Cotto vs. Canelo verbal deal reached (if Cotto beats Geale)

[Violent Demise]

Fact 1, Cotto was offered 10 million plus to fight Alvarez.
Fact 2, Cotto takes 7 million to fight Sergio Martinez instead.
Fact 3, Cotto is guaranteed 12 million to fight Alvarez in May.
Fact 4, The Golovkin camp express interest in fighting Cotto
Fact 5, Cotto doesn't sign to fight Alvarez and refuses to negotiate with Golovkin
Fact 6, Cotto signs to face the mediocre, recently steamrolled Daniel Geale

Fake, wannabe boxing fans always confuse facts with hate.

Cotto took the history making fight with Martinez, which turned out to be an exceptional business decision. He only turned it down the 2nd time because of his promotional situation. You're twisting facts again. Like I've said, I'm a huge fan of Canelo but lets not pretend he's even achieved anything on the level of Cotto. Also, I don't see Canelo negotiating with Golovkin, instead he fought the mediocre, steamrolled James Kirkland.

Cotto took the fight against Martinez cuz it was easy pick-ins. Everybody knew Martinez knee was gone. Cotto don't give a damn about the middleweight title. If he did he would be defending it against the best middleweights out there. Or at least against the best opponent available. But he's not. For someone who says there a fan of Alvarez you sure are selling him short. Facts don't lie. And the facts are Alvarez is on a accelerated pace to surpass Cotto and several other superstar accomplishments. Alvarez has already beaten Lara, Kirkland, Angulo, Trout and has been in the ring against the best fighter in the world (Mayweather). And all he's trying to do now is get in ring against the middleweight champion (and he gets hated on for that). And he's only 24 years old. Aside from Japanese monster Naoya Inoue name me a fighter that has beaten that level of opposition at 24 years old. At 24 years old Cotto was fighting Demetrio Ceballos and Rocky Martinez. Mediocre fighters nowhere near the level of Lara or Trout. Now tell me. What facts did I twist now?

[TitoFan]

Fact 1, Cotto was offered 10 million plus to fight Alvarez.
Fact 2, Cotto takes 7 million to fight Sergio Martinez instead.
Fact 3, Cotto is guaranteed 12 million to fight Alvarez in May.
Fact 4, The Golovkin camp express interest in fighting Cotto
Fact 5, Cotto doesn't sign to fight Alvarez and refuses to negotiate with Golovkin
Fact 6, Cotto signs to face the mediocre, recently steamrolled Daniel Geale

Fake, wannabe boxing fans always confuse facts with hate.

Cotto took the history making fight with Martinez, which turned out to be an exceptional business decision. He only turned it down the 2nd time because of his promotional situation. You're twisting facts again. Like I've said, I'm a huge fan of Canelo but lets not pretend he's even achieved anything on the level of Cotto. Also, I don't see Canelo negotiating with Golovkin, instead he fought the mediocre, steamrolled James Kirkland.

Cotto took the fight against Martinez cuz it was easy pick-ins. Everybody knew Martinez knee was gone. Cotto don't give a damn about the middleweight title. If he did he would be defending it against the best middleweights out there. Or at least against the best opponent available. But he's not. For someone who says there a fan of Alvarez you sure are selling him short. Facts don't lie. And the facts are Alvarez is on a accelerated pace to surpass Cotto and several other superstar accomplishments. Alvarez has already beaten Lara, Kirkland, Angulo, Trout and has been in the ring against the best fighter in the world (Mayweather). And all he's trying to do now is get in ring against the middleweight champion (and he gets hated on for that). And he's only 24 years old. Aside from Japanese monster Naoya Inoue name me a fighter that has beaten that level of opposition at 24 years old. At 24 years old Cotto was fighting Demetrio Ceballos and Rocky Martinez. Mediocre fighters nowhere near the level of Lara or Trout. Now tell me. What facts did I twist now?

Cotto wanted to be the first Puerto Rican fighter to win titles in four different weight divisions. Martinez was there and available. Cotto took it. Canelo would've done exactly the same thing if in Cotto's place, and to say otherwise is to insult the intelligence of everyone here.

... and again with the age thing.

Once again... I'll rehash the same thing for the millionth time. You can't compare ages between Cotto and Canelo. Cotto turned pro at 21. That same year he suffered a serious car accident that produced career-threatening injuries, which he overcame to continue fighting. He won his first title (albeit regional) in his 14th fight against Cesar Bazan, and in his 21st fight beat Kelson Pinto for the WBO super lightweight title. His list of opponents has, and always will, put Canelo's list to shame.

