Page 34 - MIN VOS NOV 23, 2015
P. 34
A22
sportsMonday 23 November 2015
Triple G and Canelo could be boxing’s next big thing
TIM DAHLBERG That didn’t happen Satur- are beginning to thirst for. of them can make in a punches, landing 118 of
AP Boxing Writer day night at the Manda- Two big punching middle- fight that would match two them to 75 for Cotto.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Canelo lay Bay casino, but Alvarez weights in their prime with big punchers in their prime. The pro-Alvarez crowd that
Alvarez hadn’t even had may not have to wait long. all the major titles and box- “I’m not afraid of any- filled the Mandalay Bay
time to celebrate his win The two biggest names in ing supremacy at stake. body,” Alvarez said. arena liked what they saw
over Miguel Cotto when the middleweight division “Gennady Golovkin is a Alvarez staked his claim from the Mexican star, es-
the subject of Gennady are on a collision course great fighter, and he is to being the best in the pecially in the later rounds
Golovkin came up. that could end with them in my friend,” Alvarez said. “I division with a unanimous when the two traded more
Golovkin was watching at the ring together sometime have respect for him, but decision over Cotto that punches. Most were on
ringside, and had to like next year in a megafight if we do fight, it’s going wasn’t as lopsided as the their feet in the final round
what he heard. that could make many to be at my weight class. three judges scoring ring- when the two went toe-to-
“With all due respect, if he fans forget the retired Floyd I’m the champion, and I side made it look. One toe in the early moments of
wants to fight right now I’ll Mayweather Jr. don’t have to do what he gave Alvarez 11 of the 12 the round.
put the gloves on and fight It’s a fight both boxers wants.” rounds in a fight that Cotto Alvarez, who blamed in-
him,” Alvarez said. want, and one fight fans Alvarez can afford to be was competitive in all the experience for the only
Canelo Alvarez, of Mexico, celebrates his win over Miguel Cotto, of Puerto Rico,during a WBC
middleweight title bout Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, in Las Vegas. Associated Press
picky, but not for long. The way to the final bell. loss of his career — a 2013
160-pound title he won by Alvarez never really decision to Mayweather —
beating Cotto comes with seemed to hurt Cotto, solidified his position as a
strings attached — a man- though he threw the hard- pay-per-view draw in the
date by the WBC for him er punches all night. While fight. The red-head known
to fight his fellow middle- Cotto tried to mix it up and simply as “Canelo” among
weight champion in a unifi- box from the outside, Alva- fans has consistently drawn
cation bout. rez patiently walked him big, enthusiastic crowds.
One scenario would be for into some big shots that The performance against
both boxers to fight other proved the difference. Cotto will surely draw more
opponents in the spring It wasn’t a great fight, but fans to his side.
— Alvarez has the Cinco it was certainly a good But Triple G has his fan
de Mayo weekend May- one. And while Cotto was base, too, selling out Madi-
weather always favored bitterly disappointed, the son Square Garden last
for his big pay-per-view outcome was almost surely month for a dominating
fights already lined up — good for a sport thirsting for win over David Lemieux.
and then meet in Septem- good young talent. It was Golovkin’s pay-per-
ber. Cotto left the ring quick- view debut and, though it
“This fight will take Canelo ly after the fight, leaving didn’t sell in big numbers,
to a whole new level,” said trainer Freddie Roach to the fight was a coming
Oscar De La Hoya, who speak for his effort. out bout of sorts for those
promotes Alvarez. “This is a “We thought it was much not familiar with the unde-
new era in our sport.” closer than the score cards feated knockout artist from
This being boxing, of showed,” Roach said. “It Kazakhstan, who now lives
course, there’s no guar- was a very competitive in Los Angeles.
antee the fight will take fight.” With Mayweather retired,
place. The two fighters That was reflected in ring- there’s an opening for oth-
have different promoters side stats that showed Cot- er fighters to take his place.
and differing agendas. to throwing more punches Unlike Mayweather, both
But they know each other (629-484) than Alvarez but Alvarez and Golovkin bring
well and have sparred to- landing less (155-129). Al- plenty of firepower into the
gether several times. They varez was credited with ring, something that fight
also know the millions each throwing more power fans love to see.q
