Alvarez’s Style And Physicality Will Topple Cotto

Published

9 years ago

August 26, 2015

The announcements and press tour of the upcoming catch-weight bout between WBC middleweight title holder Miguel Cotto 40-4 (33) and superstar Canelo Alvarez 45-1-1 (32) have begun.

Cotto-Alvarez is the biggest fight in boxing since the Mayweather-Pacquiao farce this past May and it’ll take place on November 21 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Boxing fans and aficionados are excited about Cotto-Alvarez because on paper and due to their fighting styles and temperment it should be a fan friendly fight.

The stipulated catch-weight of 155 shouldn’t be a factor since Cotto isn’t a true middleweight and Alvarez has been making 154 fighting as a junior middleweight his entire career. So in the main all things point to a competitive bout.

However, on the other hand if you break it down from a boxing point of view and technical aspect, everything seems to favor Alvarez. And by that I mean if you’re building a case for Cotto to win what can you build your case around? The way I see it there’s only one thing in which you can point to where Cotto clearly owns a significant advantage, and that is experience fighting the best of the best with the world watching. That’s it. Cotto has been in with virtually every big name fighter in boxing campaigning between 140-154. And if you really want to push the envelope, you could add that Cotto was more competitive with Floyd Mayweather than Alvarez was when they both fough him. But that had much to do with their fighting styles than it did Cotto actually being more formidable than Alvarez.

Fighting styles are monumental in determining the outcome between two fighters if they’re both equally skilled and world class. It was style that ultimately decided Mayweather-Pacquiao in favor of Floyd earlier this year. If you look at most of their common opponents, Pacquiao beat them more convincingly than Mayweather did…yet Manny wasn’t even Mayweather’s toughest fight.

As for Cotto-Alvarez, the style match up clearly favors Canelo, and that’s not up for debate. In order for Miguel to beat Canelo this November he’ll have to re-invent himself stylistically and fight more like Floyd Mayweather than Miguel Cotto. Good luck with that. In other words, Cotto will have to use his feet and box. And the reason for that is, Alvarez is the bigger puncher with both hands and has the better chin. So we can forget about Cotto taking it to Alvarez and trying to break him down with his body punching. In fact Cotto’s body attack will be null and void against Alvarez because he’ll be moving back and off to one side or the other. Count on that because Freddie Roach is too smart to implore Cotto to go after Alvarez. And if you’ve watched Cotto fight you know his body punching hasn’t been much of an issue or factor during the bouts in which he’s been forced to jab, box and move away.

If I’m Alvarez I’m relishing the style match up with Cotto. Alvarez isn’t good at cutting off the ring versus a fighter like Mayweather, but he’ll have no problem doing it against the slower hand and footed Cotto. None whatsoever.

In addition to that, Alvarez has an inside outside game and he can hurt Cotto with his left hook and his right hand. Cotto only has a left hook regarding his finishing punches – and he has to be moving forward to get everything on it. If he’s forced to fight in retreat as I believe he will be against Alvarez, I doubt he’ll put much hurt on Canelo. So if Cotto tries to slow the pace and box, I expect Canelo to push the fight with his jab and try to line Cotto up for his right hand, a punch he’ll somewhat be moving in to. Basically, Alvarez will have to force Cotto to rush his shots while he’s moving, a style which is very taxing physically on the fighter who is reacting to the strength and pressure of the opponent, which in this case is Cotto.

At some point during the bout Cotto is going to be forced to hold his ground and fight Canelo off. And when that occurs, you have to think the bigger guns of Alvarez and his better chin will cause Cotto to ultimately get the worst of it. Alvarez will have the easier time and come out less damaged during any fire fight that erupts between them. And when he senses that Cotto is doing everything in his power to avoid them, he’ll do everything he can to make Cotto fight and open up. When that happens Cotto will either get stopped or his vast experience may carry him the distance and he will lose the decision by a wide margin.

I’ve been a huge Cotto fan since he turned pro. He’s had a great career and picking against him is not without danger. Miguel has managed his career brilliantly. He’s fought everybody and has made a ton of money, and that’s great. He’s also smart to fight Canelo before facing Gennady Golovkin because even though I don’t see him beating Alvarez, he at least has a shot, something he wouldn’t have against Golovkin. And if he somehow gets by Alvarez, Golovkin and a ton of money will be waiting for him. But I just don’t think that’s how it will play out.

I see Alvarez having the right style and physicality to beat Cotto, and when that happens it will be Alvarez who moves onto fighting Golovkin in what will be the most anticipated bout in boxing during the year 2016. ?

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

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Frank Lotierzo

Results from the Chumash Casino where Akhmedov Gave a GGG-like Performance

Published

3 hours ago

December 13, 2024

David A. Avila

Results-from-the-Chumash-Casino-where-Akhmedov-Gave-a-GGG-like-Performance

Shades of Triple G.

