Miguel Cotto defends his WBC middleweight title against Daniel Geale this weekend, although he will do so in a catchweight bout against the Australian.
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn.
When: Saturday June 6, 10:30 ET
Watch live: Click here to watch online with BoxNation!
Cotto (39-4, 32 KO) is expected to comfortably win the fight with the focus being on Geale making the weight, which he successfully did on Friday to ensure that the bout goes ahead.
Beating the Puerto Rican would be a huge upset for the Australian who has significant experience of big fights and is a former unified titleholder himself and perhaps he shouldn’t be so quickly dismissed.
However, regardless of the weight issues, Cotto is a strong favourite to prevail and that in turn will finally edge him closer to the fights that the fans wish to see him in.
Trainer Freddie Roach insisted earlier this week that he will be keen on his fighter taking on Canelo Alvarez later this year, with another huge clash on the horizon with Gennady Golovkin next year.
While that is certainly motivation in itself to ensure that he doesn’t slip up on Saturday night, Cotto needs to ensure that he is focused on the task in hand otherwise it could derail his future plans before they even get off the ground.
Although Cotto is fighting well above his natural weight class, he isn’t taking on an opponent who has the skill or power to cause him genuine problems in the fight.
It remains to be seen how Geale performs as he has struggled to get down to the weight and that could be a factor come fight night as his rival starts to unload on him.
The encounter itself is arguably seen as a formality for Cotto by most, and it is hoped that he comes through without any drama with the likes of Canelo and Golovkin potentially waiting further down the line.
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