Meanwhile, Canelo turned pro at 15, fattening his pro record with a long series of bums. I told you what Cotto did for his 21st fight. What was Canelo doing at the same stage? His 20th fight was against the great Francisco Villanueva (5-17-2), who Canelo had already knocked out 3 months earlier!! I guess they ran out of fresh bums, so they decided to retread some used ones. He stayed comfortably within the friendly confines of Mexico until finally venturing out to Las Vegas for his 33rd fight, against Miguel's brother, Jose Miguel.

What facts did you twist now? ALL of them.

You keep lobbing half-truths this way....... I keep bashing them over the center field wall.

[Violent Demise]

Fact 1, Cotto was offered 10 million plus to fight Alvarez.
Fact 2, Cotto takes 7 million to fight Sergio Martinez instead.
Fact 3, Cotto is guaranteed 12 million to fight Alvarez in May.
Fact 4, The Golovkin camp express interest in fighting Cotto
Fact 5, Cotto doesn't sign to fight Alvarez and refuses to negotiate with Golovkin
Fact 6, Cotto signs to face the mediocre, recently steamrolled Daniel Geale

Fake, wannabe boxing fans always confuse facts with hate.

Cotto took the history making fight with Martinez, which turned out to be an exceptional business decision. He only turned it down the 2nd time because of his promotional situation. You're twisting facts again. Like I've said, I'm a huge fan of Canelo but lets not pretend he's even achieved anything on the level of Cotto. Also, I don't see Canelo negotiating with Golovkin, instead he fought the mediocre, steamrolled James Kirkland.

Cotto took the fight against Martinez cuz it was easy pick-ins. Everybody knew Martinez knee was gone. Cotto don't give a damn about the middleweight title. If he did he would be defending it against the best middleweights out there. Or at least against the best opponent available. But he's not. For someone who says there a fan of Alvarez you sure are selling him short. Facts don't lie. And the facts are Alvarez is on a accelerated pace to surpass Cotto and several other superstar accomplishments. Alvarez has already beaten Lara, Kirkland, Angulo, Trout and has been in the ring against the best fighter in the world (Mayweather). And all he's trying to do now is get in ring against the middleweight champion (and he gets hated on for that). And he's only 24 years old. Aside from Japanese monster Naoya Inoue name me a fighter that has beaten that level of opposition at 24 years old. At 24 years old Cotto was fighting Demetrio Ceballos and Rocky Martinez. Mediocre fighters nowhere near the level of Lara or Trout. Now tell me. What facts did I twist now?

Cotto wanted to be the first Puerto Rican fighter to win titles in four different weight divisions. Martinez was there and available. Cotto took it. Canelo would've done exactly the same thing if in Cotto's place, and to say otherwise is to insult the intelligence of everyone here.

... and again with the age thing.

Once again... I'll rehash the same thing for the millionth time. You can't compare ages between Cotto and Canelo. Cotto turned pro at 21. That same year he suffered a serious car accident that produced career-threatening injuries, which he overcame to continue fighting. He won his first title (albeit regional) in his 14th fight against Cesar Bazan, and in his 21st fight beat Kelson Pinto for the WBO super lightweight title. His list of opponents has, and always will, put Canelo's list to shame.

Meanwhile, Canelo turned pro at 15, fattening his pro record with a long series of bums. I told you what Cotto did for his 21st fight. What was Canelo doing at the same stage? His 20th fight was against the great Francisco Villanueva (5-17-2), who Canelo had already knocked out 3 months earlier!! I guess they ran out of fresh bums, so they decided to retread some used ones. He stayed comfortably within the friendly confines of Mexico until finally venturing out to Las Vegas for his 33rd fight, against Miguel's brother, Jose Miguel.

What facts did you twist now? ALL of them.

You keep lobbing half-truths this way....... I keep bashing them over the center field wall.

And after the Villanueva fight Alvarez faced for the 2nd time future champion Miguel Vazquez. The first time he faced him was in his 3rd fight. Cotto faced Waklimi Young in his 3rd fight. What the fuck is a Waklimi? You know the hate is strong in someone when they bad mouthed the opposition a fighter faced when he was 17, 18 years old. It boggles the mind what some people will say and embarrass themselves in the process just to hate. Think about it. Fighter A (Alvarez) is a 16, 17 year old kid fighting as a pro against grown men twice his age. At 16, 17 years old fighter B (Cotto) is fighting fellow 16, 17 year old kids wearing head gear and using pillow sized gloves. Yet some how fighter A gets hated on. Un fucking believable.

