Strengths for Each Man
Miguel Cotto
Photo by Sergio Solis/RBRBoxing
Without question, Miguel Cotto has the advantage of being a veteran fighter. He and Daniel Geale are the same age, and Cotto has boxed at least 50 rounds more than his opponent. More important than the number of rounds is the quality of them.
Cotto has beaten some of the top fighters in boxing such as Sergio Martinez, Shane Mosley, Zab Judah, and Paulie Malignaggi; he’s faced greats like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Win or loss, with experience like that it’s unlikely that Geale is anything Cotto hasn’t seen.
A tremendous benefit for Cotto has been working with trainer, Freddie Roach. Roach has been instrumental in revitalizing Cotto’s career and making us believe we can really root for him again. Cotto looked unbelievable in his last fight against Martinez–sharp, quick, and powerful.
Roach helped Cotto get back to what he does best. He has a great jab, decent footwork, and vicious body punches. Cotto also boasts power, especially that left hook. With Roach helping him to maximize these strengths during training, Cotto is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
Daniel Geale
Photo by Sergio Solis/RBRBoxing
Daniel Geale doesn’t boast the kind of résumé Miguel Cotto has, but going into this fight he does have the advantage of being more boxing-oriented than a brawler. He likes to use his jab and circle a bit, which may set a slower pace at the beginning of the round. Geale’s best chance at beating Cotto is by outboxing him and keeping him at an arm’s length, which he definitely has with a four-inch reach advantage.
Also, Geale has an affinity for circling to the left and right. He sometimes does so by making a smaller circle and staying right in front of his opponent. This could go well if he doesn’t retreat to the ropes, stays right in front of Cotto, is first in the exchanges, and lets his hands go.
Geale has a decent jab. He doesn’t commit to it, but it’s workable if he puts two or three jabs back-to-back. With longer arms in this fight, it would be a shame if he didn’t use the jab effectively. It’s a critical factor if he’s going to box his way to victory over Cotto.
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