The Middleweight Champion of the world Miguel Cotto makes his return in June, almost a year after he won his crown from Sergio Martinez in the same city. The bout was contested at a catch weight of 159 pounds, one pound south of the division’s limit. On hand in New York City to announce his first title defense against Daniel Geale, the biggest topic of conversation was not his opponent but rather the catch weight attached to the bout of 157.
Cotto doesn’t see why so many are concerned with the catch weight.
“It’s not the first time in boxing there is catch weights,” Cotto told ThaBoxingVoice.com “People are making a real big issue of something that’s been going on forever in boxing. It’s a catch weight like any other. He agreed to make 157 pounds, and if he wants to fight he has to make 157 pounds, that’s it.”
Cotto was asked if was concerned if his opponent could make weight and if his opponent was put in a disadvantage position. Cotto responded by saying, “What he does is in his camp to do 157 is his responsibility. I will do my job to be in the best shape for the fight. Daniel Geale is a good fighter, and he will be in the best shape he can be as will I.”
Cotto held a title in 2009 at the Welterweight division when he fought Manny Pacquiao. Even though Pacquiao had no belt, he was the bigger draw and Cotto agreed to the 145-pound catch weight stipulated to him to make the fight happen. Even though Pacquiao had fought at the full welterweight limit against Oscar De La Hoya a few fights before, Pacquiao team put that stipulation in front of Cotto if he wanted to make the fight happen.
To Cotto, it’s no different here. He agreed to catch weight with Pacquiao and never had any gripes.
“I did the catch weight without any problem,” Cotto stated in regards to his bout what Pacquiao. “Did you hear anything from Miguel Cotto when I had to come in at a catch weight for the fight with Manny Pacquiao? I said yes, it was my decision, and I agreed to it. Those are the stipulations that were put forth to me, and I agreed. If you don’t agree to the stipulation, you have the right to move in but it was put forth, he agreed like I did with Pacquiao, and we move forward.”
