Why does Geale gets a shot at Cotto's lineal title?

It's not so much that he got a shot, more so that Cotto has a voluntary and he's choosing a middleweight he believes he can beat. His middleweight title is important to him because it's leverage when potentially negotiating with Canelo or Floyd. That's why he doesn't simply drop it and go back down to 154 - he owns what many people want, and because of that Cotto has an upper hand when it comes to the negotiating table. The whole Cotto vs Canelo/Floyd will be quite interesting because GGG is mandatory. Will he accept step aside money? Will he enforce his mandatory position and if so, will the WBC stick to their word and force/strip Cotto if he refuses? Will Cotto lose his leverage without the WBC belt or will his Ring (lineal) title be just the same? I suspect Floyd faces Cotto if he gets past Geale, which by no means a forgone conclusion. Great post though. The WBC will create another ridiculous belt if GGG elects not to allow Cotto a step aside fight, it's that simple. Floyd wants the middleweight lineage, Cotto didn't drop out of the Canelo talks before the Manny vs Money fight was rubber stamped for nothing. Floyd simply bowed to CBS pressure to face Manny in May as opposed to later this year, I'm sure Canelo making his intentions clear on wanting the Cinco date too played a factor in Floyd facing Manny. Their really isnt more to it, unfortunately GGG brings nothing to the table. He should move up to super middle at the earliest opputunity to test himself against the likes of Badou Jack, Andre Dirrell and ultimately Andre Ward as it appears Carl Froch wants no part either.

^^^Precisely. Cotto just won the lineal middleweight title from Martinez...and very easily might I add. How much of it was Sergio and how much of it was Freddie Roach work remains to be seen. This is Cotto's way of finding out how much of that was actually him and by fighting Daniel Geale he'll have a better idea of how he can deal with natural 160 pounder. People cannot seriously expect him to actually call out GGG immediately after just ONE fight at middleweight. He has to test the waters better. I'm sure in the back of his mind he doesn't REALLY think that was a 100% Martinez. I'm not saying that Martinez would've won, but that's something that probably crosses his mind from time to time. Beating Geale will allow him to accurately assess how potent his punches are (and if he can take them) against a true middleweight, and a very decent one at that. He was blown out by GGG, but really...can you blame him? Who hasn't? June will, hopefully, tell us a lot about at Cotto at middleweight, and likely have us salivating at the thought of Canelo, GGG, and Cotto fighting each other...ANY combination between the three. Word Green this dude up

Because cowards do cowardly things.....

It's not so much that he got a shot, more so that Cotto has a voluntary and he's choosing a middleweight he believes he can beat. His middleweight title is important to him because it's leverage when potentially negotiating with Canelo or Floyd. That's why he doesn't simply drop it and go back down to 154 - he owns what many people want, and because of that Cotto has an upper hand when it comes to the negotiating table. The whole Cotto vs Canelo/Floyd will be quite interesting because GGG is mandatory. Will he accept step aside money? Will he enforce his mandatory position and if so, will the WBC stick to their word and force/strip Cotto if he refuses? Will Cotto lose his leverage without the WBC belt or will his Ring (lineal) title be just the same? ^^^Precisely. Cotto just won the lineal middleweight title from Martinez...and very easily might I add. How much of it was Sergio and how much of it was Freddie Roach work remains to be seen. This is Cotto's way of finding out how much of that was actually him and by fighting Daniel Geale he'll have a better idea of how he can deal with natural 160 pounder. People cannot seriously expect him to actually call out GGG immediately after just ONE fight at middleweight. He has to test the waters better. I'm sure in the back of his mind he doesn't REALLY think that was a 100% Martinez. I'm not saying that Martinez would've won, but that's something that probably crosses his mind from time to time. Beating Geale will allow him to accurately assess how potent his punches are (and if he can take them) against a true middleweight, and a very decent one at that. He was blown out by GGG, but really...can you blame him? Who hasn't? June will, hopefully, tell us a lot about at Cotto at middleweight, and likely have us salivating at the thought of Canelo, GGG, and Cotto fighting each other...ANY combination between the three.

I never truly got the argument that titles are "meaningless" in boxing. Every sport is predicated on the premise of the being the best. You prove you're the best by winning championships and to a smaller degree MVP titles and whatnot. What's Jordan without 6 titles, Brady without superbowls, lebron without mvps etc. It may not hold the same weight in boxing because we've watered down titles with all these divisions and governing bodies but our only claim to title legitimacy are lineal titles. When it's all said and done the history books will remember titles... Word to Henry Armstrong

If you accept 'lineal championships' you are condoning mismatches and cherry-picking. And of course weight-jumping and so many catch-weight bouts these days makes divisional supremacy even more impossible. It is what it is, and what boxing is doesn't make for legimitate championships at all. I accept lineal titles from the perspective that at the core it represents legitimacy. It's not perfect but it's better than the alphabet soup of titles. Lineal titles is the reason why pacquiao is a 4 division champ and not 8...

better question, why is the lineal middleweight title defended at 157 lbs? Because they agreed on it and its inside the MW limit welcome to the new age of boxing where every pound matters . Its an easy fight for Cotto rather than Canelo or GGG , Floyd in September .

Cotto ducking ggg doesn't make the lineal mw title meaningless IMO. Contrary to popular belief, fighters ducked other fighters all the time see Jeff Jefferies, jack Johnson, gene Tunney, Etc. it is what it is. revisionist history is a helluva thing. If you accept 'lineal championships' you are condoning mismatches and cherry-picking. And of course weight-jumping and so many catch-weight bouts these days makes divisional supremacy even more impossible. It is what it is, and what boxing is doesn't make for legimitate championships at all.

