IF Freddie Roach has his way, his fighter Miguel Cotto will knock out “robotic” Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez on Saturday night, get a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jnr, and then retire.
“Miguel has a great training camp for this fight,” said Roach – always good value for a quote in Fight Week. “We’re 100 per cent ready for this fight, the biggest fight of the year. I’ve never seen Miguel better than this.
“I would love for Miguel to win this fight by knockout, call out [Floyd] Mayweather and then end his career,” Roach continued. “Miguel always tells me that if he had me in his corner when he fought Mayweather he would have knocked him out. He tells me that story all the time. I think Miguel could pull off the strategy I have to beat Mayweather. I think that would be a good fight for him. I think I could put Miguel in a very aggressive mode.
“We are going to box a lot in this fight. We’re not just going out there looking for a knockout. I don’t want him doing that. I want him using his foot speed and his angles. He’s a more complete fighter now than ever.”
Roach did not have many kind words for Alvarez, whose only defeat came in 2013 when he was comprehensively beaten over 12 rounds by Mayweather.
“Canelo’s defense is terrible,” Freddie opined. “He follows you wherever you go. He’s like a robot. If you use angles on him, he will be lost. He cannot make adjustment well.”
Cotto, who looks in immaculate condition, was quick to praise his coach.
“Freddie brings his best to every day and every session. The least I can do is bring my best too. I think the chemistry between us grows every day.
“We are hours away from the fight. We had a great training camp in Los Angeles. All I have to say is that I am ready for the fight. I know that Canelo is ready too. Let’s give the fans the fight they need from us. We are going to apply our strategy in the best way possible and I have no doubt that what we worked on in LA for seven weeks is going to be the key for a victory.”
Cotto cared little for the WBC’s decision to strip him of the their middleweight title with just days to go, and succinctly explained why.
“I don’t need a belt to fight Canelo.”
