Cotto Next Fight Against Floyd Mayweather or Canelo Alvarez?
Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, 33, has beaten Sergio Martinez, 39, in Saturday nights WBC world middleweight title. In a brilliant performance that saw Cotto batter Martinez from the get-go, Cotto sent Martinez to the canvas no less than four times, three of which was in the first round.
Cotto continued the pressure and fervor that saw him pulverize Martinez, who didn't have an answer to the slaughter, over and over. By the 9th round, after Martinez was felled again, trainer Pablo Sarmiento had no choice but to call the fight and stop the punishment his boxer was receiving, writes The Bleacher Report.
After Saturday's top fight by Cotto, he is now, historically, the first Puerto Rican to win belts in four different divisions - 140, 147, 154 and 160.
"This is the biggest achievement of my professional career," said the fighter.
Seeing how Cotto can dominate in the ring, the newly minted champion with an improved 39-4, 32 KOs, he has got a better advantage when it comes to negotiating a next fight.
The question is - who will Cotto face next?
The first big ticket name that's always in the list of potential fights for any boxer is Floyd Mayweather Jr. In the last Cotto-Mayweather match in 2012, Mayweather bested the Puerto Rican in a vigilant fight from both fighters. But before anything else, Mayweather first needs to win his September bout to maximize the excitement and height of a potential Cotto rematch.
While a Mayweather vs. Cotto 2 fight would be a box office hit, most outlets have appraised Cotto to be in the best form of his life. If a Mayweather-Cotto rematch does line up, the fight would be too close or unpredictable to call. One person, however, does know how it would run.
Boxing Scene quotes Bob Arum calling it for Cotto saying, "If Cotto, with Freddie Roach, fought Mayweather again it would be no contest. Mayweather wouldn't have a [bleeping] chance."
Fightnews.com says fans are rumbling for an Alvarez or Golovkin as most believe Mayweather may still be an unsurmountable challenge for Cotto. The excitement in these two fights would be that it's pretty much difficult to determine by landslide who'd take the win making it much more interesting.
Another potential fight could be with Canelo Alvarez. TBR writes that eyes are also set on Golden Boy promotions superstar Canelo Alvarez. The outlet notes that De La Hoya has been speaking to Arum on the possibility of a Canelo vs. Cotto. It's possible that it could be the next fight of Cotto or could be the big fight of 2015 as long as he gets past Erislandy Lara.
The last big possible match up would be with Gennady Golovkin but it isn't too likely. Golovkin is in his prime and perfect health so it might prove to be too much of a risk.
Got thoughts on Cotto's recent win? Who should he fight next?