Latino passion play has got me

Boom
I’ll be in the bush for a dads and daughters camp this weekend, which means no early morning coffee and a seat on the couch for early-morning boxing on Sunday.

But I’ll be streaming SuperSport regardless – Canelo Alvarez versus Miguel Cotto is one of those don’t-miss fights that comes along two or three times a year.

(Catch the Las Vegas show on SuperSport 7 from 4am).

Gennady Golovkin is the main man at middleweight, but these two are the next best with Cotto the so-called lineal champ – “the man who beat the man who beat the man”.

What makes this a first-class fight is that both are highly entertaining boxers. Alvarez is slick and packs a good punch. Plus he oozes charisma.

Cotto, tattooed from head to toe, is a pressure fighter with a peach of a left hook. He’s been involved in epic fights over the years, producing memorable rumbles with Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather and a slew of other world class boxers.

Most are picking Alvarez, as I am, based on his youth and speed. Cotto isn’t exactly slow, especially on his feet, but he’s been in the wars and can’t have much left at 35. He’s managed to reinvent himself under trainer Freddie Roach, but there are plenty of miles on the clock. This could be his last crack at elite level, although if he wins there’s a super fight to be made with “GGG” in 2016.

Long a popular staple at Madison Square Garden, Cotto could pack out the grand arena three times over if he does a GGG fight there.

Talk of Alvarez fighting GGG down the line may be out of whack. The Mexican is Oscar De La Hoya’s golden boy and he isn’t likely to risk his big investment against the beast from the east. Pity.

Latin pride will be on the line for Cotto-Canelo with Mexicans and Puerto Ricans seldom in a dull fight.

There are a couple of gems on the undercard too. Guillermo Rigondeaux may be the best boxer you’ve never heard of. The Cuban twice won Olympic gold and struggles to land big fights on account of being so technically astute. Take a look and decide for yourself.

There’s also IBF bantamweight champ Randy Caballero, who will be determined to put on a show in his Las Vegas debut.