Celebrities and media make Cotto-Canelo fight predictions

The boxing world is eagerly awaiting tonight's showdown between Ring Magazine Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) and former two-time Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, and to no surprise, everyone seems to have an opinion on how this bout will end.

One factor driving the intense fan interest is the role of trainer Freddie Roach, who has revitalized Cotto's career and made him look like the fighter he was in his twenties.  Another factor is that fight is between two top middleweights.

As 20-time middleweight world champion Bernard Hopkins has said of the division he ruled for more than a decade, "The middleweight division has the power of the heavyweights, and the speed of the flyweights. That's why the middleweight division will always be one of the prestigious divisions of all-time."

With two of the world's more talented boxers -- regardless of division -- lacing up the gloves in this Puerto Rico versus Mexico battle, it's no wonder the fight is generating so many headlines.  The fact that it involves middleweights, and a potential future fight with champion Gennady Golovkin, is just icing on the cake.

Here are a few predictions on the fight:

Sugar Ray Leonard, Six-Time World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist
"I like Cotto for sentimental reasons and for what he has meant to the sport and boxing fans! Canelo has developed and grown along the way and taken to school against one of the best in Mayweather. If Cotto becomes that Miguel Cotto I remember, he will win by a smart, technical and fearless decision."

Lennox Lewis, Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist
"I'm picking Cotto over Canelo because he has the most experience."

George Foreman, Two-Time Heavyweight Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist
"It will be a battle of wills as they are evenly matched. In my opinion, things will start to separate after that. Canelo Alvarez punches like a mule. Cotto just doesn't have the heart to run; he will stand to fight after six rounds and by the ninth round he'll most likely be KO'D by Canelo."

Mike Elliott, TheDailySportsHerald.com
"This is a pick 'em fight, but in the end, the younger, bigger Canelo wins by decision.  I think the fight will be similar to Cotto's prior fight against Shane Mosley years ago, but with a reverse outcome for Cotto.  This time Cotto will assume Mosley's role as the prideful veteran who competes hard and has his moments, but eventually he will lose too many rounds to the more active Alvarez."

Tom Loeffler, Managing Director of K2 Promotions and Gennady Golovkin
"It should be a great fight between two champions and two proven warriors. The edge goes to Canelo as he is younger and physically bigger than Cotto, however you can't count out Cotto with Freddie Roach in his corner. Tom sees it as Canelo by decision, and Gennady thinks Canelo will stop Cotto late."

Sylvester Stallone, Academy Award Nominee Staring in "Creed"
"One of those two guys will win for sure."

Lyle Fitzsimmons, CBSSports.com
"I can't recall a recent high-profile fight that seems like so much a 50/50 proposition going in. Cotto has the resume and the skill set. Canelo has the youth and size. In the end, I think this will be the fight in which the youngster proves that he belongs among the elites, using an advantage in energy to carry him to a narrow win in a punishing fight. Canelo by decision."

Mario Lopez, Host of "Extra"
"We are going for Canelo. My loyalty is to Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions. This is a big Puerto Rico and Mexican rivalry."

Rosie Perez, Acclaimed American Actress
"I'm sticking with my fellow Boricua. Win lose or draw, Miguel Cotto all the way!"

Lance Pugmire, The Los Angeles Times
"Canelo Alvarez's youth and power should decide this fight. Even if Miguel Cotto is the smarter, more tactical fighter, he is likely to be drawn into a battle where Alvarez will punish him, and it will likely happen often enough to result in a late stoppage victory. I'll say, 11th round."

Kate Del Castillo, Acclaimed Mexican Actress Staring in "The 33"
"Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? Canelo, of course! Of course!"

Jeff Powell, The Daily Mail
"Canelo by decision. Even though Freddie Roach's training has clearly improved Cotto, youth and strength will prevail in what is likely to be a close fight through the first seven or eight rounds with Canelo pulling away in the later stages."

John David Washington, Star of HBO series "Ballers"
"We the fans are in for a dynamic action packed fight. Should be violent and dramatic. I love Cotto because he is all heart. Canelo is a beast and more experienced now. I can't call it. What I can predict is this will truly be a fan friendly fight and one of the most entertaining fights this year no hype needed. We will get our money's worth."

Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
"Canelo by decision. A lot of people lost faith in Canelo after he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather did that to a lot of fighters. Alvarez is a supremely gifted fighter who has learned a lot since that fight. He punches well with both hands and is increasingly putting his punches together well. He's the naturally bigger man and has youth on his side. Cotto's late-career resurgence has been fueled, in part, by less than stellar opposition. Sergio Martinez was at the end of the line when they fought. I greatly respect Cotto, and he's going to make it a fight, but I think the bigger, younger and stronger man will win it."

