Boxing Preview: ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs. Miguel Cotto

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) vs. Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs)

It’s Mexico vs. Puerto Rico with plenty at stake for both men as Canelo Alvarez meets Miguel Cotto for the title of lineal middleweight champion at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Forget that Cotto was stripped of his WBC title this week; the winner of this 155-pound catch-weight contest will be recognized as the middleweight champion regardless. Alvarez has rebounded from his September 2013 loss to Floyd Mayweather in impressive fashion, earning successive triumphs over Alfredo Angulo, Erislandy Lara and James Kirkland in his last three outings. Cotto, meanwhile, has experienced a late-career resurgence under the guidance of new trainer Freddie Roach and has posted dominant victories against Sergio Martinez and Daniel Geale in his last two appearances.

So sit back and enjoy: One of boxing’s best fights of 2015 airs on HBO pay-per-view beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

The Matchup: Because he has been on the boxing fan’s radar since he was 15, sometimes it’s easy to forget that Alvarez is still just 25 years old. The wildly popular Mexico native was just 23 years old when he was outboxed by Mayweather, giving him plenty of time to develop, grow and improve as a fighter. Thus far, it appears that he is doing just that.

Alvarez is known as an offensive-minded boxer who can land in combination and possesses power in both hands. What makes Alvarez so difficult to defend is his ability to string a variety of punches together, changing levels and angles consistently enough to keep opponents guessing. Additionally, he is an adept counter puncher who will punish foes who attempt to pressure him. Recently, Alvarez has shown an increased affinity for using feints to set up his attacks, which makes his power that much more dangerous.

While Alvarez can be hittable because of his offense-first approach, he has decent head movement and a rock-solid chin, as he has rarely been visibly hurt in a fight. He can, however, struggle with quicker opponents who have good footwork and ring command.

While Alvarez has tested himself quite well for a fighter as young as he is, the 35-year-old Cotto is as experienced as they come. A former Olympian with a decorated amateur career, Cotto is the first Puerto Rican to hold championships in four different weight classes. Much will be made of the 10-year age difference between Cotto and Canelo, and while Cotto has been in his share of wars over the years, he looked outstanding in dispatching Geale and Martinez.

A converted southpaw who can switch stances when the need arises, Cotto is equally comfortable playing the role of boxer or brawler, which is a product of having learned under several different trainers over the course of his career. That versatility should serve him well against an adversary who will have a clear size and strength advantage come fight night.

Alvarez may be the bigger hitter, but Cotto’s footwork and in-and-out movement could give his opponent fits. The Puerto Rican has better foot speed and is more elusive than Canelo, and it is a virtual guarantee that he will maintain his composure as he looks to pick his man apart during exchanges.

Cotto plays off his outstanding jab, which lands from different ranges with surprising power. He angles out to set up his attacks nicely and is especially dangerous in the pocket, where he can even land straight punches at close range. Cotto works the body judiciously, particularly with his left hook. He also gets the nod in accuracy against the harder hitting Alvarez.

The Pick: Cotto is the type of ring general who can give Alvarez trouble, particularly if the 25-year-old paces himself early to conserve energy for later rounds. That could end up costing him in a close decision. Still, it can be difficult to measure the type of improvement a fighter as young as Alvarez can experience from bout to bout. Cotto is his toughest test to date, but given the way he has bounced back from the loss to Mayweather in recent months, it appears Alvarez is up to the task. Alvarez by decision.