By Jake Donovan

Saturday’s middleweight championship showdown between Miguel Cotto and Daniel Geale is no longer a weighty issue. Both combatants came within the contracted 157 lb. catchweight in place for their headliner at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

 

Cotto tipped the scales at a lean and ready 153.6 lbs. Geale brought about a collective sigh of relief after weighing in right at the catchweight limit of 157 lbs., his lightest weight in more than eight years. 

 

There was weeklong concern over whether or not Geale (31-3, 16KOs) could come within the contracted weight agreement. Eyebrows were raised when he tipped the scales at 167.5 lbs. during the World Boxing Council (WBC)-mandated 7-day pre-fight safety check (Cotto holds the WBC belt in addition to his recognition as the World lineal middleweight king). 

 

Geale and promoter Gary Shaw have also expressed their displeasure over having to agree to the catchweight. Cynics note that they could have said no, but such a stance would have resulted in missing out on the sizeable payday that comes with fighting Cotto. 

 

With the scale drama now behind him, the 34-year old Aussie can move towards becoming a three-time middleweight titlist. Geale claimed each of his two previously held titles on the road, scoring split decision wins over Sebastian Sylvester (May ’11) and Felix Sturm (Sept. ’12) in Germany.