Boxing News: Freddie Roach reveals predictions, Cotto's game plan against Canelo

Freddie Roach revealed his game plan and prediction of what World Boxing Council middleweight champion Miguel Cotto will do in his title defence against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on Nov. 21 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

In an interview with SB Nation’s Bad Left Hook , Roach confessed that the key for Cotto to beat Canelo is the conditioning of the Puerto Rican champ. Roach predicted that the 34-year-old Cotto would struggle in the early rounds, although he would gain momentum as the bout goes on.

“I think the early rounds will be a little bit tough, but as the fight goes on, I think it favors us a little bit,” Roach said. “So I want (Cotto) to have enough energy at the end to knock this guy out, save this power for a little bit later."

Roach, who also trains Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, noted that his team has a game plan to counter the youth of Canelo, insisting that Cotto is more mobile than people think despite his age. The seven-time Boxing Writers Association Trainer of the Year winner also claimed Cotto has more discipline than Canelo, whom Roach thinks is not the most dedicated guy in the world after seeing the Mexican challenger in his Wild Card gym in the past.

“A guy like Miguel, he likes me to explain the game plan to him,” Roach added. “This game plan is going to be the same as the last, it's going to work very well."

Pacquiao, who is set to return in the boxing ring early next year after he fully recovers from a surgery that repaired a torn rotator cuff suffered against Floyd Mayweather, has backed his Wild Card gym-mate. The former eight-division titlist said Canelo is a good fighter, but he could see Cotto winning the fight via decision.

However, Roach’s prediction contradicts what other fighters see of the Canelo-Cotto bout. British boxer Amir Khan told Boxing Scene earlier this month that Cotto would not be able to deal with Canelo’s youth, strength, and speed. Boxing Hall of Famer Roberto Duran also believes Canelo has the advantage over Cotto, whom the “Hands of Stone” described as no longer in his prime.

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