Roach Doubts Canelo is Serious About Cotto: He Won't Fight Us!

By Radio Rahim

Last Friday, WBO junior middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34KOs) discussed the possibility of a rematch with Miguel Cotto (40-5, 33KOs).

Their anticipated fight took place last November at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, at a catch-weight of 155-pounds. Canelo captured the WBC middleweight (vacated days earlier by Cotto) with a twelve round unanimous decision.

After their pay-per-view generated 900,000 buys, there was certainly a lot of interest in a rematch. The fight was competitive and a little closer than the scorecards indicated.

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who trains Cotto, believes his fighter was the rightful winner of that match. Cotto also agrees with is opinion.

Cotto has been out of the ring since the loss to Canelo and won't be back in action again until the first quarter of 2017. Canelo has already had two fights since that victory, with knockouts of Amir Khan (in May) and Liam Smith (in September). He was scheduled to take a third fight in December, but suffered a hand injury that forced him to withdraw.

According to Canelo, he is very much on board with a second fight. 

"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.

Roach doubts the Mexican superstar is serious. After their first fight, Roach claims that numerous requests were made for a rematch and they were largely ignored by Canelo and his handlers.

"That is a fight I want, but it's a fight that is not possible at this point.  He won't fight us. His people.... believe me we asked for the fight.. but no [he won't fight us]," Roach told BoxingScene.com.