By Miguel Rivera

Gavin McMillan, the strength and conditioning coach of WBC middleweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto (40-4, 33KOs) of Puerto Rico, says the fighter is looking fierce in camp as he prepares for his scheduled title defense against Mexican superstar Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (45-1-1) on November 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

McMillan has already has spent three weeks working with Cotto, trainer Freddie Roach and assistant coach Marvin Somodio.

He says Cotto, who is almost 35-years-old, is in much better condition than he was for previous middleweight bouts with Sergio 'Maravilla' Martinez and Daniel Geale.

McMillan takes offense with some of the comments being made by Cotto's critics and even members of Canelo's team - regarding Cotto's victories over Martinez and Geale at middleweight.

Many feel Martinez was physically damaged coming into that fight and Geale was very drained from making a required catch-weight of 157-pounds. McMillan says both fighters had a big size advantage over Cotto, who himself admits that he's a natural junior middleweight. The fight with Canelo takes place at 155-pounds.

"This time Miguel is in much better than when he prepared for Martinez, and better than he was for the bout with Geale. I think the magnitude of this fight because has made him think more and he's been working very hard. The youth of Canelo will not be factor," McMillan said to El Vocero.

"I've said many times. Miguel is the smartest fighter I've ever seen and I've worked with. I think it's ridiculous that people still think Miguel is not at a high level or that his past opponents were not quality. Miguel is naturally 154 pounds, not a 160-pounder. He destroyed two opponents [with] a difference of nearly 20 pounds. Martinez was a great fighter and he was champion. Geale unified titles. But unfortunately, you can't make the whole world happy."

"We have five weeks left and we have been working with fighters who are 10 years younger than Miguel. They've all felt his hands and they all leave very sore. We are already at a stage where we are using different sparring partners. We are at a moment where there is a lot of focus because we have five weeks to the fight. But I can guarantee that Miguel is stronger than any fighter ten years younger."