Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez: 4 Reasons Why Canelo Will Win On Saturday

Canelo Alvarez has more size and punching power than Miguel Cotto. Getty 

 
Canelo Alvarez (R)and Miguel Cotto(L)

Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto are two of the best boxers in the world, so it wouldn’t be a shock for either one to emerge victorious when they meet in Las Vegas on Saturday. But Alvarez is the betting favorite, and he has better odds for a reason.
Alvarez has barely tasted defeat in his career, losing only to Floyd Mayweather, who’s made every opponent, including Cotto, look pedestrian. Cotto has four career losses, and defeat No.5 could be coming on Saturday.
Cotto was stripped of the WBC middleweight belt on Tuesday for refusing to pay a sanctioning fee. He’s still the lineal champion, but Alvarez would be awarded the now-vacant belt with a victory.
Below are four reasons why Alvarez will beat Cotto in their highly anticipated fight.
Size Advantage
Alvarez’s last three bouts have been at 154 pounds, while Cotto has fought back-to-back fights at catch weights of 159 pounds and 157 pounds. But Alvarez is naturally bigger, giving him a distinct advantage on Saturday.
The two boxers will fight at a catch weight of 155 pounds, and Alvarez will have the clear size advantage. At 5’9, he stands two inches taller than Cotto, and his reach of 70.5” gives him a 3.5-inch edge over his opponent. Considering Alvarez usually weighs around 170 pounds on fight night, he could be over 175 pounds when he steps in the ring with Cotto. That might be too much for Cotto, who is a smaller middleweight than most, to handle.
Punching Power
Following the mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao that bored many casual boxing fans to tears, promoter Oscar De La Hoya has promised a much more entertaining fight with non-stop action. If that’s the case and the fight doesn’t go the distance, Alvarez is more likely to score the knockout victory.
Both boxers have the ability to end the fight early, combining for 65 knockouts in 91 career fights. Austin Trout and Alfonso Gomez, both of whom have been in the ring with Alvarez and Cotto, told ESPN.com that Alvarez is the harder puncher. Cotto has been knocked out twice in his career, and he’ll be in trouble if the boxers engage in a brawl.
Age Difference
Cotto experienced a resurgence when he teamed up with trainer Freddie Roach, winning his last three fights by knockout. But he’s still 35 years old, and he’s at a disadvantage against the boxer that is 10 years his junior.
Cotto has had a Hall-of-Fame career, but he’s already peaked. Alvarez is getting better with every fight, and the boxing world still hasn’t seen the best he has to offer, even after going 45-1-1 to start his career. The betting favorite unleashed hell on James Kirkland in a third-round knockout six months ago, and Cotto won’t survive the same barrage of punches that Alvarez’s last opponent faced.
Motivation
Both boxers obviously want to win on Saturday, but the fight holds a different level of importance for Cotto and Alvarez. Cotto doesn’t have much more to accomplish in his career, and when he retires in the not so distant future he’ll go down as one of the best fighters of his generation. Alvarez has only begun to write his legacy, and his quest for greatness begins with a win against Cotto.
Alvarez is recognized as the No.1 junior middleweight, but he’s looking for the first true marquee victory of his career. Cotto’s legacy is largely intact, and a victory is not nearly as important to him as it is for Alvarez.

7 Things Kind People Do That Make Us Love Them

Have you ever noticed that kind people are also incredibly content in their life?

That’s because being kind literally increases our levels of health and happiness. Research shows this impacts our relationships positively, as well. Kindness helps keeps couples together. The more your partner is on the receiving end of your goodwill, the more likely they are to shower you with love in return.

Kindness is pretty awesome. It creates an overall climate of trust, acceptance and comfort. And let’s be honest — in this age of violence, war, general snarkiness, and online cruelty, “being kind” is it’s own form of social rebellion. What a fun way to “stick it” to an overly harsh world.

While over-the-top “nice” people tend to annoy us, genuine kindness is a trait pretty much everyone appreciates and admires. So what’s the difference between that amazing, kind person everyone adores and, well … you? Here a seven things they do every single day that make people want to be around them:  

1. They’re kind to themselves. They know that being spontaneous and generous requires having solid stores of your own positive energy. So, they take care of meeting their own needs first, before giving to others. As a result, receiving from them feels like a true gift.

2. They’re grateful. Truly and deeply grateful … for life and all its blessings, its challenges, and its lessons. In every circumstance, they take time to find and acknowledge the kernel of good — viewing every situation with a glass half full mindset. They still acknowledge what’s challenging, but in facing it, they strive to help others keep perspective, too.

