Brooklyn, NY – The Barclays Center played host for a title fight between the reigning WBC middleweight champ, Miguel Cotto, as he defended his 160lb belt for the first time against former champ, Daniel ‘Real Deal’ Geale. Cotto came into the bout on the back of two of his most impressive career victories, having steamrolled both Delvin Rodriguez and former undisputed middleweight champ, Sergio Martinez. Now the Pueto Rican star looked to make a statement against the highly rated Australian.

The first round started with Miguel Cotto shooting a quick combination finished off with a perfectly clean left hook to the body. Cotto weighed into the fight at 153.6lbs while Geale – a true middleweight – came in at the agreed upon catchweight of 157lbs. The Australian native looked to have a size advantage but lacked greatly in the speed department. Cotto was able to exploit the speed edge and cleverly boxing around Geale and finding opportunities to land his power shots.

Rounds two and three played out similarly, with Cotto again using a high guard and being light on his feet, playing the role of a boxer/puncher. Miguel again found a home for his trademark left hook and even doubled it up on occasions, going to both the head and the body. Daniel Geale was again unable to get any offence going, and being unable to use his size advantage to pressure and wear down Cotto.

Cotto came into the fourth round under full control of the bout, having dictated the pace for the entirety of the fight. He again went to work on Daniel Geale and this time he was able to land a picture perfect left hook to the head of Geale that floored the former champ. ‘Real Deal’ got back to his feet and made the count but when the referee restarted the action, he was met with an onslaught of punches. Miguel Cotto immediately moved in to look for the kill, landing crippling body shots to the injured Geale. Barely weathering the storm of punishment, Geale looked to fire back, but this only opened him up to a Miguel Cotto right hand shot which sent him down for the second time. The time, referee Harvey Dock decided that he was unable to continue and waived the fight off. Miguel Cotto TKO 4.

With the victory, Cotto has set himself up for a super fight with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, a bout that will likely take place in the fall. The fight with Alvarez has been talked about for a long time, well before Cotto won his middleweight crown from Sergio Martinez, but with Cotto looking so dominant as of late, it seems to be the absolute peak in terms of hype and timing for the fight with Canelo to take place.

Cotto vs. Alvarez will be a headline PPV event, and it pit two of the most popular Latino boxers in the sport against each other, and also two fighters that are regarded by most as being in the top 10 Pound-for-Pound ranks. When the fight takes place, it is hard to say who will be listed as the favorite, due to fact that both fighters have looked sensational in their most recent fights. Cotto has what seems to be the power advantage, as 33 of his 40 wins have come by knockout and his power has carried up the heavier divisions. Canelo has the youth and speed advantage, and has looked better since his lone defeat.

Whoever wins that fight, either Cotto or Alvarez, the winner will have to answer the big burning question of the division, and that is, will they or won’t they risk fighting Gennady Golovkin? Golovkin is widely regarded as the middleweight champion due to his long reign and willingness to fight anybody, but also seems destined to never get a fight with Miguel Cotto. Whatever happens next, and no matter how you feel about Miguel Cotto as middleweight champion, one thing is clear, he looked fantastic this past weekend and showed he is still at the top of his game no matter what division he campaigns in.