Report: Miguel Cotto to Fight James Kirkland on Feb. 28

It looks like four-division world champion Miguel Cotto will return to the ring early next year to face James Kirkland. Fightnews.com was the first outlet to report the duel, though an official announcement has not come from either camp.

Cotto (40-5, 33 KOs) has been out of action for over a year since dropping a unanimous decision to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas. Cotto had won three straight leading up to the Alvarez fight, this after losing back-to-back battles to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Austin Trout. Cotto, one of the greatest fighters to ever emerge from Puerto Rico, has captured world titles at super lightweight, welterweight, junior middleweight and middleweight.

Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs) also hasn’t competed professionally in well over a year and he, too, is coming off a loss to “Canelo.” However, unlike Cotto, Kirkland was brutally knocked out in the third round. The crushing defeat was a contender of knockout of the year. The Austin, Texas, native is one of the fiercest punchers in all of boxing, but “Mandingo Warrior” has never been able to challenge for a world title.

The Cotto-Kirkland clash is slated for Feb. 28 at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. HBI Pay-Per-View will televise the clash and Roc Nation will serve as the promoter. More details as well as a full undercard will be announced in the coming weeks.