Chavez-Cotto Is On!

PARTS UNKNOWN– By Jordan Levine

It looks as if Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s opponent has changed again.

After rumors of a fight with Kelly Pavlik, Carlos Nascimento, Chavez, 41-0-1 with 30 KO’s, was set to fight Pawel Wolak on Sep. 11. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said that if Chavez looked impressive, he would have him fight Miguel Cotto for the WBA Super Welterweight Championship, probably in New York or Atlantic City. Well, the Wolak-Chavez fight is off. Rather, Arum is jumping the gun and putting the undefeated Mexican stud against Miguel Cotto, 35-2 with 28 KO’s, for a Dec. 4 showdown, as he told the Los Angeles Times.

 Arum would love to capitalize on Cotto’s success in the New York market and would love to put the fight at the Mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden, which is available. The undefeated Chavez will be walking into a hostile environment, if it occurs in New York. Yet, I’m sure Freddie Roach will prepare his fighter for the environment and for the well-seasoned Cotto.

 But how much does Cotto have left in the tank? His recent impressive victory came over the previously unchallenged Yuri Foreman at Yankee Stadium this past June. Before that, he got dominated by Manny Pacquiao in November 2009. Before that, he successfully defended the WBO welterweight championship when he beat Michael Jennings for in an impressive TKO victory in February, he beat Joshua Clottey in a split decision victory that some believe Clottey should have won. In July 2008, Cotto suffered his first loss to Antonio Margarito, which has come under suspicion since Margarito was caught with loaded gloves.

Cotto has beaten who he was supposed to beat in his last five fights. He has fought a who’s who in boxing. Yet, how much of this has taken a toll on the four-time world champion? How much punishment can he take? Will Emanuel Steward be the man to guide Cotto to greater success at 154 pounds or will he fall to a younger Chavez? The fight is set. The date is set. Who will come out on top? All I know is this fight will be a lot more interesting that the Pacquiao-Margarito fight set for November.

-geniussports.podbean.com