ALTHOUGH the contest is being fought at a catchweight of 155lbs, Cotto’s WBC middleweight title will be on the line against Alvarez. On October 17 Kazakhstan’s WBA Super world titlist Gennady Golovkin meets Canada’s IBF belt-holder David Lemieux in a unification bout in New York.

The Golovkin-Lemieux clash has captured the imagination around the globe due to the fan-friendly, power-punching style of both combatants. With Golovkin’s Interim WBC strap also being up for grabs in the clash, the winner of this meeting will be in line to challenge the Cotto-Alvarez victor in 2016, in what would be a megafight of pound-for-pound proportions – much like Cotto-“Canelo” itself is.

With Cotto generally regarded as the premier middleweight on the planet (after dethroning, and subsequently retiring, previous 160lb boss Sergio Martinez in 2014), whoever comes out on top in Las Vegas on November 21 will be viewed as the division leader. Unbeaten Golovkin is seen by many as the king-in-waiting at middle, but if he wants that lofty status for real, he will have to overcome the Cotto-Alvarez winner (assuming “GGG” triumphs against Lemieux first).

Cotto and “Canelo” may technically be light-middles masquerading as middleweights, but their presence in the 160lb category has lit up the weight class.

Click below for how the fight can affect the landscape of the sport

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