3. They truly listen. Even when they have something to add, they know how to just listen first to what others say, so that the person talking feels respected and understood. They connect fully, listen with interest, and don’t censor or talk-over what others are saying.  

4. They’re confident. Their self-confidence allows them to indulge their big-hearted nature without expecting anything in return. And others find this quality incredibly attractive. Every day, kind people look for opportunities to give someone the benefit of the doubt — and they do. Because they’re confident in themselves, they don’t need to take others down for every misstep.

5. They genuinely care. Kind people pay attention and your happiness and well-being are on their mind. While they respect personal boundaries, they support and celebrate what serves your higher good. They want to know how your day is, how your mom is, and that the people in your life treat you right.  

6. They laugh often. Kind people see the humor and irony in situations, without the snarkiness and meanness others typically show. Life is funny! And these awesome people know that sometimes the best gift you can give someone is just helping them laugh and lighten up. Dropping a witty comment at just the right moment — they are masters light-hearted comedy.

7. They’re respectful. They thrive on diversity but don’t expect others to share their opinions. They accept your right to your own viewpoint, even if they don’t agree with it. And they wouldnever shame or embarrass someone in any way — verbally or non-verbally. They look out for others and try to protect them from feeling small in front of others.

Small acts of kindness make a big difference.

Grand gestures don’t always mean more than small kindnesses. After all, it’s the “little things” that show an awareness of others (who they are and what they love). Kind people put their love for you into action, through small thoughtful gestures that show they care enough to pay attention. Little things like: sending cards, making a phone call, buying presents.

But life is busy, times get hectic and we don’t always have time for those extra actions.

We will, however, always have time for kindness because it is the real intention and emotion behind those actions. Follow up with those gestures when you have the time and opportunity and watch how fast those around you begin to think you’re the kindest person they know.

But when you don’t, still make the time to take care of yourself, truly listen in a conversation, and be deeply grateful. And just see if the world doesn’t seem a little … or a lot… nicer. —Jan Bowen

Billionaire Buys World’s Most Expensive Diamond for 7-Year-Old Daughter

A new record for most expensive diamond was set by a 12.03-carat blue diamond sold at auction for $48.4 million. (Photo: Fabrice Coffrin/Getty)

 The world’s most expensive diamond was purchased for $48.4 million at auction in Geneva on Wednesday. The recipient? A seven-year-old girl. The Blue Moon diamond weighs in at 12.03 carats and Sotheby’s auctioneer David Bennett identified it as the “highest price per carat” ever obtained for any kind of stone, so the buyer didn’t necessarily get a bang for his buck. Sotheby’s withheld the identity of the winning bidder, who renamed the diamond “Blue Moon of Josephine” upon purchase. The day before, a 16.08-carat pink diamond was purchased by an anonymous bidder at a Christie’s auction in Geneva for $28.5 million, and was named “Sweet Josephine.” That’s one lucky kid.
 
The anonymous purchaser of the most expensive diamond bought another diamond with a similar name the day before. (Photo: Christie’s)

 The auction houses revealed that a “Hong Kong buyer” purchased the diamonds, but their adoptive names let the cat out of the bag. “Yes, the diamonds were bought by Mr. Joseph Lau for his daughter,“ his assistant told CNN. Lau is more of a generous gift giver than a diamond collector: His history of naming diamonds after his daughters Josephine and Zoe is what gave him away. Josephine is adding these diamonds to an already hefty collection, including another blue diamond weighing 7.03 carats that Lau purchased for $9.48 million in 2009 when Josephine was just one year old. 13-year-old daughter Zoe’s diamonds include a 9.75-carat blue diamond named “The Zoe Diamond,” which was purchased for $32.6 million last year, the most for any blue diamond at the time, and “The Zoe Red” a 10.10-carat Cartier brooch featuring a Burmese ruby surrounded by white diamonds for $8.43 million.

 \
Lau’s daughters already have expansive jewelry collections at ages 7 and 13. (Photo: Christie’s)

 Lau is the 114th richest person in the world according to Forbes, and his gifting habits surely make a dent in his $9.8 billion fortune. His previous gestures include naming Hong Kong’s tallest retail complex “The ONE” after an ex-girlfriend. Despite Lau’s extensive purchases, the Blue Moon of Josephine, which was discovered in South Africa in January of 2014, is obviously his most generous. The gift claims the title of world’s most expensive diamond, trumping the previous titleholder — the $46.2 million, 24.78-carat Graff Pink, which sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2010 — by $2.2 million. If Josephine can walk bearing the weight of 31.14 carats and $86.38 million, she’ll definitely wear her gifts with style.

