Aaaand it’s over. With the huge amount of promotion and anticipation before big boxing fights, it’s easy to forget that the actual fighting lasts for a mere 36 minutes, max. With scores of 117-111, 118-110, and 119-109, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez defeated Miguel Cotto in a unanimous decision, winning the biggest Puerto Rico vs. Mexico fight since Oscar De La Hoya vs. Félix “Tito” Trinidad in 1998.
“I’m very happy, and much respect to Miguel Cotto. I will always respect him and he’s a great champion, but now it’s my era,” said the Mexican redhead with tears in his eyes in the emotional post-fight interview.
Cotto, on the other hand, was not so happy – and with reason. The fight was much closer than the judges’ scores suggest. Many boxing experts still had the fight at 115-113 for the Mexican, which means seven rounds to five for Canelo, instead of 11 to one, as one judge saw it.
“We thought it was much closer than the scorecards showed,” said Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. “It was a competitive fight. Miguel’s defense was unbelievable all night long.”
Cotto was so pissed by the scores he didn’t stay for the post-fight interview, nor did he attend the post-fight press conference. It’s obvious that the Puerto Rican is tired of all the bullshit that unfortunately forms a great part of boxing. Earlier that week, he’d been stripped of his WBC title because he refused to pay more than one million dollars in ridiculous fees.
In front of the almost 12,000 screaming fans that filled the Mandalay Bay Events Center, and to those watching on TV around the world, Canelo made it clear that he has no intention of avoiding “the most feared man in boxing,” Gennady “GGG” Golovkin.
“With all due respect, if he wants to fight right now, I’ll put the gloves on and fight him,” Canelo told HBO commentator Max Kellerman when he asked about a possible fight with Triple G in the future.
And I believe him – Canelo has not made a career by cherry picking opponents. The historic Canelo vs. Cotto fight was momentous, but one against Golovkin will be bloody, and we all know fans love it when boxing gets bloody.
So when will the Canelo-Golovkin fight happen? I believe it will take place in September 2016. I expect Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to un-retire and fight again in May, but if he doesn’t, perhaps we’ll be seeing Canelo vs. GGG very soon – and that’s what I (and every boxing fan in the world) want.