WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Miguel A. Cotto (37-2, 30 KO’s)has plenty to be happy about this Christmas. He was able to avenge his first defeat to Antonio Margarito on December 3rd in Madison Square Garden. He defeated Margarito by a doctor stoppage in the beginning of the 10th round to earn Cotto the TKO. Since his win over Antonio Margarito, many are wondering what will be next for Cotto? Who will his next opponent be? He has plenty of options for next year, but a lot has to do with the latest rumor of him staying with Top Rank or leaving. Let’s take a look at who could be in Cotto’s future for next year.
WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (44-0-1, 31 KO’s) – After the Cotto vs Margarito fight, Bob Arum mentioned a possible fight between Miguel Cotto and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr . This particular fight would be interesting to see how Arum will make it work, especially since Cotto is not a middleweight and Chavez Jr. has had some issues making weight at 160. The question will then become at what weight will this fight happen? Chavez Jr. could be too much for the smaller junior middleweight, Miguel Cotto. Chavez Jr. at times comes in weighing as a cruiserweight as much as 180 pounds on fight night. That weight will be too much of a disadvantage for Cotto. Julio’s size and power will give Cotto plenty of problems as the fight goes along, unless Cotto stays on his feet not giving the middleweight champion a chance to plant his feet. Chavez Jr. facing Cotto will give him the name recognition he needs, but will also have many people wondering why he is fighting a smaller junior middleweight instead of fighting a true middleweight. If the fight was to happen, Chavez Jr. will win by late TKO.
WBC Junior Middleweight Champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (39-0-1, 29 KO’s) – Saul Alvarez vs Miguel Cotto would be a very good fight and would give Alvarez his first real legit test at the elite level. The fight would match up one of boxing greatest rivalries in Mexico vs Puerto Rico, which never seems to disappoint when you have two of its top fighters facing each other. The fight could go either way, Alvarez has not been “tested”, as of yet but does posses the power and skills to defeat Cotto. Alvarez has shown the patience’s of a seasoned veteran when he is inside the ring, he waits for the right moment to attack. Alvarez’s ability to understand his opponent and adjust to them is something you normally don’t see in a young 21 year old champion. Alvarez is the current WBC Junior Middleweight Champion that can use Cotto to catapult himself into further international super stardom, if he was to defeat the veteran champion Miguel Cotto. The fight is a tough one to call and to me it’s a tossup as to who wins, too many questions to be answered in this fight.
WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout (24-0, 14 KO’s) – Trout has been Cotto’s mandatory challenger for quite some time now. Trout has been calling Cotto out for the recent past years, looking for his shot at the title. Austin is a young undefeated champion looking to make a name for himself by proving he can compete with the top fighters in the division. He has good power, stamina and very good boxing skills that could give Cotto trouble if the fight were to go 12 rounds. Trout has the potential of stopping Cotto with pressure or he could box Cotto and win by decision. Like Saul Alvarez, this fight with Cotto will also be Trout’s toughest test in his young career and see if he truly belongs among the elites. I have no doubt that this fight would be a good fight for both but especially more for Austin. Another tossup fight for me to predict but you the readers can decided.
WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) – Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been mentioned to be a possible fighter that Miguel Cotto could face in 2012. This fight is something boxing fans have been wanting to see years ago when Mayweather Jr. was consistently active in the division and Cotto was an undefeated Champion. None the less, this would be a big payday and well deserved for Miguel Cotto. The fight could be made at 147 or 150 which both fighters could easily make. The question will be how Cotto will handle a great defensive fighter with fast hands and quick feet? Mayweather Jr. is known for making fighters look average especially those who have Cotto’s style. The fight would be Cotto’s biggest PPV and earning but I don’t see him walking away with the win….sorry. Floyd Mayweather Jr. will dance circles around Cotto out boxing him in every round winning by unanimous decision. Ofcourse in order for this fight to happen, Cotto would have to leave Top Rank.
WBO Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KO’s) – A rematch with Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto has also been rumored to take place and is more likely to happen before any of the others. Bob Arum represents both fighters, which would be easier for him to make it happen, especially since he would not have to deal with Golden Boy Promotion or Floyd Mayweather Jr. Promotions. A rematch with Pacquiao would make sense since Cotto suffered his second defeat to Manny. If the fight were to happen, we could expect Cotto to correct the mistakes he committed in their first fight. One of those mistakes that Cotto can easily correct is making sure he has a REAL trainer in his corner. Unlike his first fight when he had Joe Santiago as his trainer, who was really his cutman was given the title as trainer. Pacquiao vs Cotto II could have a different ending then from the first fight. It will all come down to WHO Miguel Cotto will have as his trainer for the rematch. Manny will still give Cotto problems with his speed, volume of punches and the different angles that they will be coming from, as he did before. Depending on who Cotto will have as his trainer can determine how the fight will unfold, but if I gun to my head, I would pick Pacquiao by unanimous decision.
As a fan of boxing I would like to see Miguel Cotto face either Austin Trout or Saul Alvarez next year. Austin Trout deserves to get his chance at facing the WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Miguel Cotto because he is the mandatory challenger. Trout has been fighting his way to the top of the division the old fashion way, by fighting. He does not have the luxury that some of the younger fighters have like Chavez Jr. and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Those two have big time promoters backing them up, while Trout does not. Alvarez would be another good fight for Cotto to have next year. This would be good for the sport of boxing to see Cotto take on two of boxing young rising stars who are undefeated. All we can do now is sit and wait, wondering what will boxing have in stored for the fans next year.
I would love to hear the boxing fans thought as to who Miguel Cotto should fight next on the comment section below.
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