Alvarez outlasts Cotto to win middleweight title

If he can gain a win today against one of the biggest figures in the Middleweight division it will propel Alvarez to a new level, however, Miguel Cotto will not be fazed by today’s clash, and will be confident he has the experience and tools to get the job done.

Cotto is hoping to continue his rebirth under trainer Freddie Roach. Burt Clements saw it 110-118, Dave Moretti scored it 109-119, and John McKaie rated it 111-117 all for Alvarez for a unanimous decision.

The victor said in the ring afterwards: “Much respect to Miguel Cotto”. Canelo should fight GGG to test out his ability.

“We knew going into this fight it would be a hard journey, but I feel I was the faster and stronger fighter tonight”. Golovkin’s reputation as a power puncher could come into play with the possibility of losing a few of his ability to hurt the opponent by coming down in weight. As the possibility looms that it could be his last fight, he may want to go out with a bang, and what better way to exit than to take on the newly crowned champion.

For Cotto, the disappointment was enormous.

When Alvarez (46-1-1) was pressed after the fight about what he’ll do next, he simply flexed his muscles.

“Wow”, Cotto said upon hearing the decision.

“I don’t need a title”, Cotto said. “That’s all that matters”.

The Puerto Rican was stripped of the WBC middleweight title on the eve of the fight after he refused to pay a $300,000 (Dh1.1m) sanctioning fee demanded by the body.

Obstacles for an immediate fight with Golovkin are Alvarez’s hesitation to agree to fight at a 160-pound limit after Saturday’s 155-pound catchweight fight, and a concern that Golovkin, after drawing only 150,000 pay-per-view buys in October, is still building his brand.

Still, for arguably the most competitive and exciting boxing match of 2016, the two protagonists still ended the fight with mutual respect as Fox Sports posted a short clip of Canelo and Cotto embracing each other and exchanging kind words immediately after the final bell rang.

Cotto (40-4, 33 KO) and Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KO) are both stars in the sport, with legitimate fan bases that overfilled the ballroom at the venue for Friday’s weigh-in.

Things really picked up in the eighth round.

Alvarez used the jab more as the fight went on, which helped set up his patented left hook that left Cotto stunned on more than one occasion.

Cotto clearly knew he had to begin closing the gap, and it appeared he was doing so. Alvarez showed off far more defense with fluid head movement than in his only career loss, to Mayweather two years ago, but never at the detriment of the fight.

All three judges agreed Alvarez had won the contest comfortably, awarding him between nine and 11 of the 12 rounds. In round ten, Cotto had good footwork and an effective jab going, landing a heavy handed right to win the round.

The 25-year-old, unbeaten since losing to Floyd Mayweather in 2013, could now fight unified WBA and IBF champion at 160lbs Gennady Golovkin.

“I’m not afraid of any fighter”, Alvarez said. While he made his riches from cable television, I’ll best remember him for creating ” ” and building up World Championship Wrestling and starting the during the 1990s. But Miura gathered himself and took control.

Junior lightweight Francisco Vargas (23-0-1, 17 KOs) of Mexico survived a fourth-round knockdown to stop Takashi Miura in the ninth round.

But when the ninth started, it was all Vargas.