The fight between World Boxing Council middleweight champion Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is not a typical “young vs old” boxing fight, according to Hall of Famer trainer Freddie Roach.

Roach told Lance Pugmire of the LA Times that he believes Cotto vs Canelo on Nov. 21 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas is more than just a duel between an aged champ and a young challenger, but a certain “fight of the year”-caliber boxing match.

Roach originally had Cotto-Canelo card as the second biggest fight of the year behind the megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather in May that set PPV and payday records. However, Mayweather’s tactical style of boxing had boxing fans disappointed and clamouring for a more sluggish boxing match, which Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) and Canelo (45-1-1, 32 KOs) could offer.

In Canelo’s last three fights, two have ended via knockout (Alfredo Angulo in 2014 and James Kirkland in 2015). Cotto, on the other hand, has been putting the lights out of his last three opponents (Daniele Geale and Delvin Rodriguez via TKO and Sergio Gabriel Martinez via Referee’s Technical Decision).

Meanwhile, Andre Ward, who was added late last month as co-feature for Cotto-Canelo, was pulled out of the boxing event due to an injury sustained while training. Ward’s opponent has not been confirmed, although Alexander Brand was the most likely candidate to fight the American super-middleweight champion.

In a statement released by Roc Nation Sports, who is currently working for a replacement, Ward (28-0, 15 KOs) said he is “extremely disappointed to miss the chance to fight on Nov. 21. However, the 175-pound fighter is looking forward to a comeback fight in 2016, when he is expected to take on WBA (super), WBO, and IBF light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev.

“Anytime I have had a minor or major setback in my career, by the Grace of God, I’ve come back stronger and this will be no different,” Ward said, reports Boxing News Online. “Thank you to all my fans for your support and patience.”

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