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Junior middleweight James Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) inked his deal yesterday to fight Miguel Cotto on Feb. 25th in Frisco, Texas, in what could easily be described as an ill-advised HBO PPV card.
RingTV reports via Kirkland’s attorney Mike Miller that Kirkland will earn the third highest purse of his career, after his fights with Canelo Alvarez and Alfredo Angulo, but declined to comment on the specific amount.
It should also be noted that the fight between Cotto and Kirkland has been agreed to take place at a 153lbs catchweight, one pound below the junior middleweight limit where Kirkland has campaigned most of his career.
Kirkland will be coming off a 21-month layoff into this fight, having last fought against Canelo Alvarez in May 2015 where he was brutally knocked out. Miguel Cotto will be coming off a 15 month layoff himself, also having last fought against Canelo in November 2015 where he lost a unanimous decision.