Walk off grandslam

[bzkfn]

Fact 1, Cotto was offered 10 million plus to fight Alvarez.
Fact 2, Cotto takes 7 million to fight Sergio Martinez instead.
Fact 3, Cotto is guaranteed 12 million to fight Alvarez in May.
Fact 4, The Golovkin camp express interest in fighting Cotto
Fact 5, Cotto doesn't sign to fight Alvarez and refuses to negotiate with Golovkin
Fact 6, Cotto signs to face the mediocre, recently steamrolled Daniel Geale

Fake, wannabe boxing fans always confuse facts with hate.

Cotto took the history making fight with Martinez, which turned out to be an exceptional business decision. He only turned it down the 2nd time because of his promotional situation. You're twisting facts again. Like I've said, I'm a huge fan of Canelo but lets not pretend he's even achieved anything on the level of Cotto. Also, I don't see Canelo negotiating with Golovkin, instead he fought the mediocre, steamrolled James Kirkland.

Cotto took the fight against Martinez cuz it was easy pick-ins. Everybody knew Martinez knee was gone. Cotto don't give a damn about the middleweight title. If he did he would be defending it against the best middleweights out there. Or at least against the best opponent available. But he's not. For someone who says there a fan of Alvarez you sure are selling him short. Facts don't lie. And the facts are Alvarez is on a accelerated pace to surpass Cotto and several other superstar accomplishments. Alvarez has already beaten Lara, Kirkland, Angulo, Trout and has been in the ring against the best fighter in the world (Mayweather). And all he's trying to do now is get in ring against the middleweight champion (and he gets hated on for that). And he's only 24 years old. Aside from Japanese monster Naoya Inoue name me a fighter that has beaten that level of opposition at 24 years old. At 24 years old Cotto was fighting Demetrio Ceballos and Rocky Martinez. Mediocre fighters nowhere near the level of Lara or Trout. Now tell me. What facts did I twist now?

Alvarez may well surpass Cotto, but you're slagging Cotto because of his nationality not because of his record. To say Cotto should be fighting the best middleweights out there is fair enough, but hardly any fighter does that nowadays. Cotto already beat the lineal middleweight champ and the majority of people on here thought he'd lose that. When Alvarez won his light-middleweight title he defended against a string of mediocre welterweights like Gomez & Cintron.

You're looking at little things to pick at the career of a great fighter purely because he's from Puerto Rico. I didn't catch you slagging Juan Manuel Marquez when people said he was ducking Provodnikov and he chose to fight Alvarado instead. If Cotto was Mexican you'd be licking his bollocks and you know it.

[Violent Demise]

Fact 1, Cotto was offered 10 million plus to fight Alvarez.
Fact 2, Cotto takes 7 million to fight Sergio Martinez instead.
Fact 3, Cotto is guaranteed 12 million to fight Alvarez in May.
Fact 4, The Golovkin camp express interest in fighting Cotto
Fact 5, Cotto doesn't sign to fight Alvarez and refuses to negotiate with Golovkin
Fact 6, Cotto signs to face the mediocre, recently steamrolled Daniel Geale

Fake, wannabe boxing fans always confuse facts with hate.

Cotto took the history making fight with Martinez, which turned out to be an exceptional business decision. He only turned it down the 2nd time because of his promotional situation. You're twisting facts again. Like I've said, I'm a huge fan of Canelo but lets not pretend he's even achieved anything on the level of Cotto. Also, I don't see Canelo negotiating with Golovkin, instead he fought the mediocre, steamrolled James Kirkland.

Cotto took the fight against Martinez cuz it was easy pick-ins. Everybody knew Martinez knee was gone. Cotto don't give a damn about the middleweight title. If he did he would be defending it against the best middleweights out there. Or at least against the best opponent available. But he's not. For someone who says there a fan of Alvarez you sure are selling him short. Facts don't lie. And the facts are Alvarez is on a accelerated pace to surpass Cotto and several other superstar accomplishments. Alvarez has already beaten Lara, Kirkland, Angulo, Trout and has been in the ring against the best fighter in the world (Mayweather). And all he's trying to do now is get in ring against the middleweight champion (and he gets hated on for that). And he's only 24 years old. Aside from Japanese monster Naoya Inoue name me a fighter that has beaten that level of opposition at 24 years old. At 24 years old Cotto was fighting Demetrio Ceballos and Rocky Martinez. Mediocre fighters nowhere near the level of Lara or Trout. Now tell me. What facts did I twist now?