He gets a shot because Canelo was too much for Cotto and Cotto thinks that since GGG dropped Geale like he did, that he will be able to do so also.

why? because he is scared of Canelo and Golovkin or any other healthy MW

Lineal title is meaningless when its not recognized. There are no rules in place to force the champion to fight the #1 contender. What about middleweight ring belt? or are they both meaningless? The Ring always awards its title to the lineal champ. So basically, the Ring and the lineal titles are the same thing and both are meaningless. Once you have the Ring/lineal title all you need do to retain it is to not go any longer than 18 months without fighting anybody - literally anybody - in that weight division. So if he wanted to, Cotto could be stripped of or relinquish the WBC belt and just fight a novice or journeyman middleweight every 18 months for the next 10/15 years and still be recognised as the Ring and lineal world MW champ. Imo, the best thing the Ring magazine could do for the sport as a whole would be to scrap it's own world titles and stop recognising lineal champs. That would bring us a step closer to the situation that every real boxing fan wants to see - one world title and one world champion only, in every division.

lol its a boxing website, so us boxing fans want to see good exciting fights, pink Cotto vs either of those guys is a great match, but hes fighting Geale instead, he could of fought either of those guys, he was well rested n they all fighting around the same time Pink Cotto vs Canelo is the Mexico vs PR rivalry n GGG vs Cotto is for 160lb king, now how great would it be for pink Cotto to have them in his resume, especially the most feared GGG Leo Santacruz can do what ever he wants, he doesnt want to step up n fight the big dawgs thats his problem he hasnt done sh!!!t in boxing so why worry about what hes doing I get ur point but u also have to understand, that after may vs pac success, cotto and canelo know they can milk this fight a little longer for more money and more ppv sales.... I dont think either guy is ducking or whatever just milking fights. If you wanna blame any1, blame mayweather and pacquiao for ****ty catchweights and milking fights.

Why does Geale gets a shot at Cotto's lineal title? I don't understand. If Geale wins, does that means he is better Golovkin? That's what Lineal titles are suppose to mean. better question, why is the lineal middleweight title defended at 157 lbs?

why are chicanos so focued on cottos career?? They are always the first one to reply on a cotto thread, im surprise Brush inst here since he hates ricans too. Your boy Leo santa cruz is fighting sparring partners.... literally. At least cotto in his early days fought prime margarito, floyd and pacquiao. Dem mexicans so biased, but its stereotype expected lol its a boxing website, so us boxing fans want to see good exciting fights, pink Cotto vs either of those guys is a great match, but hes fighting Geale instead, he could of fought either of those guys, he was well rested n they all fighting around the same time Pink Cotto vs Canelo is the Mexico vs PR rivalry n GGG vs Cotto is for 160lb king, now how great would it be for pink Cotto to have them in his resume, especially the most feared GGG Leo Santacruz can do what ever he wants, he doesnt want to step up n fight the big dawgs thats his problem he hasnt done sh!!!t in boxing so why worry about what hes doing

He gets a shot because Cotto is new to that division and is taking a voluntary like the wise man that Cotto is. Don't knock it... Kirkland got a "shot" even after getting KTFO. Even Willie Monroe Jr. is getting a "shot." Who are the two chicks in your sig

I don't deny it with Canelo and MWs but please don't act like Cotto is so great. Tito actually fought MWs at their best weights(160). That's the difference between a real warrior and a myth. Catchweights didnt exist until floyd and manny began do it. Isnt Cotto a 4th division champ? Canelo is a 1 divion champ who instead of moving up stays at 155.

Nope. Champs are entitled a voluntary and that voluntary is Geale. Lay off the tequila. Canelo? He is the terrified "badass" hiding at 155lbs. Lol i aint saying Canelo is a bad ass, pink Cotto just fight somebody decent, he took a risky fight with Martinez, but made him look silly n had a very easy night, now hes fighting Geale lol, hes ducking GGG n he clearly ducked Canelo

why are chicanos so focued on cottos career?? They are always the first one to reply on a cotto thread, im surprise Brush inst here since he hates ricans too. Your boy Leo santa cruz is fighting sparring partners.... literally. At least cotto in his early days fought prime margarito, floyd and pacquiao. Dem mexicans so biased, but its stereotype expected

Since when did you have to weigh 160 to be a MW? 155-160 is a MW, if you want to count Angulo, Lara and Kirkland as MW's fine. 3 unranked MW's at a CW of 155 is in no way better lol. If Cotto fights a MW at 155 or 156 it's still more sack than fighting a JMW while not fighting any MW's lol. I don't deny it with Canelo and MWs but please don't act like Cotto is so great. Tito actually fought MWs at their best weights(160). That's the difference between a real warrior and a myth.

It's not so much that he got a shot, more so that Cotto has a voluntary and he's choosing a middleweight he believes he can beat. His middleweight title is important to him because it's leverage when potentially negotiating with Canelo or Floyd. That's why he doesn't simply drop it and go back down to 154 - he owns what many people want, and because of that Cotto has an upper hand when it comes to the negotiating table. The whole Cotto vs Canelo/Floyd will be quite interesting because GGG is mandatory. Will he accept step aside money? Will he enforce his mandatory position and if so, will the WBC stick to their word and force/strip Cotto if he refuses? Will Cotto lose his leverage without the WBC belt or will his Ring (lineal) title be just the same? I am glad somebody understands the bussiness side of the sport. Cotto earned his stripes and is looking to cash out on his year's of work. Nothing less, nothing more. He has taken beatings from the best before so its clear he is not afraid to fight the best! It is all about $$$ at this point for him. I will still like to see him GGG or Canelo even if he takes another beating.