COTTO AS WBC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION IS GOOD FOR BOXING
Las Vegas, NV– Renewed life has been breathed into the boxing game as Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 KOs) accomplished what many perceived as the unthinkable. Not only did he snatch the WBC middleweight (160lb) title from long reigning champion Sergio Martinez (51-3-2, 28 KOs) Saturday, he did so in such a decisive manner that the 33 year-old Cotto appears to have options galore. Many of those options include winnable fights. Moving forward he should have considerable confidence and leverage at the negotiating table.
ALVAREZ NEEDS TO GET BY LARA FOR SUPERFIGHT WITH COTTO
The most logical bout for the new champion would be former 154lb titlist and Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (43-1-1, 31 KOs). It promises to be a mega-fight that would pit the most popular Puerto Rican fighter against Mexico’s top draw. Unfortunately to make that bout the most lucrative, Canelo must first dispatch of tricky southpaw and Cuban amateur standout Erislandy Lara (19-1-2, 12 KOs) July 12th.
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez
The bout with Cotto could still be negotiated and waged even with a loss, as losing to the Cuban wouldn’t necessarily be shameful, but obviously some of the overall luster would be diminished. Now that CEO Richard Schaefer has resigned from GoldenBoy Promotions, a co-promotion between Canelo whose handled by GoldenBoy, and Cotto, who is handled by Top Rank, becomes a reality.
OSCAR BACK AT THE HELM
Richard had stated numerous times in the press his unwillingness to do business with Top Rank. Founder Oscar De La Hoya is looking to break the stalemate between the rivaling promotional outfits and this should be a step in the right direction if the fight can get signed.
PROVODNIKOV, AKA GGG JR, RETURNS TO HBO SATURDAY
One of boxings most exciting and promising upcoming fighters headlines Saturday on HBO at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Ruslan “the Siberian Rocky” Provodnikov (23-2,16 KOs), now known by his other moniker “GGG Jr”, in reference to middleweight destroyer and WBA middleweight king Gennady “GGG” Golovkin (29-0, 26 KOs), faces novice Chris Algieri (19-0, 8 KOs).
Algieri is a good fighter, but this is perceived as a tune-up to a possible showdown with Manny Pacquiao later this year. He defends his WBO junior welterweight (140lb) title for the first time after putting a substantial beating on Mike Alvarado (34-3, 23 KOs) by 10th round TKO in October.
VIDEO:ANDY LEE SCORES ONE PUNCH KO ON COTTO MARTINEZ UNDERCARD
Junior Middleweight Andy Lee scores come from behind knockout.
-Kevin Perry