Canelo Alvarez is slated to fight James Kirkland on May 9 in a fight that promises action, and possibly a knockout. Sometime in June, WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto is expected to take on Jorge Sebastian Heiland at Madison Square Garden, a fight that isn't generating much excitement.
Most believed Alvarez and Cotto were going to fight each other, but Alvarez's side walked away from the negotiating table after Cotto dragged his feet. Alvarez's manager Chepo Reynoso recently discussed the breakdown in talks, but did not say he believed Cotto was ducking Alvarez despite two failed negotiations.
"I don't think he was scared," Reynoso said. "I think they see the business, and maybe the business wasn't attractive to them. But I think right now it's one of the most attractive fights and it's the best business Cotto can have. But he didn't consider it that way, so that's on him. We continue to move forward, and that's all we can do."
Cotto recently signed a three-fight deal with Roc Nation Sports, but hasn't fought since last June and is squandering the considerable momentum he had built with wins over Delvin Rodriguez, and then a one-sided beating of Sergio Martinez. He missed his opportunity to fight Alvarez, and has shown no interest in another major fight vs. Gennady Golovkin, which fans are clamoring for. Both would be pay-per-view fights, whereas Cotto is reportedly struggling to get HBO to pick up his bout with Heiland.
According to reports, HBO is stipulating that Cotto agree to a deal to fight Alvarez next before they agree to carry his next bout. If Cotto were to make that deal, he might have to vacate his WBC middleweight title since the WBC mandated he fight Golovkin after his first voluntary defense.
Reynoso hasn't given up yet on fighting Cotto and re-igniting the storied rivalry between Mexican and Puerto Rican boxing. " I think right now it's one of the most attractive fights and it's the best business Cotto can have."
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