Alvarez may well surpass Cotto, but you're slagging Cotto because of his nationality not because of his record. To say Cotto should be fighting the best middleweights out there is fair enough, but hardly any fighter does that nowadays. Cotto already beat the lineal middleweight champ and the majority of people on here thought he'd lose that. When Alvarez won his light-middleweight title he defended against a string of mediocre welterweights like Gomez & Cintron.

You're looking at little things to pick at the career of a great fighter purely because he's from Puerto Rico. I didn't catch you slagging Juan Manuel Marquez when people said he was ducking Provodnikov and he chose to fight Alvarado instead. If Cotto was Mexican you'd be licking his bollocks and you know it.

So that just makes it OK, than right? Anyway for you to say I'm "slagging" Cotto cuz of his nationality is 100% inaccurate. I'm "slagging" him for refusing to face Alvarez. You make Cotto Japanese or from the UK and I promise you I'm coming down on him just the same for not facing Alvarez.

All this hating on Alvarez opposition is ridiculous. And it shows ignorance. True boxing fans regard his early opposition as on the job training. Once he learned what he had to learn he's done what he can to take on the best. Alvarez wanted to face Cotto back in 2002. The fight failed to materialize cuz Cotto lost to Austin Trout. So what did Alvarez do? He took on Trout. Than it was the best fighter in the world, Mayweather. That was followed by a get well fight not against a D level opponent like Delvin Rodriguez. But a B fighter in Alfredo Angulo. Than came a fight against the best fighter in the division Erislandy Lara. After trying and failing to make a fight against Cotto he settles for a fight against Kirkland. And he's still gets hated on. Un fucking believable

[IamInuit]

By Miguel Rivera

WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32KOs) is not concerned with any weight related complaints that are coming from his opponents.

This Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Cotto will make the first defense of his world title against former champion Daniel Geale (31-3, 16KOs).

Last June, Cotto challenged Sergio Martinez for the WBC title with a catch-weight of 159-pounds in place. For the fight with Geale, a catch-weight of 157-pounds was demanded and set in motion.

Cotto was asked about the scenario of a potential opponent, like WBA/IBO champion Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin or otherwise, rejecting a catch-weight request.

"I had to do [a catch-weight] at this particular time and anyone who wants to fight me must accept a catch-weight or otherwise there is no fight," Cotto said.

Geale did not agree with Cotto's catch-weight demand, but he was forced to accept it or there wouldn't have been a fight.

“I have to be honest—if it’s not a title fight, then a catchweight is not a problem. But if you’re fighting for a middleweight title, then weight limit is 160 for that fight,” Geale said. “I find it funny. It should be at 160 but I’m not going to complain.”

Not sure how any Cotto fan can defend this horseshit. I'm one or was. They will need another hotel room just for his head. So a non-middleweight, middleweight champion will now demand that no middleweight can weigh in at 160 as long as he is the middleweight champion.


Pathetic. And the WBC are such scabs. And one more And. All the A-side crap is starting to give me a headache. It’s a quantity over quality allowance for fools. Cotto is making a fool out of himself, the sport and the middleweight division PERIOD!

Just drop the strap. You dont need it anyway hostage taker.

[Master]

Cotto needs the belt and status as the middlewight champion to maximise his income. If he moved down to light middle, which he rightfuly should, he would earn less money against Canelo. So as long as he keeps the strap he can make unnecessary demands.

Cotto will drop GGG names in interviews to pretend that he is on Cotto's list of fighters but in reality he will not go there at all. Cotto will either lose his crown, relinquish/stripped of the belt or retire.

[Kirkland Laing]

Fact 1, Cotto was offered 10 million plus to fight Alvarez.
Fact 2, Cotto takes 7 million to fight Sergio Martinez instead.
Fact 3, Cotto is guaranteed 12 million to fight Alvarez in May.
Fact 4, The Golovkin camp express interest in fighting Cotto
Fact 5, Cotto doesn't sign to fight Alvarez and refuses to negotiate with Golovkin
Fact 6, Cotto signs to face the mediocre, recently steamrolled Daniel Geale

Fake, wannabe boxing fans always confuse facts with hate.

