Miguel Cotto v Daniel Geale may be decided on the scales, says Glenn McCrory
Three pounds makes all the difference
Thursday 4 June 2015 14:38, UK
Miguel Cotto defends his WBC middleweight title against Daniel Geale this weekend at a 157 pounds catchweight, three pounds beneath the usual limit. Glenn McCrory tries to make sense of it all...
The catchweight is to suit Cotto so they’re obviously worried that Geale is taller, longer and bigger. That weight difference will make a difference.
The catchweight is to suit Cotto so they’re obviously worried that Geale is taller, longer and bigger. That weight difference will make a difference.
It tells us that Cotto has respect for Geale because he’s forcing him to lose a few extra pounds which means he won’t be at his strongest. It will be a challenge just to make weight. Geale is a big middleweight.
This is nothing new – if a boxer has certain powers he can make these rules – I remember Floyd Mayweather made Juan Manuel Marquez go through this. Cotto, as the WBC champion who is looking for an even bigger fight, now has that power.
Cotto has been a world champion at welterweight and light-welter and Geale is a two-time middleweight world champion.
It would be easy to write Geale off after his loss to Darren Barker, and his knockout by Gennady Golovkin, but he’s fighting a smaller man. If he can get into his boxing style he could cause problems but will he be allowed to?
Cotto has looked great under Freddie Roach, who has given him a new lease of life. He was starting to look tired and worn out after a long, tough career but since teaming up with Roach he looks like going ahead towards much bigger fights.
Often a change is better than a rest. Roach has tidied him up, Cotto is now less gung-ho, and he’s slicker. But for the most part a new gym, a new atmosphere and a new voice in the corner has helped.
Cotto is a top quality fighter. He’s been in with Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao and he’s beaten ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley. Geale is a level below him but I expect him to put up some resistance. Geale will be stubborn and give him a lot to think about but Cotto will come through and bigger things await.
Cotto will be looking beyond Geale towards a big fight against Saul Alvarez.
