WBO middleweight champion, Andy Lee, is keeping a close eye on Saturday’s Mexico v Puerto Rico mega-clash, predicting the experience of 4-weight world titlist Miguel Cotto will be enough to see off young Mexican challenger, ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in Las Vegas.
After failing to negotiate a reduction in the WBC sanctioning fees for the fight, Cotto’s recognition as the organisation’s middleweight champion was withdrawn, meaning the title is only on the line for Alvarez to win.
Should Cotto emerge victorious on Saturday night, then interim WBC champion, Gennady Golovkin will be upgraded to full titlist, adding the green belt to the WBA/IBF 160 lb straps he already owns.
It’s a situation Lee can see becoming reality.
“I’m going against the grain and picking Cotto,” he said. “He’s boxing very cleverly at the moment and I see him using all his experience to box around Canelo.
“At his best, Miguel has excellent rhythm and I believe he can use that to frustrate Alvarez, who I expect will come looking to take him out with one spectacular punch. Cotto on points.”
Lee will fight his mandatory challenger, unbeaten former Olympian, Billy Joe Saunders on Dec. 19 in Manchester, with a view to then ostensibly fighting Golovkin at some point next year, provided he overcomes the Hatfield southpaw next month of course.
Speaking about Saturday’s clash himself, Saunders is predicting Alvarez to walk out with the belt around his waist, although his loyalties were admittedly slightly divided.
“I believe that Alvarez will be too fresh for Cotto,” he said. “He has got too much on his side, like youth, strength and speed, and I think Cotto may be just on the slide now. I think Alvarez will win by late stoppage, but it’s going to be a cracking fight.
“There’s a side of me that would like to see Cotto win because he was my favorite fighter as a kid and I would have liked to have fought a great like him. Maybe I still could down the line, but first things first with me [fighting Andy].”
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