Miguel Cotto vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai

Now officially set for August 26th @ StubHub on HBO, with the WBO 154lb title (vacated when Liam Smith lost it on the scales before defeating Liam Williams in April) on the line.

Expect buckets of plasma to be spilled on the canvas.

 

...true, Cotto isn't JSK, but neither is Kamegai the shopworn version of D-Rod that Cotto steamrolled in his MW debut (nor the injury-hampered and increasingly less athletic with age, thus plagued by stylistic diminishing returns Maravilla)...plus Cotto will have been absent from the ring for 21 months ans returning to light middle for the first time in five years, hard to believe as that is.

This could be surprisingly competitive. Ultimately though class does tell and I'd probably guess a comfortable 117-111ish decision or late stoppage for Miguel.

 

Cotto under Roach got away from the boxing of his welterweight and junior middle days, though, and became more of the blood and guts warrior he was all the way back at 140.

 

Cotto under Roach got away from the boxing of his welterweight and junior middle days, though, and became more of the blood and guts warrior he was all the way back at 140.

 

Well the plan is to have Cotto rematch Álvarez in November for his first title defense if nothing goes awry versus the Japanese brawler this summer. This ought to be interesting since it was indeed close at middleweight, terrain favoring the naturally larger Álvarez.

 

^ no doubt this will rankle Liam Smith, having lost the belt on the scales and considering himself in line for a challenge of Cotto but potentially having to rematch the guy he was TKO'ed by for this same WBO championship last year.

 

You lookin at mah eye?

 

$$$$

Same reason Smith will get frozen out from the WBO title picture in favor of a guy that's been campaigning at whatever-weight.