Cotto took the history making fight with Martinez, which turned out to be an exceptional business decision. He only turned it down the 2nd time because of his promotional situation. You're twisting facts again. Like I've said, I'm a huge fan of Canelo but lets not pretend he's even achieved anything on the level of Cotto. Also, I don't see Canelo negotiating with Golovkin, instead he fought the mediocre, steamrolled James Kirkland.

Cotto took the fight against Martinez cuz it was easy pick-ins. Everybody knew Martinez knee was gone. Cotto don't give a damn about the middleweight title. If he did he would be defending it against the best middleweights out there. Or at least against the best opponent available. But he's not. For someone who says there a fan of Alvarez you sure are selling him short. Facts don't lie. And the facts are Alvarez is on a accelerated pace to surpass Cotto and several other superstar accomplishments. Alvarez has already beaten Lara, Kirkland, Angulo, Trout and has been in the ring against the best fighter in the world (Mayweather). And all he's trying to do now is get in ring against the middleweight champion (and he gets hated on for that). And he's only 24 years old. Aside from Japanese monster Naoya Inoue name me a fighter that has beaten that level of opposition at 24 years old. At 24 years old Cotto was fighting Demetrio Ceballos and Rocky Martinez. Mediocre fighters nowhere near the level of Lara or Trout. Now tell me. What facts did I twist now?

Alvarez may well surpass Cotto, but you're slagging Cotto because of his nationality not because of his record. To say Cotto should be fighting the best middleweights out there is fair enough, but hardly any fighter does that nowadays. Cotto already beat the lineal middleweight champ and the majority of people on here thought he'd lose that. When Alvarez won his light-middleweight title he defended against a string of mediocre welterweights like Gomez & Cintron.

You're looking at little things to pick at the career of a great fighter purely because he's from Puerto Rico. I didn't catch you slagging Juan Manuel Marquez when people said he was ducking Provodnikov and he chose to fight Alvarado instead. If Cotto was Mexican you'd be licking his bollocks and you know it.

So that just makes it OK, than right? Anyway for you to say I'm "slagging" Cotto cuz of his nationality is 100% inaccurate. I'm "slagging" him for refusing to face Alvarez. You make Cotto Japanese or from the UK and I promise you I'm coming down on him just the same for not facing Alvarez.

All this hating on Alvarez opposition is ridiculous. And it shows ignorance. True boxing fans regard his early opposition as on the job training. Once he learned what he had to learn he's done what he can to take on the best. Alvarez wanted to face Cotto back in 2002. The fight failed to materialize cuz Cotto lost to Austin Trout. So what did Alvarez do? He took on Trout. Than it was the best fighter in the world, Mayweather. That was followed by a get well fight not against a D level opponent like Delvin Rodriguez. But a B fighter in Alfredo Angulo. Than came a fight against the best fighter in the division Erislandy Lara. After trying and failing to make a fight against Cotto he settles for a fight against Kirkland. And he's still gets hated on. Un fucking believable

Everybody agrees Manny against Floyd would have been a much better fight in 2009. But it was a far bigger and more profitable event in 2015.

Cotto is going to fight Alvarez. There's no two ways about it. It's going to happen if he beats Geale at the weekend. And the fight will be a massiv ePPV event, bigger than it would haven been a few years ago. It won't be Floyd-Manny but it'll make a ton of money more than it would have done before, and that's mainly why Cotto has waited to make the fight now.

[Master]

If Cotto beats Geale and Canelo, I can see Cotto fight Floyd next year for the middleweight title.

Sickening.

[bzkfn]

So that just makes it OK, than right? Anyway for you to say I'm "slagging" Cotto cuz of his nationality is 100% inaccurate. I'm "slagging" him for refusing to face Alvarez. You make Cotto Japanese or from the UK and I promise you I'm coming down on him just the same for not facing Alvarez.

All this hating on Alvarez opposition is ridiculous. And it shows ignorance. True boxing fans regard his early opposition as on the job training. Once he learned what he had to learn he's done what he can to take on the best. Alvarez wanted to face Cotto back in 2002. The fight failed to materialize cuz Cotto lost to Austin Trout. So what did Alvarez do? He took on Trout. Than it was the best fighter in the world, Mayweather. That was followed by a get well fight not against a D level opponent like Delvin Rodriguez. But a B fighter in Alfredo Angulo. Than came a fight against the best fighter in the division Erislandy Lara. After trying and failing to make a fight against Cotto he settles for a fight against Kirkland. And he's still gets hated on. Un fucking believable

You're mistaken hatred for proving a point. I don't hate Alvarez, he's one of of my favourite fighters. I'm merely proving a point that you can twist and pick holes in a record however you like. If Cotto wins tonight I'll bet that the Alvarez fight happens next.