Bruce Buffer, Official Octagon Announcer for UFC
"Both Cotto and Canelo possess boxing skills and styles that will make a much-anticipated war in the square ring as they will bring the fight to each other. I give the edge to Miguel Cotto and may the best man that night win."

Dan Rafael, ESPN.com
"Cotto is a great fighter who will be in the Hall of Fame someday, but Canelo might join him there eventually and he is 10 years younger and whole lot fresher. Boxing is usually a young man's game so I am going with Canelo by a late knockout."

Claudio Sanchez, Lead Singer and Guitarist for Coheed and Cambria
"Miguel Cotto. His experience, his new trainer Freddie Roach and he left hook to the body will be the key to beating Canelo Alvarez. Viva Puerto Rico!"

Steve Kim, UCNLive.com
"In what I believe is a very evenly matched fight, I think youth will eventually prevail and I'm picking Saul Alvarez to edge Miguel Cotto in what will be a hard-fought contest that will see pockets of great action and swings in momentum."

Erick Aybar, Short Stop for the Atlanta Braves
"I like Cotto because he is a more experienced boxer, a harder puncher and is always leading the attack."

Tim Dahlberg, Associated Press
"I think it will be a good fight early with both fighters taking some punishment. In the end, I think Alvarez will wear down Cotto and win by TKO in the 11th round."

Angie Martinez, American Radio Personality on Power 105.1
"Cotto, by decision."

Joe Hammond, TheDailySportsHerald.com
"Cotto’s move to middleweight was all about making one last big money fight, preferably against Floyd Mayweather. That didn’t happen, so here we are. Cotto can win this fight, but only by knockout. Saul Alvarez, aka "Canelo," is Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Goose, and he is the fighter the boxing establishment and fanbase are going to be supporting in this one."

Rusney Castillo, Right Fielder for the Boston Red Sox
"I have to support our Roc Nation family member, Miguel Cotto, in his fight against Canelo Alvarez on Nov. 21. I may not be sure what round he will overcome Canelo, but I am confident that Cotto will take the night!"

Larry Merchant, Longtime Boxing Analyst 
"Old Sayings, 'Youth must be served.' Canelo, 25, by TKO in round 10. Old Sayings also say, 'Great fighters always have one great fight left in them.' Cotto, 35, by decision. Canelo was lulled, listless vs. Mayweather; true grit vs. Kirkland. Cotto re-dedicated and restored himself vs. so-so opposition. Therefore, I've got Canelo."

Sergio Machado, NBCDeportes.com
"Miguel Cotto has been and still is a great boxer, actually one of the best in history. However, boxing, like pretty much everything else in life, has generational changes and this may be the time for Canelo Álvarez to take the torch and establish himself as one of the most prominent faces of the sport. Canelo represents a big problem for Cotto because of his power. In his few losses and even in some wins, Cotto has shown problems when he gets hit with power. Cotto likes to engage as well and this is something very dangerous against an opponent with prominent heavy hands. I think Canelo has a slim chance to KO Cotto in the later rounds."

Brian Campbell, ESPN.com
"Cotto by decision. Canelo's advantages in size and youth are hard to ignore. But Cotto's edge in experience will ultimately be the deciding factor. The more Cotto can use his powerful left hook to dissuade Canelo from turning the fight into a brawl, the bigger the opening will be for the Puerto Rican icon to keep it a boxing match, which plays into his favor."

Francisco Cuevas, NBC Deportes
"When two boxers like Canelo and Cotto meet in the ring is a great event for boxing. Cotto should win because of his experience and dedication but Canelo should also win because of his youth and power. At the end of the day the fanatics around the world will win, witnessing a true classic match between two warriors."

Steve Springer, Author and Former LA Times Sports Writer
"Canelo by split decision. Canelo wasn't ready for prime time when fought Mayweather, but this is his time. At 35, Cotto still has some fight left in him, but his age will show Saturday night. In a tough, competitive, often brutal match, the torch will be passed."

Robert Littal, BlackSportsOnline.com
"I think Miguel Cotto is going to surprise some people and put a boxing lesson on Canelo.  Freddie Roach is one of the best of putting a game plan together and exploiting weaknesses, I think he has seen how Canelo has problem with movement and good boxers.  You are going to see a combination of excellent boxing, defense and power punching from Cotto and he will cruise to a unanimous dominate decision."

David Avila, TheSweetScience.com
"Before Cotto began training with Freddie Roach, I would have picked Canelo by KO. But Cotto has become a more technical and strategic fighter under Roach. Now, I consider it a deadlocked even fight. I see it ending in a draw."

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services