By Miguel Rivera
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach would have loved the idea of ??a rematch between his protege Miguel Angel Cotto and WBO 154-pound champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez (48-1-1, 34 KOs).
Instead, Cotto is taking on James Kirkland - and Canelo is going to a catch-weight of 164.5 to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6th. It will be Cotto's first fight since losing a twelve round decision to Canelo in November 2015.
The noted trainer thinks that Cotto and Kirkland, who will meet February 25 in Frisco, Texas, will deliver a much better show than what is expected from the much-talked-about clash between Canelo and Chavez Jr.
Roach's theory: Chávez Jr.'s indiscipline will prevent him from arriving in the best physical condition to face Canelo.
The veteran coach is pushing for the rematch to happen, because he believes his boxer was robbed of a win.
"I've always liked the idea of ??Miguel having a rematch with Canelo Alvarez," said Roach to Carlos Narvaez. "I thought we won and it's a fight we deserve. It was a terrible decision and I've always believed that it would be a very good fight for the close of Miguel's career. Maybe it can happen later [this year], who knows."
"But I think now that our fight with Kirkland will be more exciting. It's a stay-busy fight. Kirkland is strong. He is a very rugged fighter and we will have to take it round by round. But Chavez Jr. is there calling me ten times a day to help him, and the reality is that at this point I don't have time for him. Besides, he's the same as he was the last time [I trained him]."
Roach adds his fourth week of work with Cotto (40-5, 33KO's) and he expects Kirkland to do everything possible to win.
"Kirkland is a tough fighter, as I mentioned. And our plan is aimed at going to the body and taking away the strength of his legs. I can't say that Miguel is going to knock him out in one, two or three rounds. This is boxing and anything can happen, but maybe it's a possibility in the later rounds. We will not go for the knockout. If it comes, fine. But I can say that it will be a better fight than Canelo-Chavez Jr.," Roach reiterated.