Also, just because I've supported Cotto's record does not mean I'm supportive of catchweights. Catchweight fights are bullshit. If you're the champion at 160, then 160 is the limit. There should be no arguments on this.

[Mr140]

Ok so Cotto the man right why the fuck is he not facing GGG then there no reason why not he is the guy the fight no one else. Cotto fighting Geale is bullshit and holds the division up because he ducking the guy he should be fight and is also making sure he won't fight GGG after this fight either.

[Fenster]

I wouldn't fight GGG either if I was Cotto. The Canelo fight will be much bigger than anything he can make with Golovkin. Plus, of course, Cotto, like everyone else, knows GGG would blast him into outer space.

The lineal champion doesn't mean you're the best in the division, especially in this multi-title age. Not to knock Cotto, he's great fighter, but he beat an old fading cripple to become middleweight champ. Old Serg wouldn't have made it out of round 2 with Andy Lee let alone GGG.

[bzkfn]

Ok so Cotto the man right why the fuck is he not facing GGG then there no reason why not he is the guy the fight no one else. Cotto fighting Geale is bullshit and holds the division up because he ducking the guy he should be fight and is also making sure he won't fight GGG after this fight either.

I agree I'd like to see the division unified but Golovkin could fight Andy Lee or the winner of the Lemieux-N'Dam fight to unify. It's not holding up the division to win a title and defend it against a 2 time former world champion. He's had 1 fight a Middleweight. Just 1 fight. Nothing wrong with taking a tune up. You could pretty much hate on anyone at boxing for doing this. Why isn't Deontay Wilder fight Wladimir Klitschko right after winning the title instead of Eric Molina? Why are Stevenson and Kovalev not fighting each other? Why is Danny Garcia holding onto his 140 titles and refusing to fight at 140? Why will no 122lber fight Rigondeaux? Why is Andre Ward still WBA Champion after not fighting for 2 years and is now fighting Paul Smith above the division limit? All Cotto is doing is testing the waters by fighting another guy and maximising his bank account. He beats him, it looks like Canelo is next. He beats him then it has to GGG according to the WBC. The only problem I see with what he's doing is the catchweight. The governing bodies need to set it straight that if you fight for a title then the division limit is the weight limit.

[Mr140]

Look the problem is that GGG should of got the shot for the gold instead of Cotto as far middle weights go he was knocking them out should of got his shot. I am just pissed that going to take yet another year for GGG to get the ring belt thats it so hoping Cotto loeses so GGG gets a shot he needs.

[TitoFan]

He's had 1 fight a Middleweight. Just 1 fight. Nothing wrong with taking a tune up. You could pretty much hate on anyone at boxing for doing this. Why isn't Deontay Wilder fight Wladimir Klitschko right after winning the title instead of Eric Molina? Why are Stevenson and Kovalev not fighting each other? Why is Danny Garcia holding onto his 140 titles and refusing to fight at 140? Why will no 122lber fight Rigondeaux? Why is Andre Ward still WBA Champion after not fighting for 2 years and is now fighting Paul Smith above the division limit? All Cotto is doing is testing the waters by fighting another guy and maximising his bank account. He beats him, it looks like Canelo is next. He beats him then it has to GGG according to the WBC.

The answer to all of this is the ol' double standard. Boxing fans are notorious for not holding all fighters to the same standards or not using the same measuring stick for all. Regardless of what shape Martinez was in when Cotto fought him, the fight went on as scheduled. And yes, it WAS Cotto's 1st fight at middleweight. Granted, I've always thought Cotto is too small for MW. I'm not a fan of catchweights, either. But if Cotto gets past Geale, and I'm hoping that he does, he's got a verbal commitment to face Canelo.... and then everything regarding GGG right now is pure speculation. It seems silly to cry "ducking" when you've just arrived at a new weight division, especially when typically you "test the waters", as you well put it, before taking on the best of the division. I'll add that although I'm not fond of catchweights..... it's not like Cotto invented the damn concept either.

But whatever. I'm gonna enjoy the fight tonight.... 'cause Cotto fights are always fun to watch.