Puerto Rican champ Miguel Cotto has been dominating his younger sparring partners during his training for his title defense against Mexican challenger Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The World Boxing Council titleholder's strength and conditioning coach Gavin McMillan can attest to his fighter's power, even against boxers who are a decade younger than him, noted Boxing Scene, citing the trainer's interview on El Vocero.

"We have five weeks left and we have been working with fighters who are 10 years younger than Miguel. They've all felt his hands and they all leave very sore. We are already at a stage where we are using different sparring partners. We are at a moment where there is a lot of focus because we have five weeks to the fight. But I can guarantee that Miguel is stronger than any fighter ten years younger," McMillan shared.

Is Cotto no longer in his prime?

Most fighters are betting for the 25-year-old fighter to capture the WBC crown in November because they feel that Cotto, who will be turning 35 years old before their showdown, is too old for "Canelo."

WBC Silver welterweight title holder Amir Khan thinks the older "Cotto" is no match for Alvarez, who only tasted defeat in the hands of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2013, per BoxRec.

"I don't think Cotto can deal with youth, strength and speed of 'Canelo,'" Khan said, Boxing Scene noted

Even Hall of Famer Robert "Hands of Stone" Duran believes Cotto is "no longer in his prime" and will just get served by "Canelo's" "youth and power" when they meet in Las Vegas, per Boxing Scene. Duran even declares that the Mexico's pride is now boxing's "new star," especially after Mayweather announced his retirement.

Cotto is ready for "Canelo"

However, McMillan insisted that his fighter can take on "Canelo," especially with how much he had trained for this fight so far. The coach, who regards Cotto as the "smartest fighter" he has seen and ever worked with, even stated that the Puerto Rican warrior exerted more effort in this match compared to his last two fights against Sergio Gabriel Martinez and Daniel Geale.

World Boxing Organization super welterweight titlist Liam Smith believes that Cotto will overcome the younger challenger.

"A lot of people say Canelo will be too fresh but I fancy Cotto, I just think he's got a little bit more to his game...that Cotto is going to do it," Smith told the Boxing Scene.

The undefeated fighter has a high regard for the 34-year-old boxer that he even wants to be Cotto's sparring partner as he trains for his WBC defense.

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