Freddie Roach believes that Floyd Mayweather Jr. will make a return next year and he wants to get another crack at the undefeated American boxer.
Working on that belief, Roach feels he can bait Mayweather into a possible tiff with Miguel Cotto if the reigning WBC middleweight champion hacks out an impressive performance over the explosive Canelo ‘Saul’ Alvarez this coming Saturday.
To do that, however, the Puerto Rican will need to do something that Mayweather was unable to do – knock out Canelo Alvarez.
The plan could work, but it has to be a perfect fight to draw out Mayweather who has repeatedly stressed that he has retired from professional boxing.
But then again, this is also not the first time he has retired, having done so back in 2007 (after defeating Ricky Hatton) before ultimately returning in 2009 (against Juan Manuel Marquez).
Cotto and Mayweather are no strangers to one another. Both fought back in 2012 which Mayweather won via unanimous decision. Despite the seemingly lopsided fight, Mayweather admitted after the bout that Cotto was one of the toughest fighters he has faced.
If so, would he be interested in a rematch in 2016? Well, Roach seems to think so.
“I really want [Cotto] to win impressively, though. Because if we knock this guy out and Mayweather couldn't....Miguel told me one time 'Freddie, if you would have trained me for that fight I would have knocked this guy out.' And I would really like to see that happen. I think the better we look in this fight, the better chance we have to get Floyd Mayweather - if he comes out of retirement, which I think he will,” says Roach.
Cotto had already hinted back in August that if given the chance, he would want another shot at Mayweather. But at that time, the Puerto Rican indicated such only if Mayweather would not retire after his fight against Andre Berto.
Until now, there was no mention of a possible rematch until Roach brought the idea up. Even if Cotto wins via the planned KO on Alvarez, there could be complications.
One is that the WBC had reiterated its stance that the champion must face Gennady Golovkin next, a scenario which many seem to believe is what Cotto is unwilling to do.
This all the more makes that Cotto vs. Mayweather rematch scenario gloomy unless Cotto surrenders the belt to avoid a fight with Triple G.
Before looking ahead, it would be best for Cotto to settle the matter with Alvarez first this coming Saturday (Nov. 21) when the two square off for the WBC middleweight title at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.