WBC middleweight title holder Cotto will defend his belt for the first time on June 6 against two-time world title holder Geale at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, although knows a clash with Canelo looms large with victory.
Negotiations between Canelo promoters Golden Boy and Cotto have been ongoing since earlier this year and were originally close to being finalised for next month until both sides decided to seek other opponents. Discussions are set to be re-opened if the Puerto Rican overcomes Geale next weekend, as expected, and will then set up a mouth-watering contest involving two of today’s pound for pound stars.
“We have no date yet for Miguel Cotto v Canelo Alvarez as we are not going to work on until it after June 6th,” Pengaricano exclusively told World Boxing News.
“For now, Daniel Geale is the only fight we are concentrating on and we are not thinking of anything other than that fight.”
The general consensus is that Cotto and Canelo will face off at the end of 2015 and that the winner will be the top consideration for Floyd Mayweather’s record breaking bout on May 7, 2016.
‘Money’ has just one fight left of his Showtime deal this September – possibly against Amir Khan, after which the world’s best fighter will be just a solitary win away from a perfect 50-0.
Cotto and Canelo, both of whom have been victims of Mayweather’s dominance, would then be in line for a rematch as the American aims to surpass Rocky Marciano’s undefeated retirement mark.
The bout would also give the current 147 and 154lb king the opportunity to win a world championship in a fifth weight division but as of now is still uncertain.
As Gennady Golovkin is the mandatory challenger to Cotto, a lot would depend on the current WBA and IBO’s champion’s future plans and would have to come along with the World Boxing Council’s consent.
