Miguel Cotto vs. Daniel Geale
Michael Burnell, Staff Writer
Miguel Cotto has faced better opposition and has set a catch weight limit of 157 pounds. Daniel Geale is solid and marketable as a former champion, but is perfect fodder for Cotto to notch a defense and set up a mega payday versus Canelo Alvarez.
Prediction: Cotto
Lou Catalano, Senior Writer
Miguel Cotto is now a Middleweight, even though he’s totally not a Middleweight. But hey, if you’re going to hold the Middleweight title hostage, might as well have fun with a good, old fashioned catch weight!
Happy to put Daniel Geale at every competitive disadvantage possible, Cotto requested that the fight be contested at 157 pounds. Sadly, Geale will probably be sickeningly weight drained and thus not anywhere near his best when the bell rings to start the fight. I’m not sure if it would matter, because he isn’t the hardest puncher to begin with, but certainly the extra weight off won’t help.
Compared the Saturday’s PBC main event, this fight is Ali-Frazier 3, but it still isn’t good. Cotto used to be known as a guy willing to fight anyone, anywhere. But he seems to be more about giving himself the edge in every fight lately.
There’s no shame in that, but he’s got a whole lot of people screaming WAR GEALE at this point. I don’t think there will be any surprises here. I see Cotto beating Geale by a wide decision and then hopefully moving on to Canelo Alvarez and getting the fuck out of a division he doesn’t belong in.
Prediction: Cotto
Art Hernandez, Photographer
Prediction: Cotto
There are definitely bigger and better things out there for Miguel Cotto. He is nearing the end of a hall of fame career. At this stage, I think he knows himself and his body well enough to only fight once or twice a year.
I like how Cotto has looked since teaming with Freddie Roach. He looks like a young man, a young man with a lot of experience. That’s a dangerous combination to face.
Daniel Geale is no pushover. He’s a tough, durable, determined fighter. I just don’t see him lasting 12 rounds against the Cotto assault. I like Cotto.
Prediction: Cotto
Brandon Glass, Contributing Writer
There’s been a huge stink made over the negotiated catch weight by Daniel Geale’s promoter, Gary Shaw. The catch weight is the main focus of coverage, instead of the matchup itself, which says a lot.
If the former middleweight champion Geale plans on sticking and moving like he’s been saying, I don’t see how the catch weight helps him. Even with him being the significantly bigger guy. He struggles to make 160 as is, so the extra three pounds could affect his game plan and overall conditioning going in.
Miguel Cotto’s made some adjustments and looked revitalized with Freddie Roach in his corner since his losses to Floyd Mayweather and Austin Trout. The left hook is back and he’s looked better than ever.
Fight night will be one day shy of a year since Cotto’s spectacular win over Sergio Martinez. I worry that the time off may come with consequences, but the business minded veteran has negotiated his way into a position that gives him all the advantages. Though he’s smaller, Cotto is slicker, faster and has more tools than Geale.
The catch weight almost ensures a victory, before jumping in with one of the young lions that await their shot.
Prediction: Cotto
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Geale’s promoter, Gary Shaw has used any and every opportunity to cry foul this week in regards to the 157 pound catch weight his man had to agree to against Miguel Cotto. I say shut up and suck it up.
It wasn’t even a year ago that Geale got the living daylights beat out of him by Gennady Golovkin and now, somehow, he’s one win away from being the legitimate Middleweight king. If we’re going to cry about anything, let’s start there. The catch weight didn’t sneak up on Geale, it’s been there since the get go, but the Aussie and his team seem eager to use it as an excuse.
I predict that Geale won’t make weight and if the fight goes on, then Cotto will knock him out. Move it along, nothing to see here.
Prediction: Cotto
