COTTO AND KIRKLAND AGREE TO FIGHT FEB. 25

[Ruthless-RKO]

Miguel Cotto’s long-awaited return will put him in the line of fire of an entertaining brawler — and also of the fans, who may not like the probable placement of the fight on HBO PPV.

Cotto appears likely to take on veteran slugger James Kirkland on Feb. 25 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on HBO PPV, Bryan Perez, an executive at Miguel Cotto Promotions, told RingTV.com on Wednesday. The news of the fight and venue was first reported by the Dallas Morning News. Kirkland manager Mike Miller told RingTV.com his side has agreed to the structure of the deal and is awaiting a contract to sign. Cotto inked his deal on Tuesday night, said Miller, who has been working on a fight between Cotto and Kirkland since March.

“The framework has been talked about and we’re waiting for a written contract so that all the terms are confirmed,” Miller said in a phone interview. “We understand the contract is forthcoming. I’m just waiting for the final terms.” The plan, Miller says, is for Kirkland to be trained by Ann Wolfe, who has always brought out the best in him.

[Lackeos]

Sounds like a reasonably-matched crossroads fight. I don't really think Cotto can still hang with top operators like Lara, Alvarez, the Charlos, maybe Andrade, etc.. Cotto got his ass brutally beat by Trout, and Lara beat Trout just as brutally. So Cotto is probably outside the top 10 at this point, and Kirkland probably outside the top 20; they are probably mutually each others' best option.

[Impractical Poster]

This could be interesting.

Who's training James?

[Enlightened-One]

This could be interesting.

Who's training James?

Ann Wolfe.

[Impractical Poster]

This could be interesting.

Who's training James?

Ann Wolfe.

I definitely give him a chance then.

[boxing_rocks]

Will Ann be cutting 40-50 pounds of weight or it will still be James ?

[klitoris]

Canelo's seconds with Rigo undercard on PPV? Lol are they crazy?

[gilgamesh]

Cotto's only got a few fights left in him. This one is meaningless.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Canelo's seconds with Rigo undercard on PPV? Lol are they crazy?

Apparently, Roc Nation owe Cotto $10m so they put this on PPV.. Cotto does have a good following, and he hasn't fought in over a year.. Could do at least 200,000 buys

[caldo2025]

How and why did this fight ever come to fruition? Cotto admitted all along that he shouldn't be fighting at MW or LMW so why would he stay there when the money to be made is clearly at 147 right now. Oh, maybe it's because Cotto is the most overrated boxer in the history of the sport who has lost every single big fight he's been in? Ok, sorry, i almost forgot that.

[punchoutsb]

What a terrible fight

[Tanzio]

Miguel Cotto’s long-awaited return will put him in the line of fire of an entertaining brawler — and also of the fans, who may not like the probable placement of the fight on HBO PPV.

Cotto appears likely to take on veteran slugger James Kirkland on Feb. 25 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on HBO PPV, Bryan Perez, an executive at Miguel Cotto Promotions, told RingTV.com on Wednesday. The news of the fight and venue was first reported by the Dallas Morning News. Kirkland manager Mike Miller told RingTV.com his side has agreed to the structure of the deal and is awaiting a contract to sign. Cotto inked his deal on Tuesday night, said Miller, who has been working on a fight between Cotto and Kirkland since March.

“The framework has been talked about and we’re waiting for a written contract so that all the terms are confirmed,” Miller said in a phone interview. “We understand the contract is forthcoming. I’m just waiting for the final terms.” The plan, Miller says, is for Kirkland to be trained by Ann Wolfe, who has always brought out the best in him.

Any word on the weight agreed upon or did I just miss it?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Miguel Cotto’s long-awaited return will put him in the line of fire of an entertaining brawler — and also of the fans, who may not like the probable placement of the fight on HBO PPV.