Kazakhstan has another middleweight killer as Sadriddin Akhmedov overran veteran Raphael Igbokwe to win by knockout on Friday evening.

“He’s a tough guy, but I’m a tough guy too,” said Akhmedov of his Texas foe.

Akhmedov (15-0, 13 KOs) excited the crowd at Chumash Casino with a strong performance against a gritty Igbokwe (17-6, 7 Kos). The Kazakh fighter has Gennady Golovkin’s old trainer Abel Sanchez at his side.

It was evident in the first round that Akhmedov wields power, but it was also evident that Igbokwe was not going to quit. Blow after blow was absorbed by the Texas-trained fighter and he continued to press forward.

Akhmedov telegraphed his overhand rights but fired quick and accurate left hooks. Igbokwe withstood the power for round after round.

At the end of the fifth round both fighters continued to fire punches after the bell rang. It angered the two middleweights.

Akhmedov must have still been angry when the sixth round began as he erupted with a 12-punch barrage. Several big blows connected and the Texas fighter was in trouble. Though Igbokwe escaped the first barrage he was unable to avoid the second and the fight was stopped by referee Rudy Barragan at 56 seconds of the sixth round.

The Kazakhstan fighter thanked his fan support and his new trainer Sanchez.

“Every morning at 7 a.m. he wants to kill me,” Akhmedov said of Sanchez.

Other Bouts

A battle between Olympians saw Carlos Balderas (15-2, 13 KOs) knock out Cesar Villarraga (11-11-1) in the sixth round for the win at super lightweight.

A one-two combination found the mark for Balderas at 56 seconds of the sixth round. Villarraga beat the count but once the fight resumed the referee stopped the fight after Balderas connected with another right.

“My coaches told me it was there,” said Balderas of the right cross that finished the fight.

Balderas fought for Team USA in the Olympics and Villarraga for Team Colombia.

Super welterweights Jorge Maravillo (10-0-1, 8 KOs) and Damoni Cato-Cain (8-1-2) fought to a split draw after eight back-and- forth rounds.

Cain-Cato sprinted ahead for the first three rounds behind subtle pressure and focusing on the body then the head against the taller Maravillo. Then, it stopped.

Maravillo stopped retreating and used his long stiff left jabs as a probe and counter punch and became the stalker instead of the prey. It turned the fight around. But Cain-Cato was reluctant to give up too much territory and fought through a damaged left eye to keep the match tight. After eight rounds one judge saw Maravillo the winner, another saw Cato-Cain, and a third saw it even for a split draw.

It was a fitting score.

Angel Carrillo (4-0-1) out-pointed Joshua Torres (0-2-2) with combination punching and in-and-out maneuvers to win by decision. Though 14 years younger, Carrillo wore a protector near his chest. Twice he placed it far above his belly button and was never warned.

Fidencio Hernandez (3-0) was the more polished fighter and used straighter punches and a tighter defense to shut out Laguna Beach’s Josaphat Navarro (1-3-1) and won by unanimous decision.

In her pro debut Perla Bazaldua (1-0) won by knockout over Mollie Backowski (0-4) in a super flyweight contest. Bazaldua fights out of Los Angeles and has long been touted as a one of that city’s best amateur prospects. Now she is a pro.

Photo credit: Lina Baker / 360 Promotions

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 308: SoCal Rivals Rocha and Curiel Rumble and More

Published

14 hours ago

December 13, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 308: SoCal Rivals Rocha and Curiel Rumble and More

Decades ago, battles between regional warriors were as common as freeway traffic in Los Angeles during rush hour.

Bobby Chacon repped San Fernando Valley, Mando Ramos came from the docks of San Pedro, Danny “Little Red” Lopez lived in Alhambra and Ruben “Maravilla Kid” Navarro hailed from East L.A. And they rumbled repeatedly with each other.

The boxing sphere in California has grown much larger despite the closure of boxing palaces such as the Olympic Auditorium, Hollywood Legion Stadium, Great Western Forum, the L.A. Coliseum and Wrigley Field.

Those were classic venues.

Today in the 21^st century boxing continues to grow.

Golden Boy Promotions presents SoCal regional rivals Santa Ana’s Alexis Rocha (25-2, 16 KOs) facing Hollywood’s Raul Curiel (15-0,13 KOs) in a welterweight clash on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. DAZN will stream the main card and YouTube.com the remainder.

Ontario is located in the Inland Empire known as the I.E.

Rocha, 27, has grown into a crowd favorite with a crowd-pleasing style developed by Orange County boxing trainer Hector Lopez. I remember his pro debut at Belasco Theater in downtown L.A. He obliterated his foe in three rounds and the small venue erupted with applause.

Wherever Rocha goes to fight, his fans follow.

“Anyone I face is trying to take food away from my family,” said Rocha.

