This coming weekend promises to be a big one for boxing fans as World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight champion Miguel Cotto faces Saúl "Canelo" Alvarez at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
While the match is expected to be an action-packed fight, fireworks have already started outside the ring days leading to the fight. This, of course, pertains to the recent developments that saw the WBC strip Cotto of the title for his failure to comply with the organization's rules.
Such included paying the $300,000 sanctioning fee to have the title on the line.
As it stands now, Cotto is the lineal champion and Alvarez can still claim the title if he wins Saturday. But in the event that Cotto wins, he will remain lineal champion; but interim title holder, Gennady "Triple G" Golovkin, will be elevated to full WBC title holder.
Cotto and company, apparently, found the sanctioning fee too stiff to settle and were reportedly bargaining for a lower sanctioning fee, but the WBC would hear nothing of it.
The Puerto Rican boxer was given until Monday to settle the fees but Cotto stood pat on his decision not to pay the said amount.
With that dark cloud up in the air, such is not expected to affect the approach of Cotto toward Alvarez. The 35-year-old fighter will likely use his experience against the explosive and young Alvarez, with the winner needing to face Golovkin next.
Triple G is the mandatory opponent for the winner of the fight. He is expected to be among those who will be on hand to see the fight, which promises to be a pretty interesting one to watch.
Cotto and Alvarez have been apprehensive to face Golovkin for varying reasons so the post-fight interviews and developments should be equally interesting to follow as well.
