Miguel Cotto is close to finalizing an opponent for a June bout for his WBC middleweight title, and the opponent isn't likely to make fans happy. There may be good news on the horizon though; HBO is apparently willing to carry Cotto's next fight, if he agrees to take on Saul "Canelo" Alvarez his next time out.
Jorge Sebastian Heiland is looking like he will be Cotto's challenger in June at Madison Square Garden, and that fight is a sure bet to not land on pay-per-view. Heiland has no name value in the United States; he has never fought stateside, and his biggest fight is a knockout victory against Matthew Macklin.
Sources believe that Cotto's ticket to getting that fight on HBO is locking himself in for his next fight against Alvarez.
A source close to the situation said this of Cotto vs. Heiland: "It's a very doable fight because Gaby Penagaricano is an adviser to Heiland. It's a fight that is almost certain. HBO is not interested in the fight because they view more like the fight Cotto had with Delvin Rodriguez. But they are willing to accept it if their conditions are met-that a fight with Canelo is signed. So they are going to try to make that fight."
There are two big holes in this plan. The first is Alvarez's upcoming bout with James Kirkland on May 9. Kirkland may be an underdog, but he's a dangerous opponent with 32 victories, 28 of which came by way of knockout. Looking ahead of opponents, especially knockout artists, is unwise.
Second, Cotto has been given leeway for one voluntary defense of his WBC belt before he must face the No. 1 contender, Gennady Golovkin. Cotto has been avoiding Golovkin since he won his title, and would likely have to surrender the belt if he chooses to face Alvarez. It's unclear whether the title must be at stake to interest Alvarez, since both fighters are big names and will make money regardless.
Vacating the title to fight Alvarez instead of colliding with the best middleweight in the division while holding the lineal title may tarnish Cotto's legacy. Whether he is taking that into account is unknown, but there are a number of ways this plot to secure a Cotto-Alvarez fight down the line can fall apart.
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