The term “mega fight” gets thrown around pretty loosely these days, so it’s always nice when a fight actually lives up to the moniker.
That’s exactly the case with a scheduled catchweight bout between WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto – 40-4, 33 KOs – and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Because of it’s hype, BookMaker has posted money lines with the fight still months away.
CURRENT ODDS
Our online boxing odds have Alvarez as the significant favorite, with a -300 money line. Cotto is more than a 2-to-1 underdog at +250. The total in this 12-round championship bout has not yet been set, but I’d expect it to be in the range of 10.5 rounds. Prop bets are usually posted a night or two before the fight, so make sure to check back in for the latest. After the bout starts, live betting is also available.
TWO STARS SQUARE UP
Both Cotto and Alvarez are among the more recognizable names in the sport today, so there will definitely be a lot of casual interest in this fight. But what makes the fight more compelling is where the aftermath could lead.
It’s possible that the winner of this fight will be matched with WBC interim champion Gennady Golovkin. While “GGG” isn’t as well-known, he’s arguably the scariest guy in boxing right now. Everybody seems to be avoiding him, and it’s highly likely that the victor will find some excuse to do so as well.
When it comes down to it, this is a very good but not great fight. Both men are slightly past their peak, and they’ve failed against the very best in the world.
Canelo was thoroughly beaten by Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013, but has righted the ship with a contentious win over Erisland Lara and two more victories against now-irrelevant fighters in James Kirkland and Alfredo Angulo.
Since losing back-to-back fights against Mayweather and Trout, Cotto has picked up three straight wins over Delvin Rodriguez, Sergio Martinez and Daniel Geale. Cotto’s trainer, Freddie Roach, is convinced that he’s turned his career around with better training, but most experts feel that he’s just being put in easier matches since his losses.
With a few tune-up fights behind them, now is the perfect time to pit the stars against each other. Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya is doing his work as the pitchman.
“This is the Fight of the Year that true boxing fans have been waiting for between two of the biggest stars in the sport today: Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez. Cotto vs. Canelo will be an epic showdown, full of non-stop action from the moment the first bell rings.”
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Oddsmakers are right to have Alvarez as the favorite, although I think he’s being slightly overvalued. While Cotto hasn’t looked the same since losing to Mayweather, he still retains much of the vaunted speed that made him so dangerous. However, Canelo is a smarter boxer inside the ring and has the skills to stump Cotto over an extended period. The pick is Canelo to win a close but unanimous decision.
HOW TO BET
Sign into BookMaker Sportsbook and get all the latest Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez boxing odds, money lines, totals and prop bets. The fight takes place on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight will be televised on HBO pay-per-view. Bet on the entire card with BookMaker Sportsbook!
Make sure to check in during fight night and get the latest live betting updates. You can bet on real-time odds during the bout, allowing you to hedge your bets or even make new ones as you watch on live television. And with multiple reliable payout options, collecting your earnings is always quick and easy.
