, it wasn’t a very high calibre opponent; and then someone told me, ours wasn’t either. And I said, no, ours was; ours was a former two time world champion.

“I think this is a big step up for him and I think that Miguel will take him to school. I think we’re just too smart. We’re going to come out with a really good, great game plan.

“Miguel and I worked really hard on that, we work really hard together and we are going to be at our best for this one. Again, this is a big, big fight for us.”

Cotto vs. Canelo, a 12-round fight for Cotto’s WBC and Ring Magazine Middleweight World Championships, takes place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The fight is presented by Roc Nation Sports, Golden Boy Promotions, Miguel Cotto Promotions and Canelo Promotions and sponsored by Corona Extra; Mexico, Live it to Believe it! and O’Reilly Auto Parts. The event will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.