Comments Thread For: Cotto Eyes Canelo Fight, But Won't Be Pressured

[Bronx2245]

I would almost guarantee that any such agreement gives Cotto some wiggle room.

I don't know how much wiggle room Cotto has:

April 15, 2015

If Cotto defeats Geale and former junior middleweight titleholder Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs) defeats James Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) on May 9 at Minute Maid park in Houston, they will meet in an HBO PPV showdown in the fall, likely in September. Multiple sources directly involved in the fight told ESPN.com that the deal is done...

HBO, which has Alvarez under exclusive contract -- the Kirkland bout is his first on the deal -- and has been involved with Cotto for much of his career, was not interested in putting on the fight with Geale or any other B-level opponent unless it secured a big-time fight for him for the fall, which it has now done and the reason the network got behind the fight with Geale, which figures to be a solid matchup in its own right...

He fought Martinez at a contract weight of 159 pounds, one below the 160-pound division limit. With much more leverage against Geale, he insisted that he come down to 157 pounds and made no apologies.

"I had to do it before when I faced Manny Pacquiao. He made me come down to 145 pounds," Cotto told ESPN.com of his 2009 knockout loss to Pacquiao in a welterweight title fight. "Pacquiao used any advantage he had against me and I will do the same with everybody in the division. I am a small middleweight and I need to use this to my advantage."

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/12698400/miguel-cotto-fight-daniel-geale-canelo-alvarez-next

[bigjer88]

Because Cotto fights 16 times a year?

I think why people say that stuff is everyone knows he will retire soon so it just seems like he's wasting time and making fans wait.

That's funny -- and exactly why a football analogy doesn't work.

I'm disappointed that he hasn't fought since last June, and I was surprised that he signed a three-fight contract. But people who crucify fighters like Cotto -- a guy who has definitely suffered in the ring and has earned where he is today -- need to get a life.

[DblLFThooK]

Cotto is one the most over rated fighters out there. A true diva as well. Has never defeated and A level fighter. Sig win is juda? Big deal. He fights left overs: marargrito was damaged goods and nearly was unable to get licensed due to pac breaking his orbital bone, sergio had no legs...oh he wont fight ggg because he is not a big enough name? Haha. But he will gladly fight his leftovers degeal...please he is done. Canelo whoops him and ggg ends his career. Truth.

[bigjer88]

I don't know how much wiggle room Cotto has:

April 15, 2015

If Cotto defeats Geale and former junior middleweight titleholder Alvarez (44-1-1, 31 KOs) defeats James Kirkland (32-1, 28 KOs) on May 9 at Minute Maid park in Houston, they will meet in an HBO PPV showdown in the fall, likely in September. Multiple sources directly involved in the fight told ESPN.com that the deal is done...

HBO, which has Alvarez under exclusive contract -- the Kirkland bout is his first on the deal -- and has been involved with Cotto for much of his career, was not interested in putting on the fight with Geale or any other B-level opponent unless it secured a big-time fight for him for the fall, which it has now done and the reason the network got behind the fight with Geale, which figures to be a solid matchup in its own right...

He fought Martinez at a contract weight of 159 pounds, one below the 160-pound division limit. With much more leverage against Geale, he insisted that he come down to 157 pounds and made no apologies.

"I had to do it before when I faced Manny Pacquiao. He made me come down to 145 pounds," Cotto told ESPN.com of his 2009 knockout loss to Pacquiao in a welterweight title fight. "Pacquiao used any advantage he had against me and I will do the same with everybody in the division. I am a small middleweight and I need to use this to my advantage."

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id...o-alvarez-next

You would need to see the actual agreement he signed to know what his obligations are. You can't rely on a journalist's superficial summary.

[bigjer88]

Cotto is one the most over rated fighters out there. A true diva as well. Has never defeated and A level fighter. Sig win is juda? Big deal. He fights left overs: marargrito was damaged goods and nearly was unable to get licensed due to pac breaking his orbital bone, sergio had no legs...oh he wont fight ggg because he is not a big enough name? Haha. But he will gladly fight his leftovers degeal...please he is done. Canelo whoops him and ggg ends his career. Truth.

You forgot Mosely. That was the fight that won me over to Cotto. He made adjustments in the mid-to-late rounds and outboxed Mosely in the championship rounds.

[Joe Beamish]

The era of A sides draining B sides below the weight division, but still keeping the belt anyway.

Cotto's going to keep his lineal MIDDLEWEIGHT belt fighting guys at 148 and stuff

[OnePunch]

You forgot Mosely. That was the fight that won me over to Cotto. He made adjustments in the mid-to-late rounds and outboxed Mosely in the championship rounds.

mosley was 76 years old when they fought.

[Scipio2009]

Cotto doesn't have a choice. HBO wouldn't air his upcoming fight unless he signed an offer sheet to fight Canelo. He can try and pull out of the fight or stall to kill the fight again but HBO will step in and make it happen. Canelo will beat this older version of Cotto easily.

Cotto's next fight is likely against Canelo.

There's likely nothing in the actual offer sheet that locks Cotto into the Mexican Independence Day date (that Canelo is pushing for) or locks Cotto to a venue.

Cotto will have his fight in early June, take a few weeks off to be with his family, and then return to camp (hopefully Gabby Penegarcino would already have started the negotiations with Golden Boy by then).

The negotiations will likely be a pain (Cotto knows that Alvarez needs his name to build up his own drawing power, and will make that utterly clear in the talks), and there's probably no chance that the fight happens in September (let alone at a venue selling $10 tickets).

Cotto-Alvarez, likely happening November/December, and likely at AT&T Stadium/Barclays Center/MGM Grand/The Forum/MSG/Staples Center.

Fight gets put together, but not on Alvarez's schedule (if he insists on the September date, Cotto and his representatives can simply argue that Alvarez is unwilling to fulfill the offer sheet)

[bigjer88]

mosley was 76 years old when they fought.

Ha! Past his prime, but not washed-up. Still very dangerous.

[Tay Roc]

Canelo just pulled 2M. Cotto ain't the A side of ****. He's already agreed preliminarily to fight Canelo, so he WILL BE pressured by both Canelo and HBO. What an idiot. The only reason HBO is televising your fight with Caniel Geale is because you're contractually obligated to fight Canelo afterward.

Canelo and HBO are Cotto's new daddies.