Curiel, 29, has traveled a different road. As a former Mexican Olympian he took the slower road toward adapting to the professional style. Freddie Roach has refined the Mexican fighter’s style and so far, he remains unbeaten with a 10-fight knockout streak.

“I want to fight the best in the division,” said Curiel who is originally from Guadalajara.

Super welter hitters

Another top-notch fighter on the card is super welterweight Charles Conwell from Cleveland, Ohio. Conwell (20-0, 15 KOs) faces Argentina’s undefeated Gerardo Vergara (20-0, 13 KOs) in the co-main event.

Conwell may be the best kept secret in boxing and has been dominating foes for the past several years. He has solid defense, good power and is very strong for this weight class. Very Strong.

“I got to go out there and dominate,” said Conwell. “This is a fight that can lead me to a world championship fight.”

Golden Boy Promotions got lucky in picking up this fighter who could compete with any super welterweight out there. Anyone.

Vergara, 30, is another Argentine product and if you know anything about that South American country, they groom strong fighters with power. Think Marcos Maidana. This will be his first true test.

“I really hope he (Conwell) backs what he is saying,” said Vergara.

Marlen Esparza vs Arely Mucino

Former flyweight world titlists finally meet, but at super flyweight.

Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza fights Mexico’s Arely Mucino in a fight that should have taken place years ago. Both are both coming off losses in title fights.

Esparza has the “fast hands” as she said and Mucino the “aggressive style” as she mentioned at the press conference on Thursday in Ontario.

It’s a 10-round affair and could mark the end for the loser.

Friday Night Fights

Undefeated middleweight Sadridden Akhmedov (14-0, 12 KOs) headlines a 360 Promotions and faces Raphael Igbokwe (17-5, 7 KOs) in the main event on Friday, Dec. 13, at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif. UFC Fight Pass will stream the event.

Akhmedov hails from Kazakhstan and if you remember legendary Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin also hails from that region. Tom Loeffler the head of 360 Promotions worked with GGG too among other legends.

Is Akhmedov the real deal?

Former American Olympian Carlos Balderas (14-2) is also on the card and fights veteran Cesar Villarraga (11-10-1) who has been known to upset favorites in the past.

Fights to Watch

Fri. UFC Fight Pass 7 p.m. Sadridden Akhmedov (14-0) vs Raphael Igbokwe (17-5).

Sat. DAZN 10:30 a.m. Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1) vs Ricardo Espinoza (30-4).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Alexis Rocha (25-2) vs Raul Curiel (15-0); Charles Conwell (20-0) vs Gerardo Vergara (20-0); Marlen Esparza (14-2) vs Arely Mucino (32-4-2).

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Cardoso, Nunez, and Akitsugi Bring Home the Bacon in Plant City

Published

2 days ago

December 11, 2024

Arne K. Lang

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Cardoso, Nunez, and Akitsugi Bring Home the Bacon in Plant City

The final ShoBox event of 2025 played out tonight at the company’s regular staging ground in Plant City, Florida. When the smoke cleared, the “A-side” fighters in the featured bouts were 3-0 in step-up fights vs. battle-tested veterans, two of whom were former world title challengers. However, the victors in none of the three fights, with the arguable exception of lanky bantamweight Katsuma Akitsugi, made any great gain in public esteem.

In the main event, a lightweight affair, Jonhatan Cardoso, a 25-year-old Brazilian, earned a hard-fought, 10-round unanimous decision over Los Mochis, Mexico southpaw Eduardo Ramirez. The decision would have been acceptable to most neutral observers if it had been deemed a draw, but the Brazilian won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice.

Cardoso, now 18-1 (15), had the crowd in his corner., This was his fourth straight appearance in Plant City. Ramirez, disadvantaged by being the smaller man with a shorter reach, declined to 28-5-3.

Co-Feature

In a 10-round featherweight fight that had no indelible moments, Luis Reynaldo Nunez advanced to 20-0 (13) with a workmanlike 10-round unanimous decision over Mexico’s Leonardo Baez. The judges had it 99-91 and 98-92 twice.

Nunez, from the Dominican Republic, is an economical fighter who fights behind a tight guard. Reputedly 85-5 as an amateur, he is managed by Sampson Lewkowicz who handles David Benavidez among others and trained by Bob Santos. Baez (22-5) was returning to the ring after a two-year hiatus.

Also

In a contest slated for “10,” ever-improving bantamweight Katsuma Akitsugi improved to 12-0 (3 KOs) with a sixth-round stoppage of Filipino import Aston Palicte (28-7-1). Akitsugi caught Palicte against the ropes and unleashed a flurry of punches climaxed by a right hook. Palicte went down and was unable to beat the count. The official time was 1:07 of round six.

This was the third straight win by stoppage for Akitsugi, a 27-year-old southpaw who trains at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in LA under Roach’s assistant Eddie Hernandez. Palicte, who had been out of the ring for 16 months, is a former two-time world title challenger at superflyweight (115).

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