Miguel Cotto, the WBC middleweight champion, is making is first title defense on June 6 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn vs. former middleweight champ Daniel Geale. While Geale is a big underdog, he may have one surprisingly big advantage.
Despite his reputation as a mover in the ring, Geale could weigh as much as 175 pounds when he faces Cotto, much larger than Sergio Martinez when Cotto took his title as an underdog.
"I see Geale moving a lot. He has a lot more movement than Miguel, and [Geale] will also have a lot more reach. Also, [Miguel] could be facing a guy who could be as a high as 175-pounds," Geale's promoter Gary Shaw said. "It will be interesting to see the effect of the weight in the fight."
Unlike Cotto's fight vs. Martinez, which was contested at a 159-pound catch weight, Cotto vs. Geale will be held at a 157-pound catch weight, meaning Geale would have to gain 18 pounds through re-hydration.
The middleweight fight fans want to see is Cotto vs. WBA and IBO champion Gennady "GGG" Golovkin, whom Geale was knocked out by last summer at Madison Square Garden. One criticism of that fight is that Golovkin is too big and too powerful for Cotto; many also believe Cotto's too small to truly campaign at 160 pounds, and took advantage of a hobbled Martinez.
Shaw said Geale's style alone will give Cotto fits, and thinks the champion bit off more than he can chew.
"I think this will be a lot like the fight with Trout. With a lot of movement and Miguel has problems with that. That's what gave Miguel problems with Trout. Daniel is a good fighter, and uses a lot of body movement," Shaw said.
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