Yes, Video Games Can Make You Smarter — Depending On What Type You Play

To anyone whose parents ever made them shut off Grand Theft Auto (or Crash Bandicoot or Spyro, for those of us who liked our games a bit lighter) and “go the heck outside,” we feel your pain, and we’re here to tell you: You were right all along. New research shows that video games don’t actually melt your brain like we were led to believe as children. In fact, they can have serious cognitive benefits — provided you play the right kind.

Consuming Charred Meat May Raise Kidney Cancer Risk

Cancer patients tended to eat more red and white meat, and more of the carcinogenic “char” chemicals caused by grilling, pan frying or barbequing, than people without kidney cancer. (Photo: Getty Images)

People who eat large amounts of meat cooked at high temperature or over an open flame - and are also genetically susceptible - may have a higher risk of kidney cancer, according to a new study. 

Animal muscle, cooked at high temperatures, produces substances called heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can cause changes in DNA that may increase cancer risk, according to the National Cancer Institute. Population studies have not found a definite link between cooked meat and cancer in humans, but studies using detailed food questionnaires have found that increased consumption of well done, fried or barbecued meats is tied to an increased risk of cancer of the colon, pancreas and prostate.

  

For the full interactive experience, check out this infographic at Graphiq. (Image: Graphiq)

 “A few previous studies have looked at kidney cancer and these carcinogens, but this is the first study to find an association between one of these specific mutagens (MeIQx) and kidney cancer risk,” said senior author Dr. Xifeng Wu of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. MeIQx is one of the heterocyclic amines formed by high temperature cooking. “This is also the first study to look at genetic variants along with consumption of these carcinogens in relation to kidney cancer risk,” Wu told Reuters Health by email. The researchers compared the dietary patterns and genetic risk profiles of 659 people newly diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma to 699 people without the cancer. 

 

Research Shows Estrogen May Save Soldiers And Trauma Victims

High levels of estrogen in female mice seem to prevent life threatening septicema. (Corbis)

 More than 80% of US soldiers’ deaths between 2001 and 2011 were the result of blood loss and septicemia [Editors note – septicemia is a blood infection, also known as blood poisoning. This is dangerous because the bacteria and their toxins can be carried through the bloodstream to your entire body, causing sepsis). There’s limited time to save trauma victims experiencing significant blood loss — the so-called “golden hour” — and researchers at the University of Alabama have been working for 19 years on a way to extend that time so that wounded soldiers and remote trauma victims are more likely to survive the long trip to a hospital.

10 Ways To Relieve Stress

1. Don’t focus on the problem.
 
Don’t focus on the problem, focus on the solution. Replace a negative thought with something positive like a funny moment recently or something personally enlightening e.g. birth of a baby.

 2. Try some Yoga.


Try some yoga as this teaches you through exercise to focus on being calm.

 3. Go for a walk.
 
Go for a walk in the park or go for a swim, activities like these help to relieve stress.

 4. Get a head massage.
 
Get a head massage or do it yourself. Gentle rubbing of the scalp is a very effective way to put you at ease. Meditation and also massage techniques offer great therapy. A great way to meditate is to close your eyes and focus on one thing such as your controlled breathing.

 5. Play a game.
 
Play a game (if allowed while at work) or do a crossword. Activities like these allow you to easily find at least 10 ways to relieve stress so shift your focus away from whatever is stressing you. It’s a known fact that computer game lovers enjoy obliterating aliens or whatever as a means to alleviate stress.


 6. Play some music.
 
This is an issue at work though if you can, play some music. Perhaps your employer will allow headphones. Sound that invokes feelings of serenity such as sea waves or forests can act as an excellent reliever.

 7. Chang your seating position.
 
If at work, change your seating position or go for a stroll around the office if stress is hitting you.

 8. Avoid Drugs
 
Perhaps, you have heard the song ‘the drugs don’t work’ from The Verve and it’s all true. Being lethargic or stressed should not mean reaching for the pharmaceutical cupboard. Stimulants cannot remove the problem or help to forget it. Grab a huge drink of water instead and enjoy the feeling of refreshment.

 9. Try Humor! 
 
As part of this list explaining 10 ways to relieve stress, this is probably the most effective method. Laughing brings you into the brighter side of your daily life. Read some jokes, or tell them to colleagues.

 10. Sleep better.
 
Try to sleep for at least 7 or 8 hours every night. More early nights and a proper sleep pattern will allow you to feel more relaxed each day and less prone to procrastination and lethargic behavior.