by Radio Rahim
In several recent interviews, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach has branded Saul "Canelo" Alvarez as a lazy fighter.
On November 21st from the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) will defend his world title against Canelo (45-1-1, 32 KOs)in an HBO Pay-Per-View main event.
Roach, who trains Cotto, believes his fighter's workrate will play a major role in the outcome.
The veteran trainer has been advised that Canelo often skips out on training days - which reminds Roach of his troublesome training run with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
"I didn't really see nothing [personally], but I do own Wild Card West. I am one of the owners and I do get reports every day. I do get reports when people show up and don't show up, and he's like Chavez a little bit - he don't always show up. That alone tells me a lot," Roach explained to BoxingScene.com.
Roach has been very impressed with Cotto's work ethic during this training camp. He says the Puerto Rican star is looking very strong, very sharp and they are perfecting the proper strategy to hand Canelo another career defeat.
"He is stronger [than he was in previous camps]. He's hitting much harder. He's pivoting his shots a lot better. We worked a lot of sitting down, but sitting down for that one punch and then getting out right away. I don't want him to stay in front of his opponent for too long, because when you stay in front of your opponent for too long - he's going to hit you back. We're using combinations for that, and angles, and the angles are getting deeper and deeper - further away from me where I can't attack him. I think he's going to be very effective in this fight," Roach said.
