Mexico's Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto from Puerto Rico are both done with their respective preparations for the mega bout, which is scheduled to take place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Saturday.
There is hardly anything to choose between the boxers, who have accomplished great things in their career so far. Alvarez has only lost a single fight in his entire career of 47 fights while Cotto has won 40 of his 44 fights. However, one cannot overlook their glaring age difference with Alvarez 10 years younger to Cotto.
Cotto, who is training under one of the best trainers of the world, Freddie Roach, might not have many fights left in him but is still regarded as one of the best in the business. Cotto has been looking dangerous since Roach sharpened his skills, and the 35-year-old has got his gusto back.
Roach, who has helped Cotto win three bouts on a trot since 2013, will want his Puerto Rican boxer to use various strategies against Alvarez and not just focus on flooring his opponent.
"We are going to box a lot in this fight," AFP quoted Roach as saying. "We're not just going out there looking for a knockout. I want him using his foot speed and his angles. He's a more complete fighter now than ever."
Cotto will have a spring in his stride with Roach in his corner.
"Miguel always tells me that if he had me in his corner when he fought Mayweather he would have knocked him out," Roach said.
"I think Miguel could pull off the strategy I have to beat Mayweather. I think that would be a good fight for him", the trainer added.
Alvarez, who might be an aggressive boxer, will need to come up with more than raw aggression to defeat the wily fox Cotto, who will be keen to start off on a brighter note against Alvarez. Cotto, who may not have much gas left in the tank in the latter stages of the bout - due to his age - needs to make full use of the initial rounds, and push Alvarez in the corner. The Mexican cannot afford a slow start against Cotto.
Alvarez still has some years of boxing left in him and can establish himself as one of the greatest boxers in the category by defeating Cotto.
"At this particular point, I feel very solid," Alvarez said. "I'm ready and I'm going to show it on Saturday."
Where to watch live
Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto fight is scheduled for 9pm ET* (7:30am IST, 2am GMT).
Viewers in the US can watch the fight on HBO.
The UK viewers will have the luxury of watching the Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto fight on Box Nation with live streaming on Box Nation Online.
*The main event -- Canelo Alvarez vs Miguel Cotto -- will only take place after the undercard fights are over.
