MIGUEL COTTO insists he will be back to his best when he takes on James Kirkland at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on February 25.
The former four-weight world champion will end a 15-month hiatus when he meets an inactive Kirkland at a 153lb catchweight.
Now 36 and looking at his last year in the ring, the Puerto Rican warlord plans to bounce back after his November 2015 points loss to Canelo Alvarez.
“It’s good to be back,” he said.
“I’ve missed boxing and all I can say right now is that I’m going to bring my best, every day, at every training session. I’ll bring my best here on February 25 to face James Kirkland and hopefully take another victory for Puerto Rico. Thank you to everyone who made this fight happen.”
HBO will broadcast the fight on pay-per-view, mainly down to the huge purse Cotto is owed from promoters Roc Nation Sports – whose contract with Cotto reportedly expires after the Kirkland fight.
There were previously rumours that a rematch with Canelo was in the works, though that looks to have been put to bed.
Cotto’s future beyond the Kirkland fight remains unclear, but the clash itself has been met with some criticism due to the selection of James – who hasn’t fought since being destroyed by Canelo in May 2015.
