Australian boxer Daniel Geale is expected to announce one of the biggest fights of his career this week, a big-money match-up against Puerto Rican star Miguel Cotto in New York in June.
Puerto Rico newspaper El Vocero reports that WBC middleweight champion Cotto will defend his belt for the first time against the 34-year-old Tasmanian at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn – the home of the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets – in a fight televised on HBO in the United States.
The deal looks likely to be announced in New York on Wednesday.
It will be a big coup for Geale (31-3) to land such a fight, having lost his two bouts in the US over the past two years.
He was knocked out by Kazakhstan’s Gennady Golovkin for the WBA (Super) and IBO middleweight titles in New York last July and lost his IBF middleweight title to England’s Darren Barker in New Jersey in 2013.
Geale’s last bout was a 12-round win over Australian Jarrod Fletcher in Sydney last December.
Cotto (39-4) is a classy, orthodox boxer who has won world titles in four different weight classes since 2003.
The 34-year-old’s rare losses include ones to Floyd Mayweather in 2012 at super light middleweight level and to Philippines legend Manny Pacquiao at welterweight level.
Geale’s camp is yet to confirm the fight.
big J
Guest
I agree with that statement, but this is not the issue. Geale has a wonderfull opportunity to regain a title and explore further avenues, the fact the GGG KO him so badly is not an issue for this (actually it is probably is, this is the whole reason Cotto took this fight to again duck GGG). As I said before this could be great for Aussie Boxing. I surprised that more have not commented on this. Is boxing again dying in this country? What do you all think?
Johnno
Guest
GGG, hits everyone many can't take a punch from GGG. GGG got Geale with a great punch any fighter would of gone down to that one, big J.
big J
Guest
Well if Geale's camp is yet to confirm the fight they want to hurry up and get it done. This is great oppurtnity for Geale to become champion again. And this will open alot of doors if he can win. Firstly he could have a rematch with GGG but the chances are he would probably get knoocked out cold again, which is unfortunate due to his excellent boxing ability. But having said that Geale has proven that he can't take a punch, he was KO'd badly by GGG and even Mundine knock him down with a nothing jab in thier first fight. And how did this event come to past? Geale is not even ranked number one by the WBC (he is number three) but that really does not matter as Cotto is using this fight to clearly once again dodge a fight with GGG because like everyone else GGG with most likely knock his head off. But who cares abou that back to Geale, I hope that Geale drops this Cotto and becomes the champ, as a number of things could also occur. One; a fight with Sam Soliman (I m pretty sure that this would be a first for Australian Boxing, two aussies for the WBC title and they'll have it on home soil. Im thinking ANZ stadium. Two: a third fight with Mundine: This would be a great opportunity for both men to settle the score and find out you is the better man once and for all (there is nothing like a decided to bring in the fans) HEY MUNDIINE IF YOUR READING THIS YOU BETTER HOPE HE WINS SO YOU COULD CHALLENGE GEALE, WIN AND FINALLY TAKE ON MAYWEATHER AT MIDDLEWEIGHT. (it is a very long shot but still and possiblity.) Three, a rematch and unifiication with GGG as i said before or another big fight with another American in the states. Or maybe if he wins he can challenge mayweather, that will really makes mundine's day. hahahaha Either way I hope and pray that he gets the fight and then wins. Then he can consider his options. Danny if by some miracle you read this, I hope you kick his arse and get a title around your waist again. All the best mate.