By Miguel Rivera
WBO junior middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34KOs) would embrace a potential rematch with Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33KOs).
The two boxers faced off last November at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, at a catch-weight of 155-pounds. Canelo walked away with a twelve round unanimous decision win and the WBC middleweight title.
Their fight was carried by HBO Pay-Per-View and generated a lot of money - with 900,000 PPV purchases. The pay-per-view buy count is higher than anything that's been generated for boxing PPVs in 2016. In fact, nothing has even come close.
Cotto has been inactive since the loss, but plans to return to the ring in early 2017.
Canelo came back in May, and knocked out Amir Khan in six rounds to retain his middleweight belt. He then vacated the WBC championship and dropped down to 154, and captured the WBO title last month with a knockout win over Liam Smith. He is planning to fight three times in 2017.
After last year's defeat, Cotto and his trainer Freddie Roach claimed robbery. They believe they did more than enough to get a decision win over Canelo.
"For me, it would be an honor to have a return fight with Miguel Angel Cotto. But let's see what happens. There have been no discussions about that [fight]. But let's see if it can be done," said Canelo to El Vocero.
However, Robert Diaz, head matchmaker for Golden Boy Promotions, was a little more direct and stated that a rematch between Cotto and Canelo is one of the realistic options for the future.
"[2017] will be a great year for Canelo, the fans and for the fans of Canelo Alvarez. Yes [a rematch with Cotto] is definitely possible. The first was very good fight and who wouldn't like to see the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico? We are very good friends with Miguel Angel Cotto, Bryan (Perez) and Hector (Soto). We are very close friends and Miguel is an exemplary sportsman," Diaz said.
