In what will hopefully be a pre-cursor to a mega fight with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) , WBC World middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 KOs) will defend his title this weekend at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York against the Australian veteran Daniel Geale (31-3, 16 KOs).
It will be Cotto’s first defence since winning the belt a year ago in the same city against Sergio Martinez, who was noticeably past his best by the time he stepped in against Cotto on two bad knees. That match was a 159 lb. catch-weight at Cotto’s insistence and he has continued in the same vein against Geale by forcing him down a further two pounds to 157 — the power of the A-side.
Whilst Geale is more than a credible opponent as a former two-time champion himself, anticipation has been building for the aforementioned meeting with Canelo, who has looked in blistering form lately. Almost as intriguing as the fight itself will be seeing how two of the most renowned stars in the sport will get along at the negotiating table, where deadly blows are often struck without ever lacing up a pair of gloves.
This bout intrigues fellow pros as well as fans, and undefeated super-featherweight Mikey Garcia (34-0, 28 KOs) shared his thoughts on a possible meeting between the two with Fighthype.com.
“I think Canelo has the opportunity there to beat a great, big name like Cotto. Canelo I think is stronger, younger, can take a better punch, he’s got it. Cotto has the experience, and I wouldn’t be surprised that he could pull off a decision, but I still have to favour Canelo with the size and power advantage.”
On paper, a casual observer may be inclined to believe that Cotto must be the one with the size advantage given he dwells in a heavier class than his younger counterpart. However, as his contractual catch-weight shenanigans suggests, he is not a genuine middleweight.
He began his career at 140 lb. in 2001 and has been creeping upwards ever since. Truth be told, he looked undersized at junior-middleweight, but he and his latest trainer Freddie Roach seized upon the correct set of circumstances for him to become the first four-weight world champion from Puerto-Rico. The history books will not say any different.
Canelo, on the other hand, has been struggling to contain his ever-growing frame within the 154 lb. limit and has had to fight one pound above that in his last three appearances. At 24 years old, he will only get bigger, and the power Garcia repeatedly mentioned is looking more devastating each time he comes out.
If both men and their representatives manage to hash out a deal, this fight will be a massive event of pugilistic and cultural significance -Mexico vs. Puerto Rico is not a friendly rivalry- that will envelope all fights that are scheduled anywhere near it.
Two marquee names from two opposed countries at two very different points of their careers; Cotto grasping the Philosopher’s Stone to extend what has been a long, tough career at the top, and Canelo desperate for that single win that legitimises him as ‘the man’.
It could end up as a passing of the torch ceremony if Canelo dominates.