Cotto appears likely to take on veteran slugger James Kirkland on Feb. 25 at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on HBO PPV, Bryan Perez, an executive at Miguel Cotto Promotions, told RingTV.com on Wednesday. The news of the fight and venue was first reported by the Dallas Morning News. Kirkland manager Mike Miller told RingTV.com his side has agreed to the structure of the deal and is awaiting a contract to sign. Cotto inked his deal on Tuesday night, said Miller, who has been working on a fight between Cotto and Kirkland since March.

“The framework has been talked about and we’re waiting for a written contract so that all the terms are confirmed,” Miller said in a phone interview. “We understand the contract is forthcoming. I’m just waiting for the final terms.” The plan, Miller says, is for Kirkland to be trained by Ann Wolfe, who has always brought out the best in him.

Any word on the weight agreed upon or did I just miss it?

Light Middleweight as far as i read somewhere, might even agree a catchweight.

[Tanzio]

Thanks.

If not a catchweight of 156 or more Kirkland will be too drained.

[boxing_rocks]

I don't remember such outrage when Canelo was fighting Kirkland. Why is that?

[punchoutsb]

I don't remember such outrage when Canelo was fighting Kirkland. Why is that?

What outrage?

But yeah, I recall Canelo getting somewhat skewered for fighting Kirkland as well. However, the situations aren't really comparable.

[Tanzio]

I don't remember such outrage when Canelo was fighting Kirkland. Why is that?

I have no problem with it.

[IKSRTFO]

How and why did this fight ever come to fruition? Cotto admitted all along that he shouldn't be fighting at MW or LMW so why would he stay there when the money to be made is clearly at 147 right now. Oh, maybe it's because Cotto is the most overrated boxer in the history of the sport who has lost every single big fight he's been in? Ok, sorry, i almost forgot that.

I doubt Cotto could even make 147. He hasn't fought there for 7 years.

[jujigatame]

Poor Kirkland. His brain really doesn't need this.

[crusader]

Just checked Kirk's record...I didn't realise that he's going on 5 years with Tapia being his only win. The win before that was highly questionable as well.

I guess that he'll still get nice opportunities as long as he provides some fun before being KTFO.

[Ruthless-RKO]

How and why did this fight ever come to fruition? Cotto admitted all along that he shouldn't be fighting at MW or LMW so why would he stay there when the money to be made is clearly at 147 right now. Oh, maybe it's because Cotto is the most overrated boxer in the history of the sport who has lost every single big fight he's been in? Ok, sorry, i almost forgot that.

I doubt Cotto could even make 147. He hasn't fought there for 7 years.

The reason why the Marquez fight didnt get made.. now that would sell on ppv.. Kirkland.. not so much

[Tanzio]

Cotto will likely stop Kirkland with a succession of kds led off with a picture perfect left hook. However, Kirkland can hit and he will not back down. If he can rock Cotto early this will get Pero interesting.

[boxing_rocks]

They will fight at 153. Cotto by KO.

[caldo2025]

What a stupid fight for Cotto to take. Who the heck is managing this guy? Why in the world would they think that this is a good idea? We've seen what Kirkland can do with Wolfe in the corner. With Wolfe, he's undefeated and an absolute animal. Without, he's a flawed fighter ripe for a KO but what's Cotto got to gain with this fight? Canelo demolished Kirkland so anything less than that is no good.

Cotto, though the most overrated boxer in the history of the sport, has the name to be only fighting for straps right now. If i'm managing Cotto, i'm not putting him in the ring for any not title fights like this. Kirkland can put you in the hospital depending upon which guy shows up on fight night. I'd never risk it for such little credit you would get for winning.

[Shirow]

Working with Ann Wolfe for the first time in years isn't a magic bullet.

Kirkland should have been with Ann all along and she should have already made big money training him for big fights he probably would have earned so i can't criticise her for cashing in now.

I'm just a little sorry that she'll have to hear people say that her training him makes no difference when he Cotto makes him fall over due to the efforts of weightmaking and not having boxed or trained regularly since 2011.

Kirkland looks like he'll become a Mayorga type now (in ring at least). He'll guarantee some fun & excitement against a top name until looking good going down swinging.