By Mark Vester
The strength and conditioning coach of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Alex Ariza, believes his fighter will overpower WBA 154-pound champion Miguel Cotto in the same manner as Antonio Margarito. Top Rank, the promotional company for both Chavez and Cotto, are planning to match them on December 4.
Speaking with Chris Robinson of The Examiner, Ariza said Chavez would be too big and too strong for the much smaller Cotto, and would probably overpower the smaller man like Antonio Margarito did in 2008. Ariza said Chavez's trainer Freddie Roach already has the plan on how to beat Cotto. Margarito gave up many of the early rounds but his size and power eventually wore Cotto down in the late rounds.
Chavez will be training with Manny Pacquiao as they share the same trainer in Roach. Pacquiao will be preparing for the November 13 clash with Antonio Margarito. Chavez will play the role of Margarito during their sparring. Ariza says Chavez wants to come forward and be aggressive against Cotto, which is the same strategy Margarito used. Chavez has a better defense than Margarito and won't eat as many punches coming inside.
“The thing is that Freddie already knows how to beat Cotto. It’s a really good fight, especially for a guy like Chavez who is young and likes to challenge himself. I think having an eight week camp instead of four weeks, which is what we had to get ready for [John] Duddy, is going to be a big difference. I think the main thing will be that Freddie knows how to beat Cotto and Chavez is going to be too big and too strong,” Ariza said.
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