Alvarez decisions Cotto, gains middleweight title
LAS VEGAS – Canelo Alvarez made a case for himself as boxing’s next star Saturday night, landing the bigger punches to take a unanimous decision over Miguel Cotto and win a piece of the middleweight title.
Alvarez took the fight to Cotto from the opening bell, winning rounds with big right hands and uppercuts. Cotto tried to box and had his moments, but Alvarez was clearly ahead as the crowd stood on its feet as both fighters traded punches in the final rounds.
Alvarez won the WBC version of the title that Cotto vacated days earlier for not paying sanctioning fees. His win set up a possible megafight with Gennady Golovkin, the middleweight champion who was watching at ringside.
“With all due respect if he wants to fight right now I’ll put the gloves on and fight him,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez won by scores of 117-111, 119109 and 118-110. The Associated Press had him ahead 116-112.
Alvarez, whose only loss came to Floyd Mayweather Jr., set the tone early, winging big left hooks in the first round that Cotto largely avoided. As the fight went on, though, he began landing more of his punches as he patiently stalked Cotto around the ring.
Cotto boxed well at times and landed flurries of punches, but his didn’t seem to have nearly the same power as those thrown by Alvarez. In the final rounds, Alvarez caught Cotto with a series of punches that seemed to shake him some though he was never down and never appeared in real trouble.
“It’s an emotion I can’t put into words,” Alvarez said. “I’m very happy and much respect to Miguel Cotto. I will always respect him and he’s a great champion but now it’s my era.”
Cotto expressed disappointment in the judges’ decision, but left the ring before speaking.