What’s next for Cotto?

What’s next for Cotto?

By M.DeTyrone

Well before and after the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez defeat there has been some controversy due to the final scoring by the judges in Las Vegas and many believing Cotto had won the fight or at least obtained a draw. At any rate, leading up to the fight the WBC (based out of Mexico City) stripped Cotto of his WBC middleweight title because Cotto refused to pay a reported $300 thousand USD sanctioning fee, which the WBC declined to negotiate, plus there was side step money for Gennady “GGG” Golovkin reported to be around $800 thousand USD. The result Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fought for the Vacant WBC World middleweight title in which he won a UD by the scores of Burt A. Clements 110-118, Dave Moretti 109-119, and John McKaie 111-117.

Many in boxing understood that no matter what Cotto did on Nov 21. Outside of knocking out a 25-year-old “Canelo” with a 20 lbs. weight advantage near death, he wasn’t going to win in Las Vegas. There was too much invested in “Canelo” by the boxing business and ethnic favoritism for Cotto to win. The belief by many is that from the moment, Cotto signed the fight vs. “Canelo” he was already the underdog and everything was in place for the Puerto Rican to lose his Mexican based WBC title to the young Mexican.

Miguel Cotto 40-5 (33KOs) at age 35 after his defeat at the hands of Austin Trout in 2012 bounced back to win 3 times via KO and made history by becoming the only Puerto Rican boxer to win 4 world titles in 4 divisions. He has one fight left under contract with the promotional company Roc Nation and he’s stated that he’ll return in mid-2016 that is very likely on June 11, 2016. Cotto has made 153.5 in his last two fights so Cotto’s best options are to fight for the WBA Super World super welterweight title if Mayweather Jr. vacates, or for the WBA world super welterweight title if Erislandy Lara vacates to fight the winner of Jacobs vs. Quillin. There’s also the WBO Super Welterweight title … Liam Smith? I doubt it but I’ve seen worse.

Then there is a rematch vs. “Canelo,” stuck in the Cinnamon division of 155 lbs. and will not fight anyone above or below it… If Cotto should fight the rematch he should make sure, that Canelo comes down to 154 lbs.  Moreover, fight in NYC if not he shouldn’t accept the fight and let Golden Boy Promotions with Canelo on their way. The biggest mistake Cotto made was accepting to fight in Vegas, associating himself with a Mexican promotional company (GBP) and Mexican sanctioning body (WBC), not having a 10 lbs. weight stipulation after the weigh in, and not having a legit boxing promoter. Cotto would be a fool to accept a rematch vs. Canelo during the Cinco de Mayo celebration, and if he does then he’s fighting only for the money.

It’s too early to know what’s next for Cotto outside that he’ll back with Roach and fight in mid-2016 likely on June 11, 2016.