Miguel Cotto to fight Daniel Geale on June 6

WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto (39-4, 32 KOs) will defend his title against former world champion Daniel Geale (31-3, 16 KOs) on June 6 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Cotto returns to the ring for the first time since dethroning former titlist Sergio Martinez by stoppage victory last June.  

The Puerto Rican looked set for a clash with Canelo Alvarez, but the Mexican withdrew from negotiations in January after Cotto declined an offer from his team. However, if Cotto defeats Geale, and Canelo defeats James Kirkland in May, they could still likely fight in September.

Geale, of Australia, is a former IBF and WBA middleweight champion and made four successful defences before losing to Britain's Darren Barker by split decision in August 2013. Geale’s last world title shot was in July, when he was knocked out in three rounds by Gennady Golovkin. He rebounded with a lopsided points win over countryman Jarrod Fletcher in December.