Miguel Cotto, the WBC middleweight champion, all but assured that a highly anticipated fight with Mexican star Canelo Alvarez will happen provided he successfully defends his title on June 6 vs. Daniel Geale.
"It is a fight that practically given remains to be realized. We are waiting. Already Canelo did its job last Saturday, now it is me I do mine on June 6," Cotto told El Vocero. "I go into my fight. I will do the work that Freddie [Roach] has designed for my training."
Alvarez has rebuilt his stock to where it was prior to getting whitewashed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013 in what was at the time the highest-grossing fight in boxing history. Since that loss, Alvarez has scored two knockouts over rugged veterans Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland, while escaping a bout with Erislandy Lara with a split decision. Alvarez earned credibility with hardcore fans for accepting Lara as an opponent; Lara is one of the more avoided fighters in boxing because of his boxing skill and difficulty to hit.
Gennady "GGG" Golovkin is the monster hanging over Cotto-Alvarez. Golovkin was named the mandatory challenger for Cotto's WBC middleweight belt, but he's shown little interest in fighting Golovkin, a true middleweight who has knocked out 20 consecutive opponents. He has broached a "step-aside" deal with Golovkin, and the WBA and IBO champ plays a key role in getting Cotto-Alvarez made.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman originally said Cotto could have one voluntary defense-which will be the June fight vs. Geale-before he must fight Golovkin. Now, Sulaiman is saying he's willing to sanction Cotto vs. Alvarez, but only if both guarantee the winner will give Golovkin a title shot.
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