Miguel Cotto has zeroed in on an opponent for his first defense of the WBC middleweight title, and it is former WBA and IBF champion Daniel Geale of Australia.
"Yes, rumors are true (in regard to serious talks for Cotto vs Geale)," promoter Gary Shaw said. Shaw recently had a deal in place to merge with Roc Nation Sports, with whom Cotto is now aligned. The deal fell through, but Shaw is still working with Roc Nation.
"I'm a world class promoter, and as such it is my obligation to work with everyone (including Roc Nation Sports,) for the good of the sport and because it's the right thing for the fighters I represent," Shaw said.
Geale has more name value than the two fighters who had come up previously as potential opponents for Cotto. Cornelius "K-9" Bundrage was the first option, but that appeared to be undercut by Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who reportedly dangled a possible matchup with Timothy Bradley. Then, Jorge Sebastian Heiland, a fighter in the stable of Cotto's manager Gaby Penagaricano emerged. Heiland has four losses on his record and has never fought in the United States.
Geale is far more recognizable than Bundrage or Heiland, but his worthiness of a WBC title shot is almost equally questionable. He nearly shut out his countryman Jarrod Fletcher in his last fight, but has dropped two of his last four. Against Gennady Golovkin, whom Cotto has shown no interest in fighting despite the fact that he holds the WBA and IBO belts, Geale was knocked out in Round 3.
Golovkin was able to stop him on a big right counter, despite the fact that he was off balance and had just been hit squarely by a Geale right hand. Facing Geale isn't likely to appease boxing fans frustrated that Cotto seems to be cherry picking favorable opponents rather than taking on Golovkin in a unification match. Geale is respected for his boxing ability, but isn't known as much of